Crisis in the community sector - Imminent closure of Carmichael House

The Carmichael Centre for Voluntary Groups is being forced to close on 9 July 2004.

The Dublin-based centre is home to 45 small voluntary and community groups which provide services to 10% of the Irish population nationwide. All of these groups will be evicted on 9 July 2004. The loss of Carmichael Centre’s essential enabling role for all these groups will have serious knock-on effects for the community and voluntary sector nationwide.

STOP PRESS!

The Carmichael Centre for Voluntary Groups is being forced to close on 9 July 2004.

The Dublin-based centre is home to 45 small voluntary and community groups which provide services to 10% of the Irish population nationwide. All of these groups will be evicted on 9 July 2004. The loss of Carmichael Centre’s essential enabling role for all these groups will have serious knock-on effects for the community and voluntary sector nationwide.

WHY IS THE CENTRE BEING FORCED TO CLOSE?

Carmichael Centre have asked the government to provide core funding of €300,000 per annum on an ongoing basis. This represents only one third of its operating costs, the majority of costs being raised by the Centre through corporate sponsorship, fundraising and member group fees.

Carmichael Centre has a legitimate expectation to secure government core funding to support what is a unique and valuable resource in the Republic of Ireland.

The Department of Health and Children has already indicated they will provide half the government funding - ie. €150,000 per annum. The Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs has been requested for the remaining €150,000. They are currently refusing this request.

THE IMPACT

Volunteering Ireland is currently housed at Carmichael Centre. Volunteering Ireland is the number one provider of specialised training, consultancy and advice on volunteer issues in Ireland. We provide quality support to almost 2,000 voluntary and community groups nationwide. Volunteering Ireland also links volunteers to organisations in the Dublin area, which enables many groups to carry out their vital work - whether in the field of health, disability, sports, education, arts, or a range of other areas. If the Centre closes, Volunteering Ireland will be forced to suspend its vital services, and the impact on our service users and the wider community and voluntary sector in Ireland will be catastrophic.

In addition, the unique support, advice, advocacy and practical services provided by the 44 other member groups (including groups such as Children in Hospital Ireland, Post Polio Support Group, Drama League of Ireland, Canteen [group working for children with cancer], Parentline) will be severely disrupted or even lost. This cannot be allowed to happen.

ACTION

Please support Carmichael Centre and the 45 member groups, and show your support to the community and voluntary sector in Ireland by contacting the Ministers (details below) and asking them to commit to the requested funding to keep this resource alive. Please also contact friends/colleagues/media and inform them of this appalling situation. A few lines, and a few minutes is all it takes.

Minister Éamon Ó Cuív TD
Department of Community Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs
43 - 49 Mespil Road
Dublin 4
Email: ../mailto:eolas@pobail.ie

Noel Ahern TD
Minister of State
Department of Community Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs
43 - 49 Mespil Road
Dublin 4
Tel: 01 647 3000
Fax: 01 647 3151
Email: ../mailto:alockhart@pobail.ie


On behalf of Carmichael Centre and Volunteering Ireland, I would like to thank you for your anticipated support.

Yours sincerely

Clare McGuinness
Executive Officer
Volunteering Ireland
Coleraine House
Coleraine Street
Dublin 7
tel: +353 1 872 2622 ext. 24
fax: +353 1 872 2623
email: ../mailto:clare@volunteeringireland.com
web: www.volunteeringireland.com
...valuing volunteering...