Please help save your local CDP!!!!!!!!Community Development - don't cut the grass roots Campaign

[Sharon Kennedy]

 

Subject: Attention. New campaign details from Community Workers Co-operative and National Community Development Forum

 

Dear Friend

 

 

I am sending you all notice of an email campaign that needs to happen EVERY DAY in relation to the what is being proposed by the government for community development projects in Wexford and Nationally.

 

As it stands at the moment , by 30^th June the voluntary boards of management are being asked to agree to transfer over all their assets, finances, staff and programme to Local Developmemt Companies.

 

This proposed integration of the CDP programme with the LDSIP programme nationally will have a devasting effect on the community of South West Wexford as it takes the local ownership and direction of this work away from the volunteers on the board of SWWCDP, who have worked tirelessly for the last 20 years to build up this much needed and valued rural resource in a catchment area of 9,000 people.

 

 

There is an attachment with this email that explains fully what we plan to do in this campaign and a list of email addresses for members of the oireachtas to whom you can send the same letter………………….

 

 

Below is a copy of a letter that we hope every person who supports community development in Wexford and Nationally will email to Minister Carey at his email address pat.carey@taoiseach.gov.ie.  And to all other members of the oireachtas in order that they put pressure on the  minister for a reversal of these proposals.

 

So Please copy and paste the letter below into a blank email and send it to the attached list and Minister Carey……..Keep your services local!!!!!

 

 

 

Re:         Community Development - don't cut the grass roots

Dear Minister Carey,

I am writing to you to express my deepest concern at the imminent closure of projects funded under the Community Development Programme. I am aware that projects are to be asked to attend a seminar on June 10^th at which they will be given directions on:

·         how to assess the assets of the project (many of these assets were as result of communities fundraising and were accumulated with no State aid)

·         How to assess a project liability

·         How to transfer assets and liabilities from their project to the local Partnership Company

·         How to wind down their companies.

As you are no doubt aware, projects funded under the Community Development Programme work in the most disadvantaged and marginalised communities in Ireland. They work with people who experience poverty, social inclusion and inequalities on a daily basis. Crucially, they support, enable and promote the participation of people living and experiencing these issues to engage in solutions. As a key part of this, they engage and promote the participation of members of the communities with which and in which they work at all levels of the project, including at management committee level. Critically, community development as an approach provides a voice to many people who have least influence over the political or policy making system.

Hundreds of people have given thousands of hours on a voluntary basis over the years to the management of projects because they believe that they make a difference to their communities. Projects have been a catalyst for significant work at local level all over the country.

The closure of the projects will mean the end of a vital element of the local extension of democracy, participation and Irish civil society. I am urging you, as Minister for the Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs, to prevent this from happening, to withdraw the requirement that projects funded under the Community Development Programme need to close, and allow them to:

 

• engage in the Local and Community Development Programme on an equal footing with the Partnership Companies
• retain their company structure
•  retain their assets (and liabilities)
• retain their independence, autonomy and accountability

Further, I am urging you to meet with stakeholders to discuss viable alternatives to those the department is currently pursuing.

Yours,