Steering Group

Noeline Blackwell (Flac) Ivan Cooper (The Wheel) Judy Dunne (Consumers Association of Ireland) Caroline Egan (Carmichael Centre) Caroline Fahey (Society of St Vincent de Paul) Niamh Garvey (Trocaire) Noeleen Hartigan (Amnesty International) Joyce Lougnan(Focus Ireland) David Lynch (Community Workers' Cooperative) Sheila Nordon (ICTR) Brid O'Brien (Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed) Orla O'Connor (NWCI) Joan O'Donnell (Disability Federation of Ireland) Siobhan O'Donoghue (Community Platform) Kathleen O'Meara (Irish Cancer Society) Jean Somers (Commuity Employers Forum) June Tinsley (Bernardos)

Project Management

Mike Allen (Focus Ireland) Patrick Burke (Youth Work Ireland) Caroline Egan (Carmichael Centre), Gerry Mangan, Mike Allen (Focus Ireland), Eugene Flynn (54 Degrees), Kieran Murphy, Chair (Society of St Vincent de Paul) Joan O'Donnell (Disability Federation of Ireland)Gerry Mangon

Process

The Advocacy Initiative has its origins in discussions at the Centre for Non-profit Management (TCD) summer school in 2008. There followed a broader debate amongst actors within the Community and Voluntary Sector that led to the formation of Steering Group. The Steering Group developed a proposal for collaborative action to examine the status of community and voluntary sector advocacy in Ireland, and in August 2010 published a report that drew on discussions and analysis by and with a broad range of stakeholders. That project report identified a need for deeper engagement to promote understanding, awareness and effectiveness of social justice advocacy in Ireland.

The Advocacy Initiative emerged at a time when the deep economic and social crisis in Ireland was being revealed, and reflects an urgent need to strengthen the influence of social justice advocates. The Initiative aims to make a contribution to shaping Ireland’s future by finding new ways of working with the public policy process and of engaging with the broader public debate.

With support from The Atlantic Philanthropies the Steering Group defined and articulated a three yearprogramme of work aimed at promoting the concept, practice and efficacy of social justice advocacy as a central feature of civil society.

The Advocacy Initiative is open to any community and voluntary sector actor engaged in and reflecting on social justice advocacy. The Initiative welcomes the involvement of a broad range of stakeholders and seeks to create space for cross-sectorial analysis and reflection. Those interested in the work of the Initiative are invited to contact us directly.