Enough is Enough campaign

Join the campaign for a better anti-poverty strategy for Northern Ireland.

At a roundtable discussion at NICVA on 15 August, voluntary and community representatives called for the sector to unite once again in opposition to 'Towards an Anti-Poverty Strategy', the current OFMDFM consultation, and to offer a new way forward.

Campaign activities

Join the campaign

Send an email or write a press release... find out how your organisation can join the Enough is Enough campaign.

It's up to you - don't leave it to someone else.

The campaign will only work if the voluntary and community sector unites with one clear voice to say Enough is Enough.

Consultation history

This time last year 180 voluntary and community organisations endorsed a position paper which severely criticised the recommendations of the first consultation 'New TSN - a way forward'. An alternative framework was offered for a more robust anti-poverty strategy.

The second phase of the consultation was released this summer. Organisations have been astounded at its weak content, flawed process and general lack of direction.

One commentator describes the document as an "insult" given the amount of talking, consulting and advising the sector has done over the past ten years on this issue.

Sector ignored

At the roundtable it was strongly felt that the views of voluntary and community sector commentators were ignored during the last consultation.

For example, the position paper devised by NICVA and formally endorsed by 180 organisations - more than the total of all other responses received - was counted as one response by OFMDFM. Ignoring this huge body of opposition, OFMDFM's new consultation document claimed there was "agreement with the broad architecture of the strategy" and seriously misrepresented the views submitted.

High level objectives needed

Speaking at the roundtable NICVA's chief executive Seamus McAleavey said, "We have debated this issue to death and now need to see action from the Minister.

"If we are serious about seeing an end to poverty in Northern Ireland the anti-poverty strategy needs clear and measurable high level objectives, similar to the Treasury's objective of cutting child poverty by 50% by 2010 and eliminating it by 2020.

"The status quo is not working for people experiencing poverty in Northern Ireland and a strategy which maintains the status quo is not acceptable."

Responding to the Phase II deadline

The open letter will be NICVA's response to the consultation. We will not submit it to OFMDFM before the deadline of 26 August because we want to focus on the demonstration and publication of the letter on Thursday 22 September. Many voluntary and community organisations are choosing to do the same.

If you will be responding to the consultation, share it with others by sending it to enoughisenough@nicva.org. We will publish it on this website. If you do send a response, you can also support the campaign by signing the open letter.

If your organisation has resources, reports or statistics on poverty and social inclusion, please share them with the campaign. Send copies of the documents to enoughisenough@nicva.org