The twin challenges facing our sector of rising costs while addressing rising need are at the forefront of NICVA’s policy work this month as we continue to represent, convene, build capacity and gather insight on the key issues. While we still await long-delayed policy interventions to address poverty, our sector continues to step up and speak out.
Representing
“Sustaining Peace Amid Changing Times”
During St Patrick’s Week in Washington NICVA’s Chief Executive Celine McStravick developed and chaired a leadership forum called " Sustaining Peace Amid Changing Times - The Role of the Voluntary/Community Sector in the Journey to Peace" alongside Debbie Watters (NI Alternatives) and Ian Jeffers (Cooperation Ireland), with Minister for Communities Gordon Lyons also participating. There were over 40 high-profile attendees including the NI Secretary of State, representatives from the Ireland Funds and IFI, the Health Minister, Embassy officials, the US Consul and American civil society colleagues.
Economic Inclusion
NICVA plays a leading role informing and influencing policy on the role of the VCS in addressing economic inactivity, building a more inclusive labour market, and more specifically - the continuation of projects supported by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).
NICVA and a delegation of organisations in receipt of UKSP funding met with the Finance Minister John O’Dowd this month. They discussed the key role played by the voluntary and community sector in the delivery of programmes addressing economic inactivity and the urgent need for the development of a long-term NI Executive-wide plan led by his Department to ensure these services will continue to be delivered beyond this transition year.
The scope, funding arrangements and delivery mechanism for essential services addressing economic inactivity provided by the voluntary and community sector must be confirmed as a matter of urgency. Without a clear plan in place, there is a real risk that the progress made by organisations in our sector in supporting those furthest from the labour market will be undone, and the skilled workforce delivering this support will be lost.
Thank you to project representatives Mark Dougan from YouthStart, Anne Sweeney from Women Breaking Barriers NI and Padraigin NiMhaonaigh from Triax Success NorthWest for joining us and sharing their insights.
The next meeting of the Economic Inclusion Working Group is scheduled for Tuesday 6 May from 10am to 11am online and is open to any VCS organisation with an interest in this area.
All-party Group on the Voluntary and Community Sector
The All-Party Group on the Voluntary and Community Sector met on 25 March in the Senate Chamber of Parliament Buildings and was well attended by VCS organisations and MLAs.
It was a busy agenda chaired by Diane Forsythe MLA . Communities Minister Gordon Lyons MLA briefed members on a £1500 payment being made to organisations funded through his department's Voluntary and Community and Community Empowerment Divisions. Our CEO Celine McStravick updated members on how NICVA is responding to key challenges facing the sector and discussion followed.
Dr Lindsay Cordery-Bruce CEO of the Welsh Council for Voluntary Action joined the APG online to share the Welsh experience of advocating for core funding for the VCS. Dates have been set for the rest of 2025. The next APG is on 27 May.
Windsor Framework Implementation
NICVA facilitated an insight-gathering session with our sector this month on the continuing impact of the Windsor Framework in Northern Ireland. These experiences will form the basis of our Chief Executive’s evidence session to the House of Lord’s NI Scrutiny Committee on the Implementation of the Protocol and the Windsor Framework.
Banking update
We have continued to participate at regular meetings with the Civil Society Group on charity banking issues and participated in the Charity Finance Group’s Banking Forum meeting in March to continue to press for changes to alleviate the issues that charities have been experiencing with their bank accounts.
We gave evidence to the Finance Committee’s ‘Inquiry into the Northern Ireland Banking and Financial Services Landscape’ at the end of January to highlight these issues also. We were not surprised that many of the MLAs were already aware of the issues on hearing about them from their constituents.
The summary report on the Minister of Finance’s Banking Roundtable Event, held in November, was published mid-March and has been issued to the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Chief Executive of the FCA and the Minister of Finance in the Republic of Ireland. The report is a good reflection of the discussion on access to cash, branch closures, as well as the issues with opening and maintaining charity bank accounts. Banking Roundtable Event 2024 – Summary Report | Department of Finance.
For more information on our charity banking work contact Denise Copeland at [email protected].
Civil Society Covenant
NICVA continues to engage with sister organisations in England, Scotland and Wales regarding the Civil Society Covenant which sets out the terms of a new relationship through high level principles for an effective long-term partnership between government and civil society. You can find more information on the Covenant framework here.
Convening
VCS Policy Community Launch Event
The VCS Policy Community is NICVA's new networking opportunity connecting organisations in our sector with others who have an interest in policy and public affairs.
Our guest speaker at the first event on Friday 9 May is Ann Watt, Director of Pivotal Public Policy Forum, who will present an overview of current and emerging policy challenges for the NI Executive.
This launch event will be the first in a series of regular gatherings of the VCS Policy Community to discuss common issues, build connections, and exchange expertise. The rest of the event will be an opportunity to discuss and build consensus on key themes and ways of working for future opportunities. You can register for the event here.
Capacity-Building
Celebrating Faith-Based Community Work in Northern Ireland
NICVA gathered with over 65 faith-based community practitioners at the Duncairn Centre on 2 April to reflect on how much the faith sector has grown and to celebrate the vital work happening across Northern Ireland.
The event provided a fantastic space to connect, network, and recognise the incredible range of faith-based groups delivering essential services in local communities. The pop-up displays gave a great visual representation of the scope of the work delivered by the faith sector, and the conversations in the room reinforced the importance of collaboration and shared learning.
To find out more about this work or the event today, contact [email protected].
Assembly Insider
This weekly email bulletin provides information on the work of the Northern Ireland Assembly and in particular the issues which are of interest to the voluntary and community sector. You can subscribe to Assembly Insider here.
Gathering Insight
Employer National Insurance Contributions (NICs)
NICVA continues to press both UK and NI Governments on the impact of the UK Government's planned increase in Employer National Insurance Contributions (NICs) on the voluntary and community sector.
We have written to every Executive Minister asking what steps their department is taking to protect the voluntary and community organisations it funds from the impact of the increase in Employer National Insurance Contributions (NICs). We will collate and share these responses on our website as we receive them.
Raising the age of participation in education – Consultation
The Department of Education has launched a consultation on proposals for legislation to increase the mandatory age of participation in education or training to 18 years.
NICVA is hosting an online consultation event on 13 May from 2.00pm to 4.00pm for voluntary and community sector organisations and groups to hear from and share their views on these proposals directly with Departmental officials. You can register here.
Reflections on the Spring Statement
The Spring Statement is an annual speech made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the House of Commons, where they provide an annual update on the health of the economy and make key financial announcements. This year’s statement provides more challenges for our sector in the form of further social security cuts. Organisations in our sector supporting disabled people, carers and those on low incomes are likely to see increased demand. You can read our full briefing here.
Response to Department of Finance 2025-26 Draft Budget Consultation
NICVA recently submitted a response to the 2025-26 Draft Budget for NI published for consultation by the Department of Finance. Our response to the draft budget consultation was informed by an engagement session for sector representatives to capture their views on the draft Budget, where we were also joined by Department of Finance officials who shared detail of the proposed budget for 2025/26.
For further information on any of the areas covered in this article please contact NICVA’s Director of Policy and Insight Jonny Currie at [email protected] or our Policy Development Officer Kathy Maguire at [email protected].
