#AE2022: VCSE Sector Manifestos

With many challenges facing the voluntary and community sector in Northern Ireland, organisations are starting to publish their priorities and asks for the incoming elected representatives.

From general asks such as funding to more specified requests, the voluntary and community sector want to make their voices heard.

NICVA is pulling together the manifestos below as a resource for the sector to help increase understanding of the work and priorities across organisations.

To add your #AE22 Manifesto, contact [email protected]

Action for Children

Through their work, Action for Children aim to improve the lives of children in Northern Ireland. Their vision is that every child and young person has a safe and happy childhood, and the foundations they need to thrive.

You can access the Action for Children Manifesto 2022-2027 here.

Advice NI

Advice NI exists to provide leadership and services to member organisations and to ensure accessible advice services across Northern Ireland.

To read the Advice NI Manifesto in full visit Advice NI Manifesto

Age NI

Age NI is a charity dedicated to helping everyone make the most of later life. They help thousands of people every year, providing companionship, advice and support for older people who need it most.

To read more visit NI Assembly Manifesto, Act4Age.

Alzheimer's Society NI

Alzheimer’s Society is a charity campaigning for change, funding research to find a cure and supporting people living with dementia.

Find out more here.

Association of Infant Mental Health (AIMH NI)

AIMH NI host the Stronger From The Start Infant Mental Health Alliance of community & voluntary organisations in Northern Ireland. 

The AIMH(NI) Manifesto can be accessed at Final SFTS Manifesto

Asthma + Lung UK - Northern Ireland

Asthma + Lung UK is the a UK-wide charity looking after the lungs of Northern Ireland working towards the vision of a world where we can all breathe with healthy lungs.

Read the full manifesto at Fighting for Northern Ireland's Right To Breathe

Barnardo's NI

Barnardo's NI work with children, young people and families across Northern Ireland to promote better outcomes and build better futures.

Read more at Barnardo's NI Manifesto.

Breastival

Breastival aims to support, normalise and celebrate breastfeeding as part of everyday life.

For more information, click here.

Diabetes UK

Diabetes UK are here to campaign for and support everyone affected by diabetes, prevent Type 2 diabetes, and fund research that will one day lead us to a cure.

Read the full Northern Ireland Manifesto at Diabetes UK.

Cancer Focus NI

Cancer Focus Northern Ireland’s mission is to eliminate cancer where possible and reduce its impact on society. Cancer Focus NI provide care and support services for cancer patients and their families, offer a range of cancer prevention programmes, fund scientific research into causes and treatment and campaign for better health policy.

To read the manifesto in full, visit Cancer Focus NI Manifesto.

Carers NI

Carers NI aim to make life better for Carers through providing information, support, training and campaigning.

For more information, visit Carers NI Manifesto 2022

Central Housing Forum

The Housing Community Network (HCN) is the key forum for tenant and community engagement in Northern Ireland. It is made up of over 500 community groups and representative tenant involvement panels in each of the Housing Executive areas.

Read the manifesto here.

Disability Action

Disability Action is a Northern Ireland wide pan-disability organisation working with disabled people with various disabilities: physical disabilities, learning disabilities, sensory disabilities, hidden disabilities and mental health disabilities.

For more detail, visit d/Deaf and Disabled People’s Election Manifesto Election 2022

Eating Disorders Association N.I.

The Eating Disorders Association (EDA N.I.) is a charity dedicated to providing peer support for people with eating disorders and their loved ones, increase awareness and support skills in the wider community and campaign for eating disorder service improvements.

For more information, visit Eating Disorders Do Not Wait.

Employers for Childcare

Employers For Childcare comprises a Social Enterprise and a registered charity. As a charity, their aim is to make it easier for parents with dependent children to get into work and to stay in work.

You can read the full Employers for Childcare Manifesto at Policy Manifesto Assembly Election 2022

Epilepsy Action NI

Epilepsy Action are a charity that provides support and expert advice, raises awareness and advocates for a better deal for people with epilepsy

Read the Epilepsy Action Manifesto in full here.

Homeless Connect

Homeless Connect is a charity working towards preventing and alleviating homelessness in Northern Ireland

For more information visit Homeless Connect Manifesto for the 2022 Assembly Election

Housing Policy Panel

The Housing Policy Panel (HPP), made up of tenant representatives from all the main NI housing associations and the Housing Executive, acts as a consultative forum to the Department for Communities.

Read the manifesto here.

Housing Rights

Housing Rights works to improve lives by tackling homelessness and housing problems in Northern Ireland.

Read the Housing Rights policy asks in full at Housing Rights Manifesto

Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful

Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful is an independent charity dedicated to creating a cleaner, greener and more sustainable Northern Ireland by delivering on improving environmental education in every school in Northern Ireland, increasing public engagement for communities in need and raising environmental standards for the places where people spend time: where they live, work and relax.

For more information, visit Better is Possible.

League Against Cruel Sports

The League Against Cruel Sports (LACS) is an animal welfare charity which campaigns to stop blood sports such as fox hunting, hare and deer stalking; game bird shooting; and animal fighting.

For more information, visit LACS NI Manifesto

Lighthouse

Lighthouse is an organisation committed to the prevention of suicide and self-harm; the promotion of positive mental health and the provision of support services to families who have been bereaved due to suicide.

For further detail on the Lighthouse Manifesto 2022, click here.

Marie Curie NI

Marie Curie NI is an end of life charity providing frontline nursing and hospice care, a free support line and a wealth of information and support on all aspects of dying, death and bereavement.

To read the Marie Curie NI Manifesto in full visit A new deal for people affected by terminal illness in Northern Ireland

Mental Health Foundation

The Mental Health Foundation is a charity with the vision of good mental health for all. Their mission is to help people understand, protect and sustain their mental health.

For more details on the policy asks, visit MHFS NI Manifesto.

MND Association

The MND Association focuses on research, improving access to care, and campaigning for those people living with or affected by MND.

Visit Northern Ireland MND Manifesto to read more about the policy asks.

NIACRO

NIACRO is a voluntary organisation which has been working for almost 50 years to reduce crime and its impact on people and communities. Their vision is of a society in which the needs and rights of all citizens are equally respected. This includes victims of crime, adults and children who have offended, and those who are at risk of offending and their families.

To read more on NIACRO's 5 Policy Asks click here.

Northern Ireland Confederation for Health and Social Care

The Northern Ireland Confederation for Health and Social Care (NICON) is the voice of the organisations working across Northern Ireland’s integrated Health and Social Care system (HSC).

For further information of the NICON policy asks, visit NI Assembly Election Briefing.

Northern Ireland Environment Link

Northern Ireland Environment Link (NIEL) is the networking and forum body for organisations interested in the natural and built environment of Northern Ireland.

For more information, visit NIEL Manifesto

NUS-USI

NUS-USI represents the interests of around 200,000 students in Northern Ireland and campaigns on their behalf in many different fields such as student hardship, health, prejudice and accommodation.

Click here to read the NUS USI in full.

Parkinson's UK Northern Ireland

Parkinson’s UK Northern Ireland provide support and advice for people with Parkinson's, families, friends, and carers.

To read more about Parkinson's UK NI key policy asks, click here.

Playboard NI

PlayBoard NI is an independent charity and the lead organisation for the development and promotion of children and young people’s play in Northern Ireland.

To access the Playboard Manifesto visit PlayBoard Manifesto 2022

Pure Mental

Pure Mental’s goal is to improve mental health awareness and education in schools across Northern Ireland, with a strong focus on youth involvement and engagement.

For more information on Pure Mental's policy asks ahead of the election, click here.

Relate NI

Relate NI is a charity with a mission to make expert information and support for health relationships available for everyone.

The Relate NI Manifesto can be accessed at Relationships Manifesto

RNID

RNID is a charity working towards making life fully inclusive for deaf people and those with hearing loss or tinnitus. 

For more information visit RNID manifesto for the Northern Ireland Assembly election

Royal College Psychiatrists

The Royal College of Psychiatrists aims to improve the outcomes of people with mental illness, and the mental health of individuals, their families and communities.

For more information, visit Manifesto 2022

RSPB NI

RSPB are a nature conservation charity, consistently delivering successful conservation, forging powerful new partnerships with other organisations and inspiring others to stand up and give nature the home it deserves. 

To read more visit RSPB Northern Ireland Manifesto

Samaritans NI

Samaritans is a suicide prevention charity working to support those in need, and advocate for better services.

Read in full the Samaritans manifesto at Samaritans Policy Asks Leaflet

Stroke Association

The Stroke Association provide specialist support, fund critical research and campaign to make sure people affected by stroke get the very best care and support to rebuild their lives. 

To read the Stroke Association Manifesto, visit Make Stroke a Priority

Sustainable NI

Sustainable NI is a non-profit organisation which works with government and others to advance sustainable development in Northern Ireland.

Visit Manifesto for a sustainable future for further information.

Sustrans NI

Sustrans NI is a charity making it easier for people to walk and cycle.

Read more about the Sustrans Manifesto at Sustrans Manifesto for Northern Ireland

The Trussell Trust

The Trussell Trust support a nationwide network of food banks and provide emergency food and support to people locked in poverty, as well as campaigning for change to end the need for food banks in the UK.

For more information, visit The Trussell Trust: Election Brief.

Ulster Wildlife - Youth Manifesto

Ulster Wildlife are a charity working towards protecting wildlife and wild places across Northern Ireland and championing the seas as well as inspiring people to care for nature on their doorstep.The Ulster Wildlife Youth Forum have created a manifesto for the upcoming Assembly Election

You can read more on the Ulster Wildlife Youth Forum manifesto here.

Versus Arthritis

Versus Arthritis provide support to those with arthritis and campaign to challenge the misconceptions around arthritis and ensure that arthritis is recognised as priority.

Visit Unseen, Unheard, Unequal - A manifesto for arthritis and MSK conditions to learn more.

Victim Support NI

Victim Support NI is an independent charity which helps people affected by crime. Their vision is of 'a society that ensures appropriate support and information is available for people affected by crime.'

To read the Victim Support NI Manifesto in full visit New Victim Manifesto - Victim Support NI

Women's Aid

Women’s Aid is a voluntary organisation in Northern Ireland addressing domestic abuse and providing services for women and children.

Click here to read more about the key policy asks of Women's Aid NI.

Women's Policy Group NI

The Women’s Policy Group (WPG) is a platform for women working in policy and advocacy roles in different organisations to share their work and speak with a collective voice on key issues.

To read the key policy asks in full, visit Feminist Recovery Plan Election Asks

Women's Regional Consortium

The Women's Regional Consortium is is the established link and strategic partner between Government and statutory agencies and women in disadvantaged and rural areas. 

For more information, click here.

Woodland Trust

Woodland Trust are a woodland conservation charity that plant, restore, protect and care for trees and wooded areas throughout the UK.

Click here for more information on the Woodland Trust 2022 manifesto.

Young Lives vs Cancer

Young Lives vs Cancer help families find the strength to face everything cancer throws at them through the provision of day to day support, financial advice, home from home accommodation, bereavement support and campaigning.

For more information, visit Young Lives vs Cancer Manifesto for NI Assembly Elections 2022