VCS and Public Sector Representatives come together for first Meeting of New JF Term
Chaired by Karen Smith, Disability Action, as the new VCS Panel and Joint Forum Co Chair, Joint Forum members across the VCS and public sector had a busy agenda to consider.
This was the first meeting of this new Joint Forum term and the first full Joint Forum meeting for those 13 voluntary and community sector representatives, newly appointed to the Voluntary and Community Sector Panel in late December 2024. You can read full details of these appointments here: New Appointments to the JF VCS Panel for current Joint Forum term confirmed | NICVA. The meeting provided an opportunity for introductions across the forums new public and voluntary and community sector membership.
Progress Against Delivery of the Partnership Agreement between VCS & NI Executive and new Joint Forum Workplan priorities
Central to the agenda for the meeting was an update on progress against delivery of the Partnership Agreement between the Voluntary and Community Sector and Northern Ireland Executive and Fair Funding Principles, developed by the Joint Forum in its previous term and which is now being progressed for agreement and endorsement by the NI Executive. This included discussion and agreement on key priorities for the Joint Forums work programme for this new term, the central focus of which will be supporting the implementation and oversight of the Partnership Agreement, including the Fair Funding principles. It was agreed that over this next 12 months ensuring momentum against agreement and delivery of the Agreement and Fair Funding principles was key alongside agreeing how practically the Forum can monitor progress and evaluate impact.
Following members feedback and discussion on key priorities, reflective of this the workplan will now be finalised by the Secretariat and over the coming months the Forum will progress work against this via a number of time bound joint voluntary and community and public sector working groups.
UK Civil Society Covenant Framework
As part of the agenda the Forum was joined virtually by representatives from the UK Governments Department of Culture, Media and Sports ( DCMS) who are leading on the delivery of the Civil Society Covenant Framework across the UK to discuss how can best ensure connectivity and complementarity with the work to deliver the Partnership Agreement in Northern Ireland. It was agreed that whilst the Partnership Agreement will take precedence here in Northern Ireland, the UK DCMS team and the membership and Secretariat of the Joint Forum will continue to engage with each other to share lessons and learning and to support progress against both strands of work, including supporting wider voluntary and community and public sector engagement.
The Civil Society Covenant will set out the terms of a new relationship through high level principles for an effective long-term partnership between government and civil society. You can read more about the Covenant here
Budget Impacts – Updates from Department of Finance
As part of a Standing Agenda item for Joint Forum meetings Laura McDonald, Strategic Policy Lead, Department of Finance gave an update under Budget Impacts providing updates on:
The Draft Budget for 2025/26 – Laura highlighted that whilst the budget position remains extremely challenging, the Department of Finance and the wider NI Executive is committed to prioritising investment in public service delivery and driving economic growth for benefit of all. The Department remains keen and committed to engage with the VCS to ensure budget is delivering against ‘what matters most’ to people and communities across NI and is very cognisant of the challenges faced by sector and across communities due to ongoing public spending pressures. The Department is encouraging responses to its Draft Budget 2025-26 Consultation | Department of Finance which is currently out for public consultation until 13 March to help inform its ongoing decision making.
The impact of Increases to Employer National Insurance Contributions – Laura advised that the Minister of Finance is very aware that without adequate protections, this increase which will take effect from April 2025 will be incredibly challenging for the voluntary and community sector and of its costs impacts for VCS delivered services in NI. Laura advised that the Minister is continuing to press Whitehall, the NI Affairs Committee and UK Government officials as to the need for support and making ongoing representation to the Treasury, Minister for Housing, Communities and Local Government. VCS representatives highlighted the anticipated impacts of this increased cost to their services and beneficiaries etc. and stressed the critical importance of these costs being met fully in future public sector contract or grant arrangements, otherwise there will inevitably have to be significant scaling back of vital service delivery, alongside staffing impacts and supports to service beneficiaries etc.
Delivery of UK Shared Prosperity Funds in Northern Ireland for 2025 -2026 and post March 2026 delivery – Laura advised that the Department of Finance is now leading on a workstream to design and agree what delivery for Economic Inactivity programmes post UKSPF will look like in NI. The Department will not know the full scope and quantum of funding available for Northern Ireland until the next UK Spending Review in June however given the need to have a programme agreed and ready as soon as is possible, to ensure UK Govt and NI Executive approval etc and avoid any further cliff edge in terms of delivery – the Department is now progressing at pace a co design process to inform a likely 3 year programme, with a view to informing priorities for more longer term delivery and investment. The Department is committed to engaging with the voluntary and community sector in this process to ensure meaningful delivery etc. This includes an upcoming Innovation Lab. The importance of engaging with key stakeholders was stressed by VCS representatives, including the Economic Inactivity Coalition hosted by NICVA, who stand ready to engage in and support this process. The importance of a consistent cross government approach/investment was stressed, mindful of the previous investment by a range of NI Government departments to this area, under ESF etc. Laura stressed that the Department and NI Executive was committed to advocating for NI funding to be restored at previous EU funded levels and for the programme to devolved for local delivery, whilst mindful of what has worked well previously and to date under UKSPF and ESF and recognised the gap re; local investment etc. VCS representatives stressed the importance of learning from what works and impact under UKSPF and ESF and of not reinventing the wheel etc. Laura stressed that the Department was keen not to duplicate efforts etc and to working with the sector in a collaborative and coordinated approach.
Update on Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEN/D) Reform Agenda and Delivery plan
Glenda Davies, Department of Education gave an update on her departments progress against the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEN/D) Reform Agenda and Delivery plan.
Glenda noted the commitments within the new draft Programme for Government to ensure better support for children and young people with Special Educational Needs ( SEN).
As part of the reform agenda for SEN, the Department has undertaken significant analysis as to what is and isn’t working. This analysis, including a range of scrutiny reports have clearly articulated the pressures on the system. More recently in 2023 the Independent Review of SEN Services and Process by IPSOS also reported significant deficiencies in the system. Given these acute pressures and the significant investment/spend in this area, the Department wants to drive forward learning at pace from this analysis, as part of a transformational agenda. VCS insight is a very important part of this process. As part of the transformation agenda for SEN , the Department will be publishing a Delivery Plan, endorsed by the Education Minister imminently. VCS representatives acknowledged the importance of Early Intervention as part of the agenda, but stressed the importance of examining longer term investment commitments and the need to think more radically in areas such as transport support – need to be thinking more creatively and innovate etc. Also need to really scrutinise why NI is lagging so far behind wider UK and further in this area. Representatives also asked for clarity on timeline for announcement of Delivery Plan etc– Glenda advised this was imminent, likely early February. Glenda advised that the Department is extremely keen to engage with and open to hearing the views of all 'communities of interest' in the delivery agenda for SEN moving forward.
What’s Next?
The next full Joint Forum meeting is scheduled to take place on 12 June 2025 with a busy schedule of work being taken forward by the Joint Forum’s membership and its Secretariat in the interim.
For More Information
For further information on the Joint Forum please visit :Joint Government and Voluntary Sector Forum (Joint Forum) | NICVA or if you have any other queries get in touch via Joint Forum Secretariat: [email protected]
