20 February 2003

Minister praises community peacebuilders

Voluntary and Community groups have shown great courage and endurance in peace building and community development in difficult areas across Northern Ireland, Des Browne, the Minister with responsibility for Social Development, said today.

He was speaking at the Millennium Forum in Londonderry, where he launched the annual report of the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland. He said: “This report represents another milestone in the development of the sector. The Community Foundation has not just changed its name from the Voluntary Trust in the last year, but it has also embarked on a demanding strategic plan to help build and diversify its work with communities.

“Through its work in encouraging peace-building, active citizenship, inclusion and strengthening community infrastructure the Foundation is underpinning efforts to build a peaceful and prosperous society. I commend you for your efforts, often in the most difficult of circumstances.”

The Minister congratulated the Director of the Community Foundation, Avila Kilmurray, on her recent appointment to the new Task Force on Resourcing the Voluntary and Community Sector.

“The Taskforce will play an important part in shaping the future of the voluntary and community sector in Northern Ireland. The uncertainty of the overall funding climate and the issue of sustainability for the voluntary and community sector beyond Peace II have re-emphasized the importance of developing a comprehensive funding framework for the sector.

“Both Government and the voluntary and community sector will face enormous challenges over the next few years. I might not be around in Northern Ireland to see the outcomes of this work, but I know that the foundations are being put in place to ensure that we have a coherent and integrated strategy in place across Government for the support of the sector.”

The Community Foundation Northern Ireland is an independent charitable trust, which supports and encourages the efforts of voluntary and community groups to tackle a wide range of social, economic and community problems.

(MB)