Chaired by APG Chair Diane Forsythe, MLA. and Sian Mulholland MLA, APG Vice Chair – the meeting was very well attended by a broad range of voluntary and community sector representatives and member MLAs.
A full agenda included:
- A briefing by NICVA's Governance and Charity Advice Manager Denise Copeland on the banking challenges being faced by organisations and groups across the voluntary and community sector and how NICVA is working to highlight and address these both locally and nationally, including via the Charity Finance Group Banking Forum.
- A briefing from the Minister for Economy Dr Caoimhe Archibald, MLA who addressed the group on key strategic priorities for her department and her vision as to the role and contribution of the sector regarding. The Minister cited what she sees as the hugely significant contribution of the VCS in terms of the economic vision for NI including the good jobs agenda and employment related support and highlighted the critical role played by the sector in key areas including childcare, skills training and supporting women and young people into the workplace. The Minister responded to a range of questions from both MLA members and sector representatives relating to: full-cost recovery, sustainable and multi-year funding for the sector, community wealth building, social value, and the vital role of the VCS in addressing economic inactivity, including post UKSPF investment.
- A briefing from Sian Mulholland MLA on her Lotteries for Communities Bill Private Members Bill, which is currently out for public consultation. An engagement session on this bill is taking place at NICVA on 25 June: Lotteries for Communities Private Members Bill - Engagement Session | NICVA
Next All-Party Group Meeting - September 2025
The next meeting of the All-Party Group on the Voluntary and Community Sector is due to take place on Tuesday 23 September 1pm- 2pm in the Senate Room, Parliament Buildings, Stormont
Details of how to register for this meeting will be available soon.
Full Meeting Schedule for 2025
You can view details of the full schedule of planned APG meetings for 2025 here: https://bit.ly/43K7NK3
You can read about the previous APG meeting held in March APG on the Voluntary and Community Sector holds March 2025 meeting | NICVA
Join our All-Party Group Mailing List
To receive meeting notices and updates on the work of the All-Party Group please contact Kathy Maguire, NICVA at [email protected] to join the APG mailing list.
What is the All-Party Group on the Voluntary & Community Sector?
All Party Groups (APGs) provide a forum by which MLAs and outside organisations and individuals can meet to discuss shared interests in a particular cause or subject. In this case, the wide range of issues facing the Voluntary and Community Sector – from funding through to recognition and collaboration.
The stated purpose of the All-Party Group is to :
‘ensure issues affecting voluntary and community organisations are recognised and discussed throughout the workings of the Northern Ireland Assembly, in order to recognise the value of the sector and ensure that the relationship between government and voluntary and community organisations contributes to the wider well-being of people in Northern Ireland and that organisations are enabled to operate to their full potential.’
Chaired by Diane Forsythe MLA with NICVA as Secretariat, this APG provides a platform to advocate for the future role and sustainability of our sector and provide meaningful opportunities to engage directly with local MLAs on a collaborative basis.
The current Office bearers for the APG are as follows:
- Chair: Diane Forsythe MLA
- Vice Chair: Sian Mulholland MLA
- Secretary: Brian Kingston MLA
