Advertise with ‘Changing Ireland’!

Because now – for the first time – you can!!

Changing Ireland’, the country’s most widely read Community and Voluntary Sector magazine, is now taking advertising for the first time.

Established in 2001, it has built up a loyal readership and reaches up to 15,000 people directly with its printed quarterly publication.

‘Changing Ireland’ has also built up a considerable online following via youtube (13,000 views and rising), facebook, blogger and its website: www.changingireland.ie

Our COMMERCIAL ADVERTISING RATE CARD is now available online. CLICK HERE!

A separate rate card with substantial discounts is available on request to not-for-profit organisations, in line with our believe that groups working with vulnerable people and marginalised communities should be given the opportunity to advertise even if their budget is small.

Adverts (discounted) start from €133 each (for 1/6th-page).

Contact ‘Changing Ireland’ administrator Tim Hourigan (Mon-Wed by phone) or email him anytime to place an advert. T: 061-458090. E: admin@changingireland.ie

For further queries, contact the editor, Allen Meagher. T: 061-458011. E: editor@changingireland.ie

let us know what you’re doing that’s:
(a) different and an example of good practice,
(b) that respects Community Development principles and makes a real difference for ordinary punters,
(c) that other readers throughout Ireland might like to emulate.

Phone the editor on 061-458011 with your news. Or email: editor@changingireland.ie

Our print magazine goes to 5000 addresses. Where useful, we also post news here on our blog, Youtube channel and/or Facebook page.

‘Claiming Our Future’ is a day-long event to plot and plan for a better Ireland. The organisers want to pinpoint the values a better Ireland can aspire to. Honesty and fair …play for instance. They want to “mobilize” and “unite” Ireland behind a new plan.
It takes place in the Industries Hall of the RDS in Dublin City on Saturday, 30th October, from 9am-5.30pm and entry is free.

https://www.facebook.com/ClaimingOurFuture
https://www.claimingourfuture.ie/

The day is being organised by community activists, trade unionists, academics, rights groups and umbrella bodies from the Community and Voluntary Sector. They include: Is Féidir Linn, ICTU, TASC, Social Justice Ireland, the Community Platform and the Environmental Pillar of Social Partnership.

NOTE: The ‘Is Feidir Linn’ group was slagged off in an opinion piece in the Summer edition of ‘Changing Ireland’ (they’re writing a reply). They were accused of failing to reach the wider public, of not having a message the average punter would buy into. In fairness to ‘Is Feidir Linn’, they were planning ahead when others were pulling their hair out and the ‘Claiming Our Future’ event could not have been held at a better time.

Allen’s article in the Irish Times from August 16th relating to our cover story of community groups battling racist websites.
Garda issue warning over online racism

CDPs across the country are currently integrating into the Local and Community Development Programme and some have sought to win approval for an alternative structure that better suits their communitys’ needs.

The Limerick model for setting up a Citywide CDP, as looked on favourably by the Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs is now available online (click here). The document gives details of the proposed new voluntary management structure and may be of interest to projects in other parts of the country considering their options.

The Limerick model proposes “that instead of ‘integrating’ Partnerships and CDP’s in Limerick city, CDPs are amalgamated into one “City CDP” thus retaining local voluntary involvement with real responsibility and a continued say in decisions affecting their community.”

Limerick CDPs are aiming to “ensure that the LCDP is delivered as effectively and efficiently as possible with the maximum participation and buy in from volunteers engaged over the years on CDP management committees.”

In Cork, CDPs have developed another alternative in co-operation with the HSE, while Women’s CDPs and Traveller CDPs are also understood to be at advanced stages in working out with the Department how a different model could work for their CDPs and their communities’ needs.

In most parts of the country, CDPs are being absorbed into Local Development Companies (aka Partnerships) and many if not most of them are likely to close down as companies.

An alternative model proposed by Donegal CDP’s was not accepted by the Department.

The Department have been clear that they want savings made in the areas of staff, HR, audit, administration and legal bills.

18 months ago, the first ten items that came up in a Google search for ‘Moyross’ were all negative in the extreme characterising the estate solely in terms of criminality and gangs.

A new website Moyross.ie is nowadays often listed in the top three Google listings for Moyross.

At lunchtime today, July 27^th, the Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs, Pat Carey, officially launched www.moyross.ie, an accompanying blog and ‘Changing Ireland’s Youtube channel which passed the 10,000 viewers mark earlier this year.

Community and social enterprise projects, if driven by the Government – could provide up to 65,000 jobs nationally, according to a report published in June, 2010, by the Task Force on Social Enterprise. You can download the full 16-page report here.

Roscommon-based TD, Frank Feighan has been appointed Fine Gael spokesperson for Community, Equality & Gaeltachtt Affairs, as of today.

The Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs, Pat Carey, has said that Community Development Projects and Local Development Companies (aka Partnerships) have “nothing to fear” from the new LCDP model of integration which is being applied to the sector.

The Minister today issued a statement acknowledging “the incredible work” being done by CDPs and LDCs and said everything he was doing was about maintaining services:

“Despite the tone of some coverage of the redesign of community/local development programmes and integration strategy, those involved in community development have absolutely nothing to fear from the new model. It is all about ensuring that frontline services are maintained and that the important services currently being provided continue to play a vital role in strengthening our most disadvantaged and marginalised communities.”

On Monday, Minister Carey told ‘Changing Ireland’ in an interview to be published in our upcoming magazine:

“My view is it would be better for all the citizens of this country, who are recipients of the services, and be in everybody’s interest if people (meaning projects) said let’s knuckle down and work out how we’re going to develop this process for the next number of years and how we’re going to do it.

“It is too easy to do this year what we did last year and the year before. We have always got to be really smart intellectually in what we’re doing.

“I believe in Community Development as a vehicle for change, but I don’t believe that vehicle can’t be changed, modified.

In today’s statement, Minister Carey urged CDPs and LDCs to “look to the future” and insisted that the Programme redesign was in line with best international practice and had nothing to do with the closing of CDPs or the cessation of the essential services they provide to communities nationwide.

“I acknowledge the incredible work carried out by CDPs and LDCs but communities change and the challenges faced by communities change. Accordingly our approach to those challenges must change. We need to look to the future.”

The DCEGA has set out a national model involving full integration of CDPs with local development companies (LDCs), but the Minister (as stated in our blog report yesterday) has made it clear that other options have been considered and that it is not a question of ‘one size fits all’. Alternative models are required to meet a range of criteria, including a reduction in the number of structures, promoting the potential for integrated delivery of services to the public, supporting efficiencies and reducing the burden of company law compliance for CDPs.

“The only unacceptable option is one that seeks to preserve the status quo and some models proposed by CDPs and other parties since the launch of the LCDP have been rejected on that basis,” said the Minister.

His statement today said that unless a project has received provisional approval from the Department for an alternative LCDP integration model, groups are required to submit their plans for full integration by today, June 30^th.

He had earlier left the door just slightly ajar telling ‘Changing Ireland’ he might allow for “injury time” while stressing that the deadline was at the same time not being extended.

“May I take this opportunity to reassure all concerned that my focus remains firmly on ensuring that scarce resources are targeted at the most vulnerable communities through optimising our efforts and resources at the front-line,” added Minister Carey.

He also drew attention to an often overlooked element of the last budget:

“It should also be noted that funding for community development projects for 2010 has been ringfenced and maintained at 2009 levels. In few other areas of public spending has it been possible to do this.”

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As promised in Tuesday’s blog entry, here’s more from our ‘Changing Ireland’ interview with the Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs, Pat Carey.

The scheme for funding National Organisations in the Community and Voluntary Sector is now coming to the end of its three-year cycle but the signs are positive that it will be continued under Minister Pat Carey.

The Minister and his officials are meanwhile aware and working to deal with particular concerns of Women’s CDPs and Traveller CDPs as part of the emerging Local and Community Development Programme.

The Minister noted that the media had written-off his Department earlier this year and couldn’t have got it more wrong as it has doubled in size.

“The new Department will be a serious, policy-driven department. There’s a huge amount of expertise here. I think this Department will be quite a significant crucible for ideas,” he said.

Here are some further extracts from the interview:

Editor, Allen Meagher: Would your intention be that the scheme for funding National Organisations in the Community and Voluntary Sector would continue?

Minister Pat Carey: “I don’t want to anticipate anything, but I’ve to be honest, it’s an approach that worked very well. I started the process of (funding for) a three-year (period). You need that.”

Editor: So you would hope to have another similar scheme?

Minister: “I would yes. I’m satisfied from dealing with it. But there’s a review going on because there could be new emerging needs and there might be very valid new groups out there who aren’t getting a half-penny (yet).”

Editor, Allen Meagher: With regard to the LCDP, is there any special provision being made for Traveller CDPs. I understand there’s an issue for them with Partnership boards that don’t generally have Traveller representatives?

Minister: “I’ve met with the main Traveller organisations and my view is that a model will be developed which will address the concerns and the needs of the Traveller community.”

Editor: And how about Women’s CDPs?

Minister: “The same thing.”

Editor: Will Gaeltacht CDPs be going in under Udaras?

Minister: “A small number, maybe.”

Would you agree that the Community Sector has been disproportionately cut, as claimed in research published today?

“I don’t want to anticipate the next budget.”

The Sunday Business Post suggested that communities are in for bigger cuts than other areas?

“This Department (of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs ) was three months ago due to be abolished, it’s now doubled in size so I wouldn’t pay a huge amount of attention to that.”

THAT’S IT FOR NOW! THE FULL INTERVIEW WILL BE PUBLISHED IN THE UPCOMING PRINT EDITION OF ‘CHANGING IRELAND’.

Research work last month by Brian Harvey and IMPACT showed that 4,500 jobs and €80m in cuts could hit disadvantaged communities this year.

The research by Harvey and the trade union received front page coverage in the Irish Examiner on Monday.

‘Changing Ireland’ asked Minister Pat Carey that very day was he pleased with the coverage and he said he was, but he declined to say whether or not he agreed that cuts to the Community Sector were “disproportionate”.

Brian’s research shows the Community Sector may lose 4,500 jobs in 2010 and is struggling with 9-10% cuts which is above the average.

The Ballyphehane/Togher Community Development Project in Cork, Parents Alone Support Services CDP in Dublin and Minister Pat Carey, SIPTU’s Gerry Flanagan, independent councilor Cieren Perry and the Community Worker’s Co-op’s Ann Irwin were among those interviewed for the 2-page spread inside.

Examiner lead story:

https://www.examiner.ie/ireland/4500-jobs-at-risk-80m-cut-for-social-schemes-123597.html

Brian’s full report for IMPACT can be downloaded from:

https://www.impact.ie/iopen24/pub/general/HarveyReport2010.pdf

There are online links to the Examiner’s coverage of the 2 CDPs:

https://www.irishexaminer.com/archives/2010/0628/ireland/one-more-cut-and-were-gone-says-lone-parent-group-123539.html#ixzz0sKUbyEOc

AND

https://www.examiner.ie/ireland/theres-work-being-done-that-cant-be-measured-on-paper-123538.html#ixzz0sKUQxens

ALSO SEE:

https://www.examiner.ie/ireland/community-groups-in-crisis-123537.html

COMMENTS WELCOME (click on ‘Comments’ below here)!

PERSONAL ABUSE IS A NO-NO. PRAISE, COMMENT AND CRITICISM OF POLICY OR APPROACH IS COOL. GIVE YOUR NAME IF POSSIBLE, OR CLICK THE ‘ANONYMOUS’ KEY.