The Federation of Irish Societies (FIS) is a national umbrella organisation established in 1973, which draws together Irish clubs and societies in Britain. It promotes the interests of Irish people through community care, education, culture and arts, youth and sports activities and information provision. FIS is non-politically aligned and non-sectarian. It has over 100 affiliates throughout Britain who meet four times a year for National meetings and one Annual Congress.

Among the aims of FIS is to provide access to the Irish community for members and non-members alike. This service is available to, and helps people across a range of social, commercial, welfare, media and cultural needs.

As part of its commitment to representing the interests of the Irish community in Britain the FIS management committee and staff have regular meetings with representatives of the government and political parties in Britain and Ireland, as well as with statutory and voluntary bodies in both states in these islands. It campaigns for consistent ethnic monitoring, with an Irish category, by local authorities and service providers. FIS successfully campaigned for an Irish category in the ethnic question in the 2001 census, in order that information will be available to support service development and to ensure that the needs of Irish people in Britain are met on an equitable basis.

FIS currently employs seventeen staff:-

Director
Capacity Building Coordinator
Operations Manager
Policy Officer
Executive Assistant
Finance Administrator
Health Development Officer
Senior Clubs & Community Centres Development Officer
Clubs & Community Centres Development Officer(x 2)
Senior Community Development Officer
Community Development Officer(2 x Midlands/North, 2 x London and South)
Cultural Development Officer
Receptionist


CONTACTS

On general FIS issues and enquiries please contact:
Ann Gould, Executive Assistant Tel: 020 7833 1226- e-mail: agould@irishsocieties.org