Insight and latest updates from our team

A statement in response to reports of violence and disorder aimed at minority ethnic communities across Northern Ireland

- A Shared Commitment to System Change 

 The Voluntary Youth Work Coordinating Committee* recently met with the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People Chris Quinn to discuss what needs to happen next for youth work. 

Volunteers' Week 2026 takes place from 1–7 June, bringing together organisations and communities across the UK to celebrate the invaluable contribution volunteers make every day.

NICVA is delighted to be partnering with the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland to strengthen the impact of organisations working on the frontline of housing insecurity and homelessness.

Today’s UK Government–backed interim report on  Young people and Work, led by former Health Secretary Alan Milburn, warns that more than one million young people are already not in education, employment or training (NEET). It highlights the scale of the crisis, estimating a cost to the economy of £125 billion, while the long-term damage to the life chances of young people is almost incalculable.

His warning of a potential “lost generation” could not be more relevant to Northern Ireland, where recent cuts following the introduction of the Local Growth Fund are actively dismantling youth employability services delivered by the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector- stripping away support at the very moment it is needed most.

As part of the Digital Inclusion Action Plan The Department of Finance received funding to help address device poverty and to support community‑led digital inclusion projects. Eligible VCSE organisations with up to £100K income are invited to apply for a free laptop.

Lawrence O’Kane, founder and CEO of Prizefunder explains how this Northern Ireland community fundraising platform could help communities to work together, raise funds, strengthen local services and build lasting support for the causes they care about. 

Supporting long-term impact through thoughtful investment and trusted advice

At Quilter Cheviot, it’s not just about managing money — it’s about helping charities make a bigger difference. With a clear focus on balancing growth, income and risk, their work ensures organisations can stay financially resilient while staying true to their mission.

Legal Island is proud to work alongside NICVA to offer discounted rates across its range of eLearning courses. Covering a range of topics including, Diversity & Inclusion, GDPR and security training and Wellbeing courses.

The National Lottery Community Fund in partnership with UK Community Foundations  and Centre for the Acceleration of Social Technology (CAST) has announced a new £3 million funding programme which will track AI’s real-world impacts at a local community level across the UK, and fund ground-breaking community-led AI tools.

NICVA’s ILM Level 5 Leadership and Management Programme

Strong, confident leadership has never been more important for voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations. With rising demand, increasing complexity and ongoing resource pressures, leaders are required to navigate change while supporting their teams and communities effectively.

Sophie Anstee de Mas, Hub Programme Manager lets us know what’s open, what’s next, and how Northern Ireland applicants can get involved.

The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) has published their consultation on the proposed three‑year Investment Plan for the new Local Growth Fund (LGF) in Northern Ireland, setting out priorities for investment from 2026 to 2029.

The consultation is open for seven weeks, closing at 5.00pm on 26 June 2026.

The Joint Government and Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) Forum met on 23 March 2026 at NICVA for its first meeting of 2026. Chaired by Joint Forum Public Sector Chair Ray Caldwell (Department for Communities), the meeting brought together representatives from across government and the VCS. 

A busy agenda focused on implementation of the Partnership Agreement between the Northern Ireland Government and the Voluntary & Community Sector in practice, what can be learned from experience across the UK and how progress can be maintained in this increasingly difficult financial climate.

Looking for a role where you can help create an excellent working environment, support high-quality events and services, and ensure the smooth day-to-day operation of a busy organisation at the heart of the voluntary and community sector?

Looking for a role where you can shape how the voluntary and community sector is supported, strengthen organisational capacity, and help organisations respond to a rapidly changing environment?

Over the past year, NICVA’s ASCEND Programme has supported grassroots organisations representing ethnically minoritised communities across Northern Ireland to strengthen leadership, build organisational capacity, and plan for long-term sustainability.

NICVA is seeking to appoint an experienced consultant to develop a Strategy and Action Plan for InsightLink – Connecting Communities Through Shared Learning.

NICVA has announced the return of its flagship NICVA Summit, taking place on 10 June at ICC Belfast amid growing pressures on voluntary organisations. 

The event will bring together hundreds of leaders, practitioners and decision makers from across the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector, alongside partners from government and the business sector. 

The voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector in Northern Ireland is not short on commitment, expertise or impact. What it continues to face, however, is uncertainty — driven by complex policy systems, fragmented decision making and funding models that don’t reflect how services actually work.

NICVA’s Policy Survey 2026 captures the voices of organisations navigating this reality. The message coming through is clear: collective voice matters, trusted leadership matters — but recognition alone is not enough.