Policy & Public Affairs

NICVA’s Policy and Public Affairs Team provides a range of services to inform you about policy issues affecting your work, and provide you with the skills and opportunities to engage with policymakers

As well as providing information, skills, and opportunities to engage directly with policymakers and influence policy, the Policy and Public Affairs Team also directly represents the sector’s interests on a wide range of external forums and groups. In addition, our team includes NICVA’s research function, which undertakes ongoing research to increase understanding of the sector, its views, and its value to society.  We also offer  advice on undertaking research, and work with our universities and other research bodies to encourage research partnerships with our sector.

As part of our work we offer the opportunity to join meetings and events held by our Public Affairs Forum which provides regular opportunities for those working in policy and public affairs to come together and exchange knowledge with others in the sector, and a space to meet invited policymakers and influencers.  

We regularly consult our members and the wider sector to gather your thoughts on what issues need to be lobbied on or brought to the attention of policy and decision makers. This consultation has enabled us to develop  our Manifesto for Change  and our ongoing consultations and seminars help ensure that your views, concerns and proposals on specific current issues are reflected and represented to policymakers.

Our Current Campaigns

Through this campaign, NICVA is representing the sector’s concerns about Brexit and helping the sector meet the challenges of changing international frameworks as well global trends in society.

NICVA is seeking to ensure that the sector is fully involved in the debate on how Northern Ireland can best transform health and social care services to meet growing needs and improve outcomes, and fully enabled to make its own major contribution to prevention and service provision.

Through this campaign, NICVA is gathering evidence to quantify and communicate the value of this sector’s work to society. This help reflect the importance of the work you do and the need to support it to the media, government, and the public.

Through this campaign, NICVA is seeking to ensure that the sector has a real say in the shape of future investment and that future funding mechanisms are transparent and consistent for all.

NICVA is working closely with Universities and others to encourage research that has tangible positive impacts and benefits for society, meets key needs identified by our sector, and is carried out through positive collaboration and partnership.

NICVA is seeking to ensure that our support services meet the needs of the ethnic minority sector in Northern Ireland. Through a programme of engagement we are developing our understanding of the challenges and tailoring our support to meet these.

Updates

Cost of Living Crisis- Key Asks

NICVA is seeking meetings with Ministers on the impacts of the cost of living crisis on the voluntary and community sector following discussions with sector representatives and relevant Government Departments.

Non-functioning Northern Ireland Executive has negative impact on our daily lives. 

With the absence of a functioning Executive, we are in a further period of damaging inertia.  Important decisions legally cannot now be made- the most obvious the finalising of a three-year budget 

Time is running out to save critical services to help the most vulnerable

NICVA issued a statement today to reflect the concern that members have expressed regarding the continuation of critical services funded through the European Social Fund (ESF)

Winners of the Good Relations Awards 2024 announced

Local communities across the region are celebrating as the five award category winners of the Good Relations Awards 2024 are announced.

NICVA responds to confirmation that part of Shared Prosperity Fund is to be reallocated within UK Government Financial Settlement for NI

NICVA believe the decision to roll £22.6m of Northern Ireland’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund into the financial settlement between the UK Government and the Northern Ireland Executive, is both disappointing and short sighted.

Spring Budget 2024: Key announcements

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt MP delivered his Spring Budget on Wednesday, 6 March . It focused on the economy ‘turning a corner’ and delivering tax cuts for working people.

NICVA hosts Conversation Zone at the Alliance Party Conference 2024

On Saturday 2 March, NICVA returned to the Alliance Party Conference at the Stormont Hotel in Belfast to host our Conversation Zone event, a chance for members to engage with elected representatives on the issues that matter to them.

NICVA and sector leaders meet with new Communities Minister Gordon Lyons

NICVA and representatives from the voluntary and community sector have met with the Department for Communities Minister Gordon Lyons to discuss the ongoing issues facing the sector.

NICVA to host Conversation Zone at Alliance Party Conference Saturday 2nd March 2024

NICVA 's Conversation Zone is back! We’re delighted to announce that we will be hosting a Conversation Zone at the Alliance Party Conference on Saturday 2nd March 2024 at the Stormont Hotel, Belfast. 

NICVA Welcomes the Return of the Stormont Executive

NICVA welcomes the news we will now have a stable, functioning government here in Northern Ireland.

Who are NI's new ministers?

Two years to the day since the collapse of devolved government in Northern Ireland, the Executive has been restored and new Ministers announced.

***CLOSED: Voluntary and Community Sector Nominations to the Shadow Area Integrated Partnership Boards (AIPBs) CLOSED***

On behalf of the Department of Health, NICVA is currently seeking nominations for VCS Representatives to the five Shadow Area Integrated Partnership Boards being established for the roll out of the Integrated Care System across NI.

NICVA and Belfast City Council partner to explore inclusive employment

Over 200 delegates gathered at Ulster University’s Belfast campus today (Monday, 22 January) to explore how Belfast can address economic inactivity and achieve a truly inclusive labour market.

Team

Kathy Maguire Policy Development Officer kathy.maguire@nicva.org's picture
Suzie Cahn Shared Island Project Director suzie@wheel.ie's picture

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