Smart Solutions Campaign: Bulletin Four - 4 November 2010

Welcome to the fourth Smart Solutions in Tough Times e-bulletin ... 

As the Northern Ireland Executive deal with the implications of the Spending Review and prepare a budget, Programme for Government and Investment Strategy for consultation, it is important that we in the voluntary and community sector continue to make our voices heard. November offers a number of opportunities for organisations to engage with political parties and elected representatives ...

Political Party Time

This weekend sees the political party annual conference season kick off in earnest. As ever NICVA will have a strong presence at all the party conferences.  Our message this year will be to showcase the best of the voluntary and community sector and continue our campaign to ensure that the sector is not subject to unfair and disproportionate cuts in public expenditure. 

Lots of voluntary and community organisations participate in the exhibition space at party conferences but traditionally the party dinners have been the domain of the business community and other lobbyists.  Party conference dinners offer the chance to network with elected members and party officials, staff and office holders in a more informal way and NICVA is keen to ensure that voluntary and community organisations are able to attend.

For the past two years NICVA has booked a table at each conference and split the cost. This has proven to be a cost effective and useful way of enabling organisations to participate. 

This year's conferences are:

• SDLP - 6 November - Ramada Hotel - dinner at 8pm - £50 per person (two places left)
• DUP - 26 November - La Mon Hotel - dinner at 8pm - £100 per person
• UUP - 3 December - other details to be confirmed

If you would like to attend please email cathy.breslin@nicva.org as soon as possible, as places are allocated on a first come first served basis.

OFMdFM Committee joining the Social Development Committee to hear your views on the budget

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to speak directly to the Assembly Committees.

Committees in the NI Assembly have a crucial role in scrutinising the budget. As DSD has lead responsibility for the voluntary and community sector, many NICVA member organisations will want to talk to the DSD Committee and raise their concerns about the budget. The Committee for the Office of the First and deputy First Minister have responsibility for the scrutiny of many policy areas relevant to the work of the voluntary and community sector such as poverty, equality, human rights and good relations.

Committee Members were concerned that not enough organisations would get to engage with them, so NICVA has worked with the Committees to organise a roundtable evidence gathering session on 25 November, from 1.30 - 4.00 in the NICVA conference rooms. Up to 100 people from across the sector will get a chance to speak with Committee members and Assembly staff about the budget. 

Contact cathy.breslin@nicva.org to book a place.

It's all about you -  your latest Smart Solutions case studies

The campaign website has a growing list of powerful case studies, some including video, which showcase the best of the voluntary and community sector. The latest additions include:

• Relate - Smart solutions for better relationships
• Smart solutions from Stepping Stones NI
• The Link - Smart solutions for linking community development
• Smart solutions from Glenshane Care Centre
• Positive Futures - Smart solutions for people with a learning disability
• Gingerbread offers smart solutions for one parent families

We'd love to include more of your stories. If you'd like to submit yours, please email lisa.mcelherron@nicva.org.

Latest from the campaign

• NICVA meets again with First and deputy First Ministers Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness on Spending Review NICVA representatives have met the First and deputy First Minister for the second time this month to discuss the outcome of the Spending Review and the implications for public expenditure in Northern Ireland. 
• No salami slicing in the Department of Justice Justice Minister David Ford was in NICVA on 28 October to meet with voluntary and community organisations to discuss issues of common concern 
• Investing in Smart Solutions This briefing paper sets out the value of investing in Northern Ireland's voluntary and community sector.

From the Blog

• Political Nerd-vana  And so it begins. This weekend sees the NICVA team attend the first of the main political party conferences. I love the buzz of party conference season.

Do you have a view on the cuts? Suggestions for government? Some insider news? Use the campaign blog as your forum for debate. Join in the debate on the Smart Solutions blog.

About this bulletin

NICVA's Smart Solutions in Tough Times campaign is highlighting the strengths of the voluntary and community sector to ensure that organisations in the sector are not seen as an easy target in the Government’s upcoming Budget. This regular bulletin aims to keep voluntary and community organisations up to date on the campaign, highlight upcoming events, share information and encourage debate.

Keep up to date

If you can't wait for the next bulletin or want to get involved right now, see the campaign pages. If you want to get in touch, please email Lisa McElherron - lisa.mcelherron@nicva.org.