Review 2011: Influence, advocacy and political engagement

Next: Developing and informing the sector

Following the May elections, NICVA began a series of meetings with a targeted list of MLAs and Ministers and hosted the first in a series of Meet the Minister events, kicking off with Minister McCausland addressing a packed audience, as did Minister Ni Chuilin later in the year. 

NICVA promoted debate on the issues raised in the manifesto by work with member organisations on a number of important topics such as young people not in education training or employment, men’s health,  shared education and educational under attainment.  We marked the EU Year of the Volunteer with an event celebrating volunteers in sport.

The All Party Group on the Voluntary and Community Sector was reformed following the elections and the sector played a prominent role in debates on the budget as well as being the focus of its own debate. NICVA also provided briefings on the proposed changes to the public benefit test element of the charity legislation.