Policy Fora

NICVA Policy Fora

Are you or your organisation interested in trying to influence decision-makers? NICVA's policy fora aim to enhance the capacity of organisations to make policy responses, coordinate policy information, participate in policy development, and influence decision making.

Chaired by policy experts in each subject, the fora aim to meet 3-4 times a year in NICVA and venues across the country. Membership is open to any organisation or individual with an interest in these topics.

The policy fora are:

Community relations policy forum:

The community relations policy forum was formed in May 2008 is chaired by Gerry Tubritt from the Ballynafeigh Community Development Association.

The Forum meets two to three times a year and its aim is ‘To enchance the capacity of organisations active on community relations issues to build links with each other, make policy responses and participate in policy development.'

Membership
Membership of the Forum is drawn from across the voluntary and community sector and is open to any organisation with an interest in community relations issues. Recently, the forum has discussed: Cohesion, Sharing and Integration consultation with OFMdFM and it carried out training with WEA around diversity and equality.

Sustainability and environmental policy forum:

The environmental folicy forum was formed in May 2005 and is chaired by Sue Christie from Northern Ireland Environment Link.

The Forum meets two to three times a year and its aim is ‘To encourage greater participation and enhance the capacity of the voluntary and community sector to engage more proactively in environmental policy issues, influence policy development and make policy responses.'

Membership
Membership of the Forum is drawn from across the voluntary and community sector and is open to any organisation with an interest in environmental policy issues. Recently, the forum has discussed: Sustainable Development, the Review of Environmental Governance, planning, and Waste Management.

Arts policy forum

The voluntary and community arts policy forum was formed in Spring 2006 and is jointly chaired by Kevin Murphy from Voluntary Arts Ireland and Conor Shields from New Belfast Community Arts Initiative .

The Forum meets two to three times a year and its aim is "To enhance the capacity of the voluntary and community arts sector to make policy responses and participate in policy development, in order to influence decision making and public policy.

Membership
Membership of the Forum is drawn from across the voluntary and community sector and is open to any organisation with an interest in community arts issues. The Forum's work so far has been dominated by the Arts Council's Strategy which has now been launched.

Women's policy forum

The women's policy forum was formed in December 2004 and is chaired by Margaret Ward from the Women's Resource and Development Agency.

The Forum meets on average four times a year and its aim is ‘To enhance the capacity of the women's sector to make policy responses and participate in policy development'.

Membership
Membership of the Forum is drawn from across the voluntary and community sector and is open to any organisation with an interest in women's policy issues. The Forum has recently discussed a range of funding issues, the Gender Strategy and UN Security Council Resolution 1325, and has responded to some important consultations.

Men's policy forum

Many organisations within the men's sector find themselves isolated and working on the margins without supportive resources or a supportive policy context for their endeavours. NICVA has developed a new policy forum in partnership with these practitioners to enhance the capacity of men's organisations to make policy responses and participate in policy development.

The men's policy forum was formed in March 2008, and is chaired jointly by Jonny Currie, from East Belfast Community Development Association and Michael Lynch from the Men's Action Network.

Forum
The Forum aims to meet four times a year and its aim is 'To encourage greater participation and enhance the capacity of the voluntary and community sector organisations working with men to engage more proactively in policy issues, influence policy development and make policy responses.'

Membership
Membership of the Forum is drawn from across the voluntary and community sector and is open to any organisation with an interest in men's policy issues.

Poverty policy forum

The aim of this forum is to enhance the capacity of organisations active on the issues of local and/or global poverty to build links with each other, make policy responses and participate in policy development.

The local and global poverty policy forum was formed in October 2007 and is chaired by Fiona McCausland from NI Anti Poverty Network.

Membership
Membership is drawn from across the voluntary and community sector and is open to any organisation with an interest in coming together on a regular basis to network, share experiences and knowledge and develop policy positions that will build links between local and global approaches to addressing poverty.

Policy, lobbying and advocacy forum

The policy, lobbying and advocacy forum was formed in October 2007 and is chaired by Pam Tilson from Signature NI.

The Forum plans to meet three to four times a year and its aim is ‘To enhance the capacity of organisations that have in interest or role in lobbying and campaigning to build links with each other, make policy responses and participate in policy development'.

Members have agreed the Forum will:

Facilitate information sharing and dissemination within members of the Forum on a range of common issues.
Enable those working in the area of lobbying and campaigning to come together on a regular basis to network, share experiences and develop skills and knowledge.
Enable those who do not normally work on policy or have a lobbying or campaigning role to have regular access to information and debate on the policy environment which shapes their work.

Volunteering policy forum

The volunteering policy forum is chaired by Denise Hayward from Volunteer Now.

The Forum plans to meet three to four times a year and its aim is ‘To enhance the capacity of organisations working with volunteers.'

Previous meetings have recently discussed issues around volunteering and insurance and upcoming meetings will look at the new Volunteering Strategy introduced by DSD.

Membership
Membership is drawn from across the voluntary and community sector and is open to any organisation with an interest in volunteering.

Unemployment policy forum

The unemployment policy forum will aim to enhance the capacity of organisations active on the issue of unemployment to build links with each other, make policy responses and participate in policy development.

Membership
Membership is drawn from across the voluntary and community sector and is open to any organisation with an interest in unemployment policy.

Social enterprise policy forum

NICVA is establishing a social enterprise policy network with the objective of influencing policy development in this area. Political will for growing the social economy in Northern Ireland is very strong at present and this forum will aim to be a combined and consistent voice for the sector and present constructive ideas and solutions to government.

Membership
Membership will be drawn from across the voluntary and community sector and open to any organisation with an interest in social enterprise policy.