The Taskforce's message is 'keep it simple'

In its terms of reference the Taskforce on Resourcing the Voluntary and Community Sector talks about ensuring the sector can continue to make a substantial contribution to the achievement of government objectives and the well-being of the Northern Ireland Community.

How local community groups could best be supported in achieving this aim was the subject of a recent roundtable meeting which was hosted by NICVA. Those taking part in the discussions represented network organisations and local community groups. Some of the points raised included:

• the community sector has a distinctive generic approach to its work which needs to be accepted by government at both regional and local level
• currently government seems to understand the needs of regional bodies but little cognisance is taken of the needs of organisations below regional level
• there are dangers in over-elaborating the debate around community infrastructure.

The group reflected that despite the Voluntary Sector Compact and the Partners for Change documents there are still precious few generic community development workers who are core funded in Northern Ireland.

In relation to the debate on community infrastructure it was suggested that the following would describe what constitutes the first level of support in local areas:

• community development workers for support and animation in local neighbourhoods
• personnel development programmes linked to CD
• support for the community development activities of local areas
• development of the services provided by local network organisations
• training and education for groups
• organisational development support for groups.

It seems to make sense that if community development is a process which is largely carried out by local actors then most of the support agencies should be at the local level. In fact, we seem to have the reverse here with financial support being put in place to fund regional bodies it is a bit like providing universities when we do not have schools or even teachers. Community infrastructure needs to be properly constructed to be available appropriately at local, sub-regional and regional levels. At the moment all that is being put in place is some sort of regional superstructure.

On the issue of sustainability it was noted that people's understanding of what is involved in community development needs to include the idea that five, or even ten years, is not such a long time in the development of a community. We must be realistic about the costs of funding a proper infrastructure that enables communities to progress from one decade to the next. Self-generated income in most cases can only hope to meet a fraction of the costs involved.

Another issue raised was the need for both regional and local government agencies to recognise and accept the generic nature of community development. While the development of the Voluntary and Community Unit within the Department for Social Development is to be welcomed, it was felt that regional government and its agencies instinctively revert to viewing life through departmental eyes. Perhaps, what is required is a direct line in DSD for funding general community development work in local areas. Speaking of which, Community Support Plans- where are they? Was this the master plan to deliver such support to local areas? Well, there is no sign of the plans yet maybe they got mislaid in some council community centre.

And finally, to get us all beyond our centres and start to see the trees that make up this wood, the message from our roundtable was 'keep it simple'. If we want competent, energetic groups that are able to work alongside government departments and the private sector to build new levels of political stability, equality and economic and social well being, then we need to provide structures that allow us to get close to these groups to support them in making things happen in their local neighbourhoods.