All Party Group established
13 MLAs representing a cross section of parties in the Assembly met on 21 April to establish an All Party Group on the Voluntary and Community Sector.
Ulster Unionist MLA Roy Beggs was appointed Chairperson. Vice Chair is the DUP's Jonathan Craig while the roles of Secretary and Assistant Secretary will be filled by Sinn Fein's Caral NiChuilin and SDLP MLA John Dallat. Alliance MLA Trevor Lunn will act as Treasurer.
Other members of the group are Basil McCrea and John McCallister from the Ulster Unionist Party, Simon Hamilton and Michelle McIlveen from the DUP, Jennifer McCann and Fra McCann from Sinn Fein, SDLP MLA Dominic Bradley, Green Party MLA Brian Wilson and PUP party leader Dawn Purvis.
NICVA Chief Executive Seamus McAleavey spoke to the group about NICVA's proposal to develop a new framework for relations between government and the voluntary and community sector and the impact of the economic recession on its organisations. Seamus said that NICVA and the wider sector traditionally engaged with officials and the bureaucracy of government and we are keen to develop structured relationships with elected members in the Assembly. The establishment of the All Party Group is a key milestone in forging these relationships.
Group members discussed topics for future meetings and it was decided that the next meeting in June would explore the impact of monitoring and audit on voluntary and community organisations.
In September the group will discuss the models of engagement with the voluntary and community sector that exist in other regions.
Speaking after the meeting Seamus McAleavey said:
"We are really encouraged that so many MLA's attended the meeting on what was a particularly busy day in the Assembly. It's a good indication of the level of interest in the voluntary and community sector amongst MLAs and NICVA is looking forward to working with the group as it develops over the coming months."
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