Knowledge, value and influence of the voluntary and community sector in Northern Ireland (2012)

A second report from NICVA explores the links that have been forged between MLAs and voluntary and community organisations to see how they've changed in recent years.

In 2009, NICVA was awarded three years' funding under PEACE III for the Vital Links project, which aims to contribute to the development of a normalised post-conflict society by building links and dialogue between key institutions and civil society. The project also aims to increase interaction and understanding between the key institutions, and the voluntary and community sector, and foster and promote positive engagement between the two.

In 2009, prior to PEACE funding being awarded, NICVA published a report which explored the links between MLAs and voluntary and community organisations. This report was used to create a training course which aimed to develop stronger links between parties and the voluntary and community sector.

Now that the funding for the Vital Links project is drawing to an end, NICVA has explored these links again to assess if any significant changes have been made during this period. In order to gather the baseline data, an online questionnaire was circulated to 108 MLAs with a response rate of 26.9%

Key findings

  • 96.7% of MLAs reported that they have links with voluntary and community organisations.
  • 65.5% of MLAs are committee members of a voluntary and community organisation.  
  • 86.7% of MLAs believe the main challenge facing voluntary and community organisations continues to be the cuts in public spending.
  • 60% of MLAs believe that the voluntary and community sector has expertise in providing advice services.  
  • Over two thirds (70%) of respondents reported that voluntary and community organisations have provided them with useful information and help.  
  • 18.8% of MLAs believe there is a lack of expertise in relation to sourcing funding streams and sustainability, financial advice and services and the provision of legal advice.  
  • All respondents believe that the sector is useful to the local communities in which they operate.
  • 96.7% of respondents stated that voluntary and community organisations have an impact on their jobs as MLAs.  
  • 66.7% of MLAs believe that the most common mistake made by voluntary and community organisations is failing to understand processes and procedures.
  • Only 7.9% of MLAs reported that voluntary and community organisations would greatly influence their work.  
  • 76.7% of MLAs reported that they are knowledgeable or very knowledgeable about the sector.  
  • One of the main areas that MLAs believe the sector should focus on is in relation to the provision of support with regard to the benefit system and debt.

Copies of the 2009 and 2012 reports are available to download below.

For further information on the findings contact Andrea Thornbury on [email protected] or telephone 028 9087 7777.

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