It is recognised that the role of voluntary/community sector representatives with ICPs is challenging and that some co-ordination and support is required to ensure an effective partnership is built. The Third Sector Steering Group is a sub group of the ICP Project Team and will support the sector in playing an integral role within ICPs.  

The Building Change Trust as the Northern Ireland partner on the UK board, has commissioned the delivery of the Inspiring Impact NI Programme.

The Equality Coalition was founded in 1996 by community and voluntary sector organisations and trade unions. It was instrumental in putting equality at the forefront of the agenda at that time, specifically in relation to policy appraisal and fair treatment (PAFT), the Good Friday/Belfast Agreement, and ultimately the public sector duty in section 75 of the NI Act 1998.

Membership of the Forum includes representative organisations of NI Business as well as wider business interests and the trade union movement. Public body representation comes from each of the non-construction Centres of Procurement Expertise and relevant officials from CPD. 

Driven by a Corporate Steering Group at the highest level in government and a Project Board, the ‘Addressing Bureaucracy’ report made 19 recommendations to reduce unnecessary bureaucracy. The project is now at implementation stage through the Project Team.

Reports from the Northern Ireland Audit Office (NIAO) and the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) identified the need to urgently address disproportionate bureaucracy in grant funding by the NI Executive Departments to the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS).   

These groups have been established to try and reduce bureaucracy for the sector.