Policy news

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.

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.

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.

The Department for Communities launched a public consultation on 27 March 2026 to seek comments on its proposed amendments to the Charities Act.    Please see the following link to the full consultation which closes on 24 April 2026. 

Consultation on a Bill to amend the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 | Department for Communities

The Department for Communities has opened a public consultation on a draft Bill to amend certain sections of the 2008 Charities Act.  Consultation period 27 March to  24 April 2026

Consultation on a Bill to amend the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 | Department for Communities

We have now reached 1 April with no resolution to the funding crisis caused by a 64% cut to funding for community‑led employability support services under the UK Government’s new Local Growth Fund. These cuts take effect today- yet we have seen no meaningful action from our political leaders, and our sector now faces the consequences alone.

As we reach 1 April with no resolution to the funding crisis created by a 64% cut to community‑led employability support services under the UK Government’s new Local Growth Fund, which takes effect today - we have seen no meaningful action from our political leaders and our sector now faces the consequences of its fallout alone.

As the sector confronts the stark realities of an impending funding cliff edge, NICVA views  today’s statement from the Executive Office regarding the Local Growth Fund  with deep disappointment, anger, and dismay on behalf of our sector and the thousands of people it supports every day.

The lack of urgency or action shown by our local political leaders on behalf of vital services that provide opportunity, hope and inclusion for some of the most marginalised across our communities- is both unacceptable and deeply damaging.

Voluntary and community sector organisations across Northern Ireland are warning of an imminent crisis, as a 64% cut to vital community-based services under the new Local Growth Fund (LGF) is set to take effect within 48 hours.

NICVA welcomes the publication of yesterdays Northern Ireland Affairs Committee (NIAC) report on Economic Growth in NI , which delivers a clear and urgent warning: the UK Government is “still not listening to the warnings” from the voluntary and community sector about the devastating impact of a 64% cut to VCS‑led employability support services as a result of the introduction of the Local Growth Fund from next week Wednesday 1 April.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

Members of the NI Affairs Select Committee at Westminster attended an urgent meeting in Belfast today to discuss looming funding cuts that could result in over 400 job losses in the community and voluntary sector.