Timetable for delivery of Social Inclusion Strategies published

5 Oct 2020 Kathy Maguire    Last updated: 7 Oct 2020

The Communities Minister has published a timetable for the development and delivery of a suite of Social Inclusion Strategies.

In accordance with  New Decade, New Approach, the NI Executive has agreed the indicative timetable for the development and publication of a suite of Social Inclusion Strategies for which the Department for Communities shall be responsible.This includes details as to the membership of a number of Expert Advisory Panels who will take forward the first stage of this work.

Timetable for Development of Social Inclusion Strategies:

The Strategies, will include development and delivery of the following targeted strategies:

  •  Anti-Poverty Strategy
  •  Disability Strategy
  •  Gender Strategy 
  •  Sexual Orientation Strategy.

The Department say it is intended that these 'will bring focus to identifying and addressing the issues, barriers and disadvantages that undermine equality of opportunity in our communities'.

Indicative Timetable for the development and publication of Social Inclusion Strategies:

Stage

Key Outputs

Timescale

 Early engagement, evidence gathering     and establishment of supporting   structures for     strategy development

 Expert Advisory Panels appointed, TOR agreed and work commenced.

 Strategy development groups convened and TORs agreed:

  • Strategy Co-Design Group (first meeting Nov 20); and
  • Cross-departmental working group (nominees agreed and comments on TOR via correspondence by 31 Dec 20.  First meeting early 21).

 

 Oct 20 – Jan 21
 4 months

 Consideration of evidence, additional research   and initial drafting

 Expert Advisory Panel report submitted to Minister and the Executive (by 31 Dec 20);

 Ongoing engagement with the Co-Design Group and cross-departmental working group;

 Focus groups held with stakeholders and their representative groups;

 Section 75 screening and rural proofing commenced;

 Themes and headline actions agreed.

 

 Dec 20 – Feb 21
 3 months

 Ministerial Steering Group meeting

 Consideration of progress to date and maximise cross-departmental collaboration across     all  four Social Inclusion Strategies.  Discussion of themes and headline actions across the   four strategies.

 

 Feb 21

 Finalisation of themes and  action plan

 Final themes agreed by the Co-Design Group and Cross-departmental Working Group;

 Strategy document drafted;

 Production of a supporting action plan to align with PfG Outcomes;

 Finalisation of section 75 screening form and rural proofing.

 

 March 21 – June 21
 4 months

 Ministerial Steering Group meeting

 Consideration of progress to date and maximise cross-departmental collaboration across     all  four Social Inclusion Strategies.  Discussion of draft strategies and supporting action   plans.

 

 May 21

 Approvals

 Minister and Executive to approve draft strategy and action plan (will be dependent on   scheduling of Executive and Committee meetings).

 Drafts sent to Communities Committee with early notice of public consultation.

 

 July 21
 1 month                               

 Consultation and Analysis

 Minimum 8-week public consultation exercise (August/September 21);

 Communities Committee engagement;

 Collation and analysis of responses;

 Preparation of departmental response;

 Ministerial clearance of consultation report and departmental response and submission to   Communities Committee;

 Amendments to draft strategy, action plan, section 75 screening form and rural proofing,   taking account of consultation comments.

 

 Aug 21 – Nov 21
 4 months

 Ministerial Steering Group meeting

 Consideration of progress to date and maximise cross-departmental collaboration across   all  four Social Inclusion Strategies.  Discussion around consultation responses and   proposed amendments to strategies.

 

 Oct 21

 Final Approvals

 Ministerial clearance of final draft of strategy;

 Executive and Communities Committee approval (will be dependent on scheduling of   Executive and Committee meetings);

 Design and finalisation of agreed strategy documents and alternative formats.

 

 Nov 21
 1 month          

 Launch of strategy

 Publication and launch of strategy and action plan;

 Ministerial statement to the Assembly.

 

 Dec 21

 As soon as final strategy   and alternative formats are   produced.

 Implementation and monitoring

 Establishment of monitoring and reporting structures to oversee progress of the strategy.

 

 Ongoing throughout the life   of the strategy

 

Social Inclusion Strategies Expert Advisory Panel Membership

The membership of a number of expert advisory panels, who will take forward the first stage of this work,  has been confirmed as follows:

Anti-Poverty Strategy Expert Advisory Panel

  • Goretti Horgan - University of Ulster Social Policy and Director of ARK’s Policy Unit
  • Emeritus Professor Mike Tomlinson - School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work, Queens University
  • Pauline Lesson CBE: Chief Executive, Children in NI (CiNI)
  • Bernadette McAliskey: Chief Executive, South Tyrone Empowerment Programme (STEP)

Disability Strategy Expert Advisory Panel

  • Dr Eilionóir Flynn Director of the Centre for Disability Law and Policy, National University of Ireland Galway
  • Dr Bronagh Byrne: QUB School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work
  • Seán Fitzsimons: disabled professional and activist working in the field of disability rights
  • Tony O’Reilly: human rights activist in the disabled persons’ movement.

Sexual Orientation Strategy Expert Advisory Panel

  • John O’Doherty: Director, The Rainbow Project
  • Cara McCann: Director,HERe NI
  • Ellen Murray: Executive Director, Transgender NI
  • Dr Fidelma Ashe: School of Applied Social and Policy Science Ulster University

Gender Strategy Expert Advisory Panel

  • Professor Ann Marie Gray: Professor of Social Policy and Co-Director of ARK
  • Siobhan Harding: Research and Policy Officer, Women's Support Network (WSN)
  • Rachel Powell: Women’s Sector Lobbyist ,Women’s Resource and Development Agency ( WRDA)
  • Louise Coyle :  Director, Northern Ireland Rural Women’s Network (NIRWN)

 

 

 

kathy.maguire@nicva.org's picture
by Kathy Maguire

Policy Development Officer

[email protected]

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