Part F: Regional Information/Advocacy Development Funding.
Scope, aims and objectives
Each of the five Comhairle regions has a fund available for use by regional teams to promote and develop initiatives not currently being met in the areas of information and advocacy. In 2005 each region had a maximum fund of €57,000 allocated for this purpose. The overall objectives and the projects funded are aimed at reaching marginalised groups, developing innovative information content and delivery mechanisms, creating partnerships and linkages between Comhairle and other organisations, developing the provision of advocacy services and promoting Comhairle products. There is no ongoing funding provision from these funds. In 2004 the number of projects funded was 54.
Criteria for approval
The principal considerations in determining the merit of a particular project are the extent to which it meets the following criteria:
- meeting the information/advocacy needs of marginalised groups and supporting organisations, particularly people with disabilities
- enhancing links between Comhairle and other organisations, including Citizens Information Services
- creating partnerships/linkages between other service providers.
- promoting Comhairle products and services
- consistency with the strategic development of Comhairle services regionally and nationally
- developing an awareness and understanding of advocacy
- developing the provision of advocacy services
- funding will not be available retrospectively
Who may apply
Voluntary, community and statutory groups, working with the Comhairle Area Executive in a region
How project proposals are formulated
Regional teams, working in defined geographical areas, develop contacts and working relationships with the range of statutory, voluntary and community sector agencies which are active in the fields of information/advocacy or social inclusion work. Arising from this overview and range of contacts issues are identified and possible means of addressing these issues are considered with an agency or groups of agencies. In addition, consultation within Comhairle is generally part of this development phase.
Once the participants, objectives and specific actions of a project are identified the details, along with key administrative information, are documented by regional staff and submitted for consideration by Comhairle regional management.
How decisions are made
Regional managers are responsible for approval of all project expenditure, up to a maximum of €10,000, in their region. Proposals, which entail expenditure over this sum, need the approval of the Senior Manager, Regional Services. It is usual for managers to seek the views of team members and other Comhairle colleagues as part of their consideration of a project.
Decisions on the approval/non approval, and the amount of funding involved are systematically circulated internally within Comhairle
Communication with participant agencies
Where a project is approved the relevant member of staff writes to the lead participant organisation advising them of the terms and conditions attached to the proposed release of funds. This correspondence specifies the stages at which progress reports are to be provided to Comhairle and details the administrative and control procedures to apply.
All enquiries should be directed to the Regional
Administrator
(see Appendix II for list of Comhairle regional
offices.)
