Charities and NGOs benefit from pro bono Bar training

Yesterday’s Speaking for Ourselves workshop was established to assist charities in developing their advocacy skills and enhance their capacity to communicate as an organisation.

Trócaire, Immigrant Council of Ireland, Irish Refugee Council, MS Ireland, Family Carers Ireland, Citizens Information and Samaritans were among the 23 organisations that took part.

Addressing the workshop were barristers Michael Cush SC, Turlough O’Donnell SC, Louise Beirne BL, Mary Rose Gearty SC, Bairbre O’Neill BL, Micheal Lynn SC, and Aoife Carroll BL.

Michelle Grant, committees’ secretariat - head of EU and International Relations at the Houses of the Oireachtas Service, and Thomas Ryan, environment and infrastructure executive at the Irish Farmers’ Association, also presented on effective engagement with public bodies.

The workshop was organised as part of the pro bono assistance provided to groups from the voluntary sector by barristers under The Bar of Ireland’s Voluntary Assistance Scheme (VAS).

More information about the VAS is available from the Bar’s website.