Policy news

Do you work with young people? If so, you would not want to miss the new season of the Across Divides podcast! 

After nearly two decades of delays, the long waited draft Anti Poverty Strategy for NI was published this week with Communities Minister Gordon Lyons' statement before the Assembly. 

The Department for Communities has launched a public consultation on the draft strategy which is open from now until 19 September 2025. 

On Thursday 12 June, we held the second full joint meeting for 2025 of the Joint Government and Voluntary Sector Forum (Joint Forum), which was chaired by Tracy Johnston from the Department for Communities in her last meeting as Joint Forum Joint Chair. 

NICVA has submitted its response to the Charities SORP-making body on The Exposure Draft Statement of Recommended Practice 2026: Accounting and Reporting by Charities (the Exposure Draft SORP). 

The Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action (NICVA) is deeply concerned by the recent events in Ballymena, where an alleged sexual assault involving a young girl has become the catalyst for escalating racially motivated violence and disorder.

NICVA’s Director of Policy and Insight Jonny Currie provides an overview of key details arising from this week’s UK Spending Review.

Sian Mulholland MLA’s private member’s bill, The Lotteries for Communities Bill was launched for consultation on 9 May 2025 and will close on Friday, 5 September 2025.

NICVA’s Director of Policy and Insight Jonny Currie provides an update on our policy and public affairs work in support of the voluntary and community sector across Northern Ireland.

NICVA recently submitted a response the Department of Health's public consultation on its Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) of its draft Budget for 2025/26.

The joint SORP-making body has launched a public consultation on the next version of the charities SORP,  the accounting and reporting framework for charities that prepare accrual accounts, running for 12 weeks from 28 March – 20 June 2025. 

NICVA’s Director of Policy and Insight Jonny Currie provides an overview of key issues relating to this week’s Spring Statement. 

NICVA’s Director of Policy and Insight Jonny Currie provides the first new monthly update on our policy and public affairs work in support of the voluntary and community sector across Northern Ireland.

The Executive's first anniversary and Programme for Government launch marks a crucial pivot point—moving from promises to potential measurable outcomes through genuine partnership and clear accountability. 

NICVA’s Director of Policy and Insight Jonny Currie responds to the NI Executive’s Programme for Government released today. 

The Community Foundation for Northern Ireland, Africa House, NICVA, and Social Change Initiative (SCI) held a major conference on Thursday 30th and Friday 31st January 2025 at Belfast Castle to address the rise of xenophobia, racism, and Islamophobia in Northern Ireland.

Storm Éowyn has left over 63,000 homes across Northern Ireland without electricity. While local councils have established support centres providing essential services, and many organisations in our sector have opened their facilities where possible, there are still vulnerable individuals who cannot access these resources.

Civil society members of  The Anti-Poverty Strategy Group are pressing the NI Executive for the inclusion of Eradicating Poverty as a priority within the new Programme for Government.

New research from the Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action (NICVA) reveals devastating impacts of the UK Government's planned increase in Employer National Insurance Contributions (NICs) on the voluntary and community sector.

Arrangements for the All-Party Group on the Voluntary and Community Sector meetings for 2025 are currently being rescheduled to ensure fullest engagement from the voluntary and community sector and MLA colleagues.