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The Government and Voluntary Sector Joint Forum recently held its full first meeting of the new Joint Forum term (Dec 2024 – March 2027) on 23 January 2025.

Thirteen new voluntary and community sector appointments to the Joint Forum Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) Panel for the 2024-27 term of the Joint Government and Voluntary Sector Forum have recently been confirmed.

Recruitment and retention are growing challenges for the community and voluntary sector. Rising costs, including increased National Insurance Contributions (NIC), are making it harder for organisations to invest in their workforce. However, apprenticeships offer a sustainable solution, one that can avoid employers National Insurance contributions while creating opportunities for skilled, committed employees.

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.

Oxford United Stars FC’s Planned Interventions project brings young people together from across the Derry City and Strabane District Council areas to play football.  

Lighthouse’s vision is to be a beacon of hope that works to guide people to a brighter tomorrow and is committed to improved mental health and the prevention of suicide

Have you ever considered taking on an apprentice? Would you like to find out more about it and how it could benefit your organisation

Jaguar Land Rover have created the JLR Foundation, a charitable foundation dedicated to empowering children and young people to reach their full potential and catalyse positive social and environmental change.

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

The unprecedented demand for the Department of Health's Core Grant funding scheme, with nearly 260 organisations applying and 25 successful grants, demonstrates the critical role and urgent needs of Northern Ireland's voluntary and community sector in health and social care delivery. The decision to maintain the 50% cut to this vital funding stream, reducing it from £3.6m to £1.8m, undermines the sector's ability to support the health system at a time of unprecedented pressure.

This week we are highlighting the importance of networking in the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise sector, with a spotlight on Social Enterprise Northern Ireland (SENI). 

We spoke to the newest member of the SENI Team, Audrey Keogan, Member Relationship Manager.

Mid and East Antrim Agewell Partnership and Social Finance are working together to develop social investment in Northern Ireland with new community transformation funds.

This series of online training is designed specifically for charity trustees and those staff whose work contributes to the good governance of the organisation.

Renewed focus on upskilling education and training facilitators in the voluntary and community sector.

On 21 November, NICVA held its annual Trustees Conference on the theme of finance. 

***PLEASE NOTE: Nominations are now closed and we will update this article with information regarding the Panel in due course***

Do you have the commitment, knowledge and skills to represent the VCSE sector on community planning in Belfast? On behalf of Belfast Community Planning Partnership (BCPP), NICVA is inviting nominations for representatives to the Belfast Agenda VCSE Sectoral Advisory Panel for a further four-year term from April 2025 to March 2029.

At USEL (Ulster Supported Employment Ltd), empowerment is the purpose. As Northern Ireland’s leading provider of employment support for people with health conditions and disabilities, USEL has been transforming lives for over 60 years. Their mission is simple: to provide access to employment, training, and support services to people who face barriers to work due to a health condition or disability.

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. 

National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates increase from 1 April 2024.

NICVA was one of 50 + signatories to a recent letter, coordinated by the Northern Ireland Anti-Poverty Network (NIAPN), addressed to NI Executive Ministers. The letter, endorsed by a broad coalition of civil society organisations and groups, calls for the withdrawal of the draft Anti-Poverty Strategy currently out for public consultation.

It outlines that the strategy fails to meet the basic criteria of a reasonable and effective anti-poverty strategy and is therefore not fit for purpose.