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Virgin Media O2 is unlocking up to £1 million in funding to help small businesses, charities, social enterprises, and local authorities recruit and train the next wave of apprentices — creating real career opportunities that power long-term growth.

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

We were pleased to welcome Finance Minister John O’Dowd to NICVA on Wednesday 23 July for a special meeting with participants from our ASCEND Programme. 

We’re hosting FREE one-hour fundraising advice clinics for NICVA members to discuss their fundraising needs this August.

NICVA is pleased to today launch a new report : “Voluntary and Community Sector-led Approaches to Economic Inactivity” from Pivotal Public Policy Forum Northern Ireland’s independent public policy think tank.

Commissioned by NICVA, this timely and insightful report supports the work of NICVAs Economic Inactivity Coalition—a network of voluntary and community sector (VCS) organisations delivering vital, community-led support to those furthest from the labour market and our current  #NICantWait Campaign calling for urgent clarity and decision making on the future of Local Growth Fund delivery in NI.

On Thursday 23 October, representatives from across government and the voluntary and community sector gathered at NICVA for the third meeting of the year of the Government and Voluntary Sector Joint Forum.

Chaired by Joint Forum VCS Chair Karen Smith (Disability Action), the agenda reflected a shared commitment to strengthening partnership, transparency, and progress in our work as a Joint Forum.

The Northern Ireland Community Infrastructure Fund is a small capital grant scheme for voluntary and community organisations. The Fund is a £4.32 million grant scheme to support voluntary and community sector organisations to improve the internal or external fabric of their existing community buildings. The fund is being delivered by the Department for Communities in partnership with Co-operation Ireland.

Trustees' Week is a time for us to celebrate the great effort and achievements of Trustees. Our month-long calendar of events and promotion of practical resources is in recognition that Trustees need support and guidance in carrying out their role.

This month, we’re proud to feature HERe NI, a trailblazing organisation working to support, empower and advocate for LGBTQIA+ women and their families across Northern Ireland. Their goal is clear: to create a society where everyone can live free from discrimination, feel valued, and have equal access to safety, wellbeing, and opportunity.

During September and October 2025, NICVA’s (Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action) policy and public-affairs activity was dominated by the funding uncertainty surrounding the replacement for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and its implications for economic inactivity, poverty, and the stability of the voluntary and community sector.   

NICVA CEO Celine Mc Stravick and members of NICVAs Economic Inactivity Coalition recently gave evidence at Westminster to the Chair and members of the NI Affairs Committee on the continued uncertainty regarding introduction of the UK Government’s new Local Growth Fund and the damaging impact this is having on voluntary and community sector organisations and services in Northern Ireland.