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A NI report launched this week highlights the impact  of loneliness across NI communities and makes an urgent call to the  NI Executive  to respond by driving forward the development of a bespoke Loneliness Strategy for NI.

On Wednesday 9th December, NICVA hosted a major webinar with Communities Minister Carál Ní Chulín and DfC Permanent Secretary Tracy Meharg who collectively took stock of the impacts and lessons from the Covid-19 crisis.

NICVA are proud to support the #MakeOurFutureFair Campaign. Led by the Human Rights Consortium, the newly launched campaign calls for the delivery of a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland.

For the first time, NICVA held its AGM virtually with members joining us to hear how we have been supporting the sector and a special welcome address from Honorary President, Sir Kenneth Branagh.

NICVA recently held a webinar with the Trader Support Service, HMRC and DfE to provide information on how Brexit will impact charities buying or selling goods that cross between GB & NI including NI organisations buying from GB suppliers.

NICVA's Communities in Transition programme is offering NEW Training Opportunities, Bursaries and Volunteer Support in 2021 for groups in East Belfast

As the year draws to a close, we reflect back on the work of the Policy and Public Affairs team during the last few months of 2020. 

Michael participated in the Suffolk/Lenadoon TLP. The course started in February 2020 and had completed only 3 days before the Covid-19 lockdown occurred, and the course was put on hold. It resumed again online and was completed in October 2020.

The webinar “Brexit 2020: Where are we now? The future UK / EU relationship and the protocol” will take place on Thursday 3rd December, 12:30pm-1:30pm.

If you thought getting Brexit ready was just for businesses, think again.  From 1st January 2021, any NI voluntary/community organisation buying or selling any goods from/to GB will need a special 'EORI' registration number.  More here -

Level 3 QUB politics students are keen to gain first hand experience in the voluntary and community sector. Would your organisation be interested in hosting some of them in January 2021? 

The Transformative Leadership Programme (TLP) is part of the Peace IV funded Belfast City Council Transform for Change (TfC) programme

Online events webinar with guest speakers from Graham Group,Cancer Focus NI and Volunteer Now was held on 1 Dec as part of Skills Match. 

During the initial months of the coronavirus pandemic many organisations and businesses face unprecedented changes and obstacles to their normal work. 

On 3 December Úna McKernan from NICVA delivered a webinar on Preparing to Tender as part of the CFNI Accelerator programme funded by Department for Communities (DfC). 

Loneliness has a real cost and affects people of all ages. It is something we’re all likely to experience at some point in our lives, including when becoming a carer or parent, following bereavement or during ill health.

With the deadline of 31st December just around the corner, our recent webinar “Brexit and Your Rights” examined how the rights of people living in Northern Ireland could be impacted by the exit of the UK.

“It was amazing. I enjoyed doing Projects, exchange experiences, and gaining advice. Thanks” (participant from Chinese Welfare Association)

On Tuesday 12th January 2021, NICVA was joined by the new Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman, Margaret Kelly for an information webinar.

An ad hoc committee examining a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland has recently been set up by the Northern Ireland Assembly. The committee is currently carrying out a programme of consultation.

Following the implementation of Government policies and strategies in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, WRDA identified the disproportionate impact on women. 

Due to exceptional demand in the sector for the Community Wellbeing and Resilience Programme, additional dates have been added.

The Charity Commission has stopped sending reminders to charities.  However, online services is still operational and charities can complete their annual monitoring return and upload their reports & accounts. 

NICVA is seeking sector feedback on our Manifesto for Change which sets out how government can work with the sector to unlock the full potential of community and voluntary action in Northern Ireland. 

“I watched people blossoming over the 10 sessions of the course. And I learned to retreat a bit at times and to listen a bit better. It was very transformative from one end of it to the other.”