TAP Social Inclusion Panel

To ensure effective representation from socially excluded groups and to facilitate equality of access and participation in the Tolka Area Partnership’s decision making structures the Board of Tolka Area Partnership commissioned the establishment of a Social Inclusion Panel (SIP) in 2009.

The panel is comprised community based groups and organisations that can advocate on behalf of the named target groups under the National Development Plan.

The panel is responsible for nominating the four Social Inclusion Directors to the Board of Tolka Area Partnership. It meets on a quarterly basis and acts as an advisory council to the Board and sub committees of the Partnership. 

Tolka Area Partnership Social Inclusion Panel Guiding Principles

TAP views the SIP as being a key element in informing and advising its work and that of committees of the Board and any Task Groups that may be formed. The key remit of the SIP is in representing and advocating on behalf of the key target groups of the Local and Community Development Programme on Partnership structures.

The Social Inclusion Panel was established on the premise that some members of society do not have equal access to decision making structures. TAP acknowledges that representation on such structures for members of key target groups is often difficult and challenging. TAP is committed to providing suitable mechanisms to support target group representation on Partnership structures.  

In assessing a group’s suitability for participation on the SIP the following principles will be used to inform our decision making processes:   

Overarching Principles:

• Representation on the SIP will be prioritised for groups or organisations that have no other mechanism to feed into the Partnership’s decision making structures
• Representation should come from community based groups or organisations that are at the frontline in terms of services and supports to the key target groups
• If there is no local representative body or structure we will seek regional or national representation until such time as local representation is possible - It is better to have some form of representation than to have none
• Where possible nominees should come from the Tolka Area Partnership’s area of operation
• Where possible nominees should be a member of the named target group

It is important that the principles underpinning the establishment of the SIP are adhered to. However we acknowledge that flexibility will be required and these principles will be subject to periodic review. 

Eligibility Criteria for Social Inclusion Panel

To be eligible to join the Social Inclusion Panel your group must:

• Have a commitment to social inclusion and anti-poverty work
• Have a commitment to equality and anti-racism
• Have experience of working with people that experience social exclusion
• Have a commitment to openness, transparency and accountability
• Have a commitment to working in a collaborative way
• Have a constitution or memorandum and articles of association or terms of reference
• If you are required to hold an AGM to have held an AGM within the last
  18 months
• Be a not-for-profit organisation or charity
• Be managed by a voluntary Board or committee
• Be in existence for a minimum of one year
• Be willing to advocate on behalf of the named target group you are representing for the entire Tolka Area Partnership area.
• Be committed to supporting your nominee should he or she be chosen to represent the social inclusion panel on the Board of the Tolka Area Partnership
• Eligibility Criteria Nominees
• Nominees should, where possible, live within the Tolka Area Partnership Area
• Nominees should, where possible, be a member of the named target group

If your group fits the eligibility criteria and would like to join the Tolka Area Social Inclusion Panel please download the membership form below and return to Pauline Hazel, Tolka Area Partnership, 27/28 Annamoe Terrace, Cabra, Dublin 7.

Click here to download the Social Inclusion Panel Membership Form.

For more information on the role of the Social Inclusion Panel please contact cathy.reinhardt@tap.ie