Policy news

The Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action (NICVA) has added its voice to the calls for the UK to remain in the European Union. 

In our 2016 policy manifesto we call for open data and for the process of policy making to be open.  

NICVA held a conference on the EU Referendum to inform the VCSE sector on the primary arguments for and against leaving the EU. 

Today NICVA submitted their response to the DFP Consultation Paper on Northern Ireland's Non-Domestic Rating Policy.

The Department for Finance and Personnel have published a consultation paper on the future direction of non-domestic rates in Northern Ireland. This article is a summary of the main points that will be contained within the NICVA response. 

Halfway through our Manifesto Engagement Meetings we published a Top Five ways you can get your policies into manifestos.

The Department for Finance and Personnel have published a consultation paper on the future direction of non domestic rates in Northern Ireland. The consultation period will last for a period of twelve weeks closing on 25th January.

Moving toward the Assembly elections in May 2016, now is a good time to remind ourselves of the requirements coming out of the Lobbying Act (or Transparency of Lobbying, Non-party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act 2014.)

We've hosted three of five Manifesto Engagement Meetings, with Alliance, UUP and Sinn Fein, across these events a number of top tips have emerged to assist groups in getting their messages across to political parties and into manifestos. 

A workshop in collaboration with the Centre for Democracy and Peace Building which covered campaigning best practices on the platform. 

On Monday 18th May, UUP MLAs Robin Swann, Roy Beggs and Sandra Overend tabled a motion calling for the Assembly to recognise the important work of the voluntary and community sector and the impact of the cuts.

On the 18th May the NI Assembly will debate the recent cuts to the voluntary and community sector. We are encouraging all voluntary and community organisations to contact MLAs and ask them to support this important motion.

NICVA is warning that at least 450 jobs are likely to be lost in the next few weeks from voluntary and community organisations right across Northern Ireland as government cuts are announced.

An updated summary of the responses to our #CutsWatchNI survey.

NICVA and the Chief Executive's Forums conference on innovation in public service delivery saw speakers from the public, private and voluntary and community sectors address delegates on innovative processes and practices.

NICVA recently responded to the call for evidence on the Childrens Services Cooperation Bill from the OFMDFM Committee in Stormont.

CutsWatchNI maps the impact of public sector spending cuts on voluntary and community groups in Northern Ireland. It is designed to highlight the impact of cuts on both organisations and communities.

Influence is greater than access. Voluntary and community organisations have high levels of acess to decison makers. But do we have influence?

NICVA wants to reinvigorate how the voluntary and community sector engages in policy work and how we interact with our members on policy issues.