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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.

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?

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’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.

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.

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

10 years of neurodivergent‑affirming support, access, and advocacy

This month, we are delighted to shine a spotlight on A Safe Space to be Me, an award-winning charity working across Northern Ireland and nationally to provide counselling, neurodivergent-affirming support, and wellbeing services.

As they mark 10 years of impact, their work continues to respond to growing need, supporting individuals and families while also driving forward conversations around systemic change.

In this Spotlight, they share their work, their impact, and their upcoming milestone event at Stormont.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.