12 May 2003
DSD PRAISED FOR ITS COMMITMENT TO VOLUNTEERING
The Department for Social Development’s commitment to volunteering was today recognised at an event to celebrate the success of volunteering in Northern Ireland.
The event was hosted by the Volunteer Development Agency to highlight the Department’s financial support for volunteering. It was attended by groups which have benefited from the Department’s current annual funding of £2.5m through the Active Community Initiative, the Volunteer Bureau Initiative and the Community Volunteering Scheme. John Hunter, the Permanent Secretary for the Department for Social Development said: "I am delighted that the Department’s role in supporting volunteering has been recognised here today because it gives me a chance to meet and thank the people who make things happen in the voluntary community. "It is estimated that some £200m worth of volunteer hours are produced in Northern Ireland each year and this could never have been achieved without your hard work and dedication. "All of you have made separate contributions to the success of the Active Community Initiative, the Volunteer Bureau Initiative and the Community Volunteering Scheme, and you should feel proud that you have made a real difference to lives of so many people within your communities." NOTES TO EDITORS:
- The Voluntary and Community Unit (VCU) within the Department for Social Development has responsibility for three funding programmes to encourage and support volunteering; the Volunteering Bureau Initiative, the Active Community Initiative and the Community Volunteering Scheme. The Volunteer Development Agency acts as managing agent for the administration of these programmes on behalf of DSD.
- VCU has committed a total of £2,555,443 to these three funding programmes in 2003/04.
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