General Election 2024: The Wheel Calls on Candidates to Secure Future of Community and Voluntary Services

The Wheel, Ireland’s national association of charities, has today (23 October 2024) launched its General Election Manifesto calling on General Election candidates to pledge their support to secure the future of the community and voluntary sector in Ireland. Support which would foster greater partnerships between the sector and the state to address loneliness, build inclusive communities, tackle poverty, ensure accessible healthcare and affordable housing, and put children and young people first.

“The community and voluntary sector is not just the beating heart of communities across the country but is a key partner to Government in the delivery of social services. Without community and voluntary organisations, thousands of people would go without essential support, particularly in the areas of disability, older person care, addiction, mental health, homelessness prevention and support, and child and family care. If society should be judged by how it treats its most vulnerable, that judgement should extend to how it treats the people providing care,” says Colette Bennett, Director of Advocacy and Research at The Wheel.

Civil society is also critical in promoting deliberative democracy—a system where citizens are actively engaged in discussions on public issues, and where their voices directly shape decision-making. Mechanisms such as Citizens’ Assemblies, Public Participation Networks, and various Dialogue Forums provide invaluable opportunities for citizens and sector organisations to contribute to democratic discourse.

“Recent attempts to undermine the role of sector organisations in advocacy processes are deeply concerning. Civil society must be protected, not just as a partner to the government in delivering essential services, but also as an independent voice advocating on behalf of the most vulnerable,” Ms Bennett said.  

Key asks in The Wheel’s General Election Manifesto for the Community and Voluntary Sector include:

• The development of a strategy for the future sustainability of the community and voluntary sector. 
• Normalise the provision of multi-annual funding for service-delivery partners. 
• Include the cost of compliance in all new funding contracts. 
• Support organisations at the forefront of the crises in health, housing, social care, children and youth, and sustainability.

Election candidates can pledge their support for The Wheel’s Manifesto for the Community and Voluntary Sector at www.wheel.ie/GE24 

Read the Manifesto