By Paul McGill from NICVA
Published on 24 Apr 2008
The injection of up to £20 million per year into the voluntary and community sector in Northern Ireland will be a wonderful boost, NICVA said on 24 April.
Notes to editors
Social development Minister Margaret Ritchie launched the scheme at the offices of the Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action (NICVA) on Thursday 24 April.
Public relations are being handled by Q4 in Dublin.
For more information or comment about the voluntary and community sector contact Paul McGill, tel 028 9087 7777; mobile: 0772 1746 805.
As many as 4,000 not-for-profit organisations will benefit from the Charity Technology eXchange (CTX) run by the Charity 
Technology Trust. They will have access to modern information and communications technology provided by Microsoft, Cisco and Symantec.
NICVA chief executive Seamus McAleavey warmly welcomed the boost at a time when the incomes of voluntary and community organisations are under severe pressure.
“Most people know that charities serve people in Northern Ireland with great passion. They meet needs that the market cannot serve and government cannot reach. They are also very professional and are always trying to improve the quality of their services. Many have won Investors in People and other awards.
“But what they often lack is the money to buy the modern technology they need to offer top-class services to huge numbers of people who are vulnerable, isolated or affected by poverty, poor health or low skills. This new scheme can close the divide and give us access to the sort of facilities that businesses already enjoy.
“It is brilliant that organisations of the size and scale of Microsoft, Cisco and Symantec are going to help, and help big time," Mr McAleavey added.
Organisations can find out about the new opportunities by logging on to www.ctxchange.org.
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