Sector Issues
No-one knows where the jobs market is going
22 Jun 2023Ryan Miller undefinedWork, Sector Issues, Employment, Social Policy
Employment is a tentpole for society. Working keeps people well, produces stuff we need, and gives people money to pay their bills and live a life. However, we have no idea what the jobs market will look like in the near future.
Austerity is a choice, and it looks like a bad one
14 Jun 2023Ryan Miller undefinedPublic finances, Funding, Spending, Austerity, Sector Issues
Northern Ireland – and the rest of the UK - could have a bigger budget. It’s a matter of choice. Public spending now that saves money later is a good investment.
Impact: it’s not the work you do, it’s what that work achieves
16 May 2023Ryan Miller undefinedSector Issues, Funding, outcomes, OBA, impact, inspiring impact
Focusing on outcomes won’t address all the third sector’s challenges, but it will help organisations get the most out of whatever resources they have.
Social security is inadequate – what will government do about it?
10 May 2023Ryan Miller undefinedWelfare Reform, Universal Credit, Social Policy, Poverty, Sector Issues, Cliff Edge Coalition
The Cliff Edge Coalition NI relaunched its campaign last week. A lot has changed since 2018, almost none of it good, and the cliff edge faced by much of society has grown much higher.
Could the cost-of-living crisis be even bigger than we thought? See for yourself
3 May 2023Ryan Miller undefinedHealth, Cost of Living, Sector Issues, Social Policy, Inflation
New ONS analysis shows where inflation is really pressurising household budgets. Some basics are up by over 40%. Meanwhile a new online tool will let you check how inflation is affecting you and your family, specifically.
Pay now, or pay (more) later? How the cost-of-living crisis is squeezing the third sector.
14 Apr 2023Ryan Miller undefinedSector Issues, Children and Young People, Mental Health, Health, Funding, Childcare
Spiking inflation and weak public finances have put community organisations on the back foot. However, it would be short-sighted to let services wither. Where possible, we must spend to save.
Poverty has many faces
6 Mar 2023Ryan Miller undefinedPoverty, Social Policy, Sector Issues, Social Security, Mental Health
New research reaffirms an old oddity – Northern Ireland has the lowest rate of poverty of any UK region. However, that’s not the whole story.
The growing role of charities in society must be embraced
8 Feb 2023Ryan Miller undefinedSector Issues, Funding, Economy, Environment, Social Policy
A huge new report, years in the making, says that the community and voluntary sector’s increasing importance needs to be fully embraced. The private, public and third sectors all need to work together to build the best-possible future.
The third sector in a digital world: room for improvement
1 Feb 2023Ryan Miller undefineddigital, Sector Issues, Funding, Cybersecurity
Research from late last year shows that organisations in Northern Ireland are not all fully comfortable in the modern digital age – but, with a bit of support, the right improvements are achievable.
Data is growing. How it grows is up to us.
6 Jan 2023Ryan Miller undefinedData, Human Rights, Health, Big Data, Sector Issues, Social Policy, Privacy
Does big data provide an opportunity to improve the world? Can our personal info be used for nefarious ends? The answer to both is yes, potentially. Everyone should have an educated say in how we, as a society, use data.
