A Donegal County Councillor has called for greater supports for local sports, voluntary and community organisations who have had funding sources cut by Covid-19.
Sinn Féin Cllr Jack Murray has this week urged the council to recognise how the crisis has adversely impacted the many local groups who remained active during the crisis.
“Many struggle on a weekly basis to provide the high class services that they do,” Cllr Murray said, and the pandemic has prevented groups hosting their usual fundraising events such as sports competitions, matches, large functions, coffee mornings and sponsored walks.
“Even after the pandemic has passed, these organised will continue to struggle with the shortfall,” he said.
Cllr Murray highlighted the mental and physical health support that sport, community and voluntary groups provide and said that it was vital that the council sends out a strong message to secure extra supports for such organisations.
In response, the council acknowledged how Community, Voluntary and Sporting groups and organisations led the way with regard to responding to the needs of the most vulnerable people within our communities during the ‘lockdown’ restrictions in March 2020. The efforts of active groups were coordinated by the council’s Community Forum and a number of funding initiatives were put in place nationally and locally.
“There is little doubt that additional supports will be required to help restore and maintain their services and activities to pre Covid 19 levels,” the council said.