Insight and latest updates from our team

Conversations on Future Structures, Relationships & the Voice of Young People

Since 2024, a collaboration of voluntary youth organisations has been coordinating a shared process to consider what the sector needs to thrive. In that first phase, over 150 people from across the voluntary youth work sector contributed their time, insight and lived experience. Their input helped surface the pressures faced by volunteer‑led groups and organisations of every size and shaped the report- The future of voluntary youth work in Northern Ireland - aspirations for transformation

In 2025, this sector‑led collaboration continued to grow through further engagement and research, including  How to Grow the Voluntary Youth Work Sector by Dr Elizabeth McArdle (Ulster University). 

The UK Government’s announcement of a major new youth employment drive stands in stark contrast to the reality facing people in Northern Ireland. A 64 % cut to funding for employability support programmes following the introduction of the Local Growth Fund from 1 April, will result in drastic programme cuts. While new initiatives unveiled today promise expanded apprenticeships, employer incentives and a strengthened Youth Guarantee in England, Northern Ireland is experiencing the opposite trajectory.

The All-Party Group (APG) on the Voluntary and Community Sector met on Tuesday 10 March in the Senate Room at Parliament Buildings, bringing together MLAs and sector representatives at a critical time for voluntary and community sector organisations and those they support  across Northern Ireland. 

The session, chaired by Diane Forsythe, MLA and supported by NICVA as Secretariat, focused on the escalating pressures facing the sector and the urgent need for action from government.

Applications are open for grants of between €10,000 and €100,000 through the PEACEPLUS Change Maker Funding Programme. 

The programme will distribute €40M of funding up to the end of 2027 to support cross-community/cross border people to people projects.

We’re pleased to launch The Value of Social Value – a new piece of research funded through Dormant Assets NI. 

Our Guest Blogger, Andrea Brown, Chief Executive, Disability Action NI is a valued member of NICVA's new Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Stakeholder Group. Here, Andrea explains why being part of NICVA's EDI Steering Group is a full circle moment.

Andrea pictured accepting membership of the Belfast Business Promise, an accreditation scheme for employers committed to responsible, inclusive, and sustainable business practices in Belfast.

NICVA has submitted its response to the Department of Finance consultation on the Draft Budget 2026–2029/30, which closed on 3 March 2026.

On Wednesday 18 February 2026 over 75 community leaders came together as part of the PEACEPLUS Community Empowerment Programme (CEP) Inclusive Community Development event in Blackmountain Shared Space. 

Charities and voluntary organisations across Northern Ireland are being encouraged to take part in CyberNI Week 2026, running from Monday 2 to Sunday 8 March 2026.

NICVA is currently inviting tenders for specialist support to the Government and Voluntary Sector Joint Forum, funded by the Department for Communities.

These tenders were previously advertised but have now been updated to reflect revised key deliverables and an extended timeline.

Interested service providers are invited to submit a proposal for one or both opportunities.

Thanks to the support of the Halifax Foundation for Northern Ireland our Funding Fayre 2026 took place on 27 February 2026. It gave a wide range of funders, support agencies and local community and voluntary sector representatives the chance to connect and learn. 

Below, we provide a register of the organisation who exhibited. 

The Department for Communities has published its response to the consultation on Section 167 of the Charities Act (NI) 2008 in Autumn of last year.  The consultation report has concluded that Section 167 should be repealed rather than commenced Department for Communities Section 167 of the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008

NICVA is asking all charities and other voluntary led organisations in N.Ireland to take part in the latest UK-wide Banking Survey which is designed to hear about organisations' experiences with their bank accounts. 

The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (the Act) has introduced new changes for all companies in the UK.  Some of the changes such as ID verification have recently been introduced and others will come in over the next few years. 

The campaign to reverse a planned 64% cut to funding for  Northern Ireland economic inactivity support programmes entered a critical new phase today, as three strategic meetings got underway with senior political leaders in Belfast and London to highlight impacts of planned drastic funding cuts.

Guest Blog for Funding February from Gráinne Mathews, Stakeholder and Policy Manager – Northern Ireland, Fundraising Regulator.  The blog shares some useful information about how the Fundraising Regulator can support your charity in making sure your digital fundraising remains open, honest and respectful.

Some charities and other voluntary organisations are continuing to have issues with their bank accounts. Over the last four years NICVA has continued to raise these issues on behalf of the sector to the banks, regulators, politicians and other stakeholders.

NICVA SUMMIT returns on Wednesday 10 June 2026 at ICC Belfast, and we are inviting our members to help shape the day.

Ahead of their webinar for NICVA, Vicky Hewlett, Head of Marketing Communications updates us on the what Give A Little has to offer.

As cash usage declines, Northern Ireland charities must adapt. Give A Little offers a flexible "Point of Donation" platform, helping over 11,000 charitable organisations collect cashless donations through portable and fixed contactless devices, QR codes, and an innovative Tap to Pay mobile app.

Our Governance and Charity Advice team has a wide range of training on offer. Ranging from Governance for new and nearly new trustees to financial reporting to the board.