Minister Attwood announces Extension

Minister for Social Development Alex Attwood has announced a one-year extension of funding for Ulster GAA in partnership with City Church Belfast, the Church of  Ireland Diocese of Derry and Raphoe and Voluntary Arts Ireland in his Department’s cross-border volunteering project.

The Project was initiated in 2008 by the then DSD Minister Margaret Ritchie in partnership with the Department for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs in the South to promote volunteer work across the island of Ireland. Funding was initially for three years but Minister Attwood has now confirmed that his Department will extend that funding for a further year.

Ulster GAA has a staggering 250,000 volunteers across Ulster and the GAA in across the whole of Ireland has 1 million volunteer members.

Minister for Social Development, Alex Attwood said: “In  recruiting significant numbers of new volunteers and providing good quality opportunities for them, these four projects have shown the true value of volunteering as an essential part of our society. There is a wealth and diversity of volunteering across Ireland. It is part of our national character. It is witnessed in every town and townland, city and county. Volunteers contribute enormously.”

“It’s important to recognise the cross border nature of volunteering with many organisations working on an all island basis. Volunteers, especially in border areas, are also volunteering across the border as they follow their interests and causes.”

“This additional year of funding will  encourage further joint and innovative working. It will also provide  more time for other national, regional and local organisations to  consider how they might also encourage and develop good quality  volunteering opportunities that serve the needs of local communities.”

Ulster GAA Provincial Secretary Danny Murphy has  welcomed the extension of funding for one year saying, “This project has  been invaluable to GAA grassroots members across all nine counties of  Ulster as it has concentrated on volunteer development, building  capacity across club volunteers, promoting diversity and inclusion,  implementing best practice in terms of governance and regulations while  also supporting Ulster GAA’s ongoing community work in health and  wellbeing.

“The establishment of Ulster GAA’s Community  Development Department has been cemented by this project and we are  proud to keep community and volunteer development at the top of our  agenda.  We are currently bidding for further funding for  this project and are confident that with a new Northern Ireland Assembly  being elected in May that this deliver further funding for this  worthwhile project.

“Through this project we have worked closely with the  Church of Ireland, City Church and Voluntary Arts Ireland – this has  been an enriching experience and we look forward to continuing to work  with these organizations to promote the importance of volunteering  across the island of Ireland.”

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Minister Alex Attwood is pictured with Uachtarán Chomhairle Uladh at the recent Ulster GAA Club & Volunteer Development Conference.