Kathy Maguire
Kathy's Latest content
| Title | Type | Summary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK Government Interim Report on Young People and Work Published | Article | Today’s UK Government–backed interim report on Young people and Work, led by former Health Secretary Alan Milburn, warns that more than one million young people are already not in education, employment or training (NEET). It highlights the scale of the crisis, estimating a cost to the economy of £125 billion, while the long-term damage to the life chances of young people is almost incalculable. | Published |
| NICVA Engagement Session with the NIO: The Future of Local Growth Fund Investment in NI(2026–2029) | Event | The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) is currently undertaking a public consultation on the proposed three-year Investment Plan for the new Local Growth Fund (LGF) in Northern Ireland. This plan sets out priorities for investment for the period 2026 to 2029.NICVA is inviting voluntary and community sector colleagues to join an online engagement session with the NIO team leading the public consultation. | Published |
| All Party Group on the Voluntary and Community Sector Meeting & AGM | Event | Voluntary and community sector representatives are invited to register for the next meeting of the All-Party Group (APG) on the Voluntary and Community Sector, which will also incorporate the groups Annual General Meeting. | Published |
| Local Growth Fund Investment Plan for 2026–29 Now Open for Public Consultation | Article | The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) has published their consultation | Published |
| Update from Government and Voluntary & Community Sector Joint Forum Meeting | Article | The Joint Government and Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) Forum met on 23 March 2026 at NICVA for its first meeting of 2026. Chaired by Joint Forum Public Sector Chair Ray Caldwell (Department for Communities), the meeting brought together representatives from across government and the VCS. | Published |
| A Funding Crisis Ignored: Vital Community Services Left to Face the Fallout of Local Growth Cuts Alone | Article | We have now reached 1 April with no resolution to the funding crisis caused by a 64% cut to funding for community‑led employability support services under the UK Government’s new Local Growth Fund. These cuts take effect today- yet we have seen no meaningful action from our political leaders, and our sector now faces the consequences alone. | Published |
| A Funding Crisis Ignored: Vital Community Services Left to Face the Fallout of Local Growth Cuts Alone | Article | As we reach 1 April with no resolution to the funding crisis created by a 64% cut to community‑led employability support services under the UK Government’s new Local Growth Fund, which takes effect today - we have seen no meaningful action from our political leaders and our sector now faces the consequences of its fallout alone. | Published |
| NICVA's Deep Disappointment at Executive Office’s Local Growth Fund Statement | Article | As the sector confronts the stark realities of an impending funding cliff edge, NICVA views today’s statement from the Executive Office regarding the Local Growth Fund with deep disappointment, anger, and dismay on behalf of our sector and the thousands of people it supports every day. | Published |
| NI Affairs Committee Says Government Must Act Now to Protect Vital Community Employability Support Services | Article | NICVA welcomes the publication of yesterdays Northern Ireland Affairs Committee (NIAC) report on Economic Growth in NI , which delivers a clear and urgent warning: the UK Government is “still not listening to the warnings” from the voluntary and community sector about the devastating impact of a 64% cut to VCS‑led employability support services as a result of the introduction of the Local Growth Fund from next week Wednesday 1 April | Published |
| All-Party Group Reaffirms Support for Sector Amid Urgent Local Growth Fund Crisis | Article | The All-Party Group (APG) on the Voluntary and Community Sector met on Tuesday 10 March in the Senate Room at Parliament Buildings, bringing together MLAs and sector representatives at a critical time for voluntary and community sector organisations and those they support across Northern Ireland. The session, chaired by Diane Forsythe, MLA and supported by NICVA as Secretariat, focused on the escalating pressures facing the sector and the urgent need for action from government. | Published |
| NICVA Tender Opportunities for Specialist Support to the Joint Forum - **Now Closed** | Article | NICVA is currently inviting tenders for specialist support to the Government and Voluntary Sector Joint Forum, funded by the Department for Communities.These tenders were previously advertised but have now been updated to reflect revised key deliverables and an extended timeline.Interested service providers are invited to submit a proposal for one or both opportunities. | Published |
| All Party Group on the Voluntary and Community Sector | Event | Voluntary and community sector representatives are invited to register for the next meeting of the All-Party Group (APG) on the Voluntary and Community Sector. | Published |
| Department of Finance Draft Budget Consultation 2026–2029/30- VCS Engagement Session | Event | Join us to share your views on the Draft Budget currently out for public consultation until 3 March 2026. | Published |
| All-Party Group on Voluntary and Community Sector – 2026 Meeting Dates Confirmed | Article | NICVA, as Secretariat to the All-Party Group (APG) on the Voluntary and Community Sector, is pleased to confirm the meeting schedule for 2026. | Published |
| Call for VCS Nominations: Civic Threads Leadership Development & Policy Exchange Visit to Cardiff | Article | NICVA is inviting nominations from across Northern Ireland’s voluntary and community sector to take part in a three‑day Civic Threads Knowledge Exchange Visit to Cardiff, taking place Wednesday 11 February – Friday 13 February 2026. | Published |
| NICVA Launches Pivotal Report: Voluntary and Community Sector-led Approaches to Tackling Economic Inactivity | Article | 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. | Published |
| NICVA & Economic Inactivty Coalition Brief the NI Affairs Committee on Urgent Action Needed for Local Growth Fund | Article | 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. | Published |
| Government and Voluntary & Community Sector Joint Forum Meeting 23 October 2025 | Article | 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. | Published |
| November Meeting of the All Party Group on Voluntary & Community Sector - Launch of Pivotal Report on Economic Inclusion & role of VCS | Event | VCS Representatives are now invited to register for the next meeting of the All-Party Group on the VCS taking place in November. | Draft |
| NICVA’s Consultation Response: Draft NI Executive Anti-Poverty Strategy | Article | NICVA has submitted its response to the Department for Communities’ recent public consultation on the draft Anti-Poverty Strategy for Northern Ireland calling for a fundamental revision of the current draft. NICVA is deeply concerned that the draft strategy fails to meet its statutory obligations and lacks the ambition, clarity, and accountability needed to deliver real change. | Published |
| DAERA Minister Attends September Meeting of the All-Party Group on the VCS | Article | Last week members of the All-Party Group on the Voluntary and Community Sector gathered in the Senate Chamber of Parliament Buildings for its latest meeting, with the DAERA Minister , Andrew Muir, MLA attending. | Published |
| Ending Poverty in Northern Ireland: A Civil Society Roadmap for Real Change | Article | As poverty deepens and inequality continues to rise across Northern Ireland, the Anti-Poverty Strategy Group - a coalition of civil society organisations including NICVA - has released an updated set of recommendations urging the NI Executive to take decisive and meaningful action to address poverty, its root causes and impact. | Published |
| NICVA's #NICantWait Campaign - A Future Worth Funding | Article | From March 2026, the Local Growth Fund is expected to take over from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), as announced in UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ Spring Statement. But here in Northern Ireland, we still don’t know how it’s going to be rolled out — and that continued uncertainty is a real concern. | Published |
| All Party Group on Voluntary and Community Sector | Event | VCS Representatives are invited to register for the next meeting of the All-Party Group on the VCS taking place as follows: Tuesday 23 September 1pm- 2pm in the Senate Room, Parliament Buildings, Stormont | Draft |
| NICVA Policy and Public Affairs Update: Summer 2025 | Article | 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. | Published |
| The Partnership Agreement: A New Chapter for Government and the Voluntary & Community Sector in Northern Ireland | Article | Launched earlier this month by the Communities Minister, the new Partnership Agreement between Government and the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) in Northern Ireland in Northern Ireland sets out a renewed commitment to working together. It recognises the vital role the sector plays in delivering public services and supporting communities across Northern Ireland. | Published |
| Launch of NI Partnership Agreement and UK Civil Society Covenant | Article | This week marks a significant milestone for the voluntary and community sector and its relationship with government—both in Northern Ireland and across the United Kingdom. | Published |
| NICVA Joins Civil Society Groups in urging NI Executive to withdraw draft Anti-Poverty Strategy, citing it as ‘Unfit for Purpose’ | Article | 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. | Published |
| Launch of Anti Poverty Strategy for NI | Article | After nearly two decades of delays, the long waited draft | Published |
| Joint Forum June Meeting Update - Important Milestone | Article | On Thursday 12 June, we held the second full joint meeting for 2025 of the Joint Government and Voluntary Sector Forum (Joint Forum), which was chaired by Tracy Johnston from the Department for Communities in her last meeting as Joint Forum Joint Chair. | Published |
| Joint Forum June Meeting Update | Article | Yesterday, we held the June meeting of the Joint Government and Voluntary Sector Forum (Joint Forum), chaired by Tracy Johnston from the Department for Communities in her last meeting as Joint Forum Joint Chair | Draft |
| Economy Minister attends May Meeting of the APG on the Voluntary and Community Sector | Article | On Tuesday members of the All-Party Group on the Voluntary and Community Sector gathered in the Senate Chamber of Parliament Buildings for its May meeting. | Published |
| Lotteries for Communities Private Members Bill - Engagement Session | Event | NICVA is hosting an engagement session on the Lotteries for Communities Private Members Bill being taking forward by Sian Mulholland, MLA who is also currently Vice Chair of the All Party Group on the Voluntary and Community Sector. | Draft |
| Belfast City Council Health and Work - VCS Insight Session (Online) | Event | On behalf of Belfast City Council Labour Market Partnership (LMP) NICVA is hosting an online engagement session for voluntary and community sector organisations to explore key issues around health and work. | Draft |
| All Party Group on Voluntary and Community Sector | Event | VCS Representatives are now invited to register for the next meeting of the All-Party Group on the VCS taking place in May. | Draft |
| NICVA Responds to DoH EQIA on draft Budget 25/26 | Article | NICVA recently submitted a response the Department of Health's public consultation on its Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) of its draft Budget for 2025/26. | Published |
| Department of Education Engagement event - Public Consultation on 16-18 Legislation | Event | The Department of Education has launched a consultation on proposals for legislation to increase the mandatory age of participation in education or training to 18 years. NICVA is hosting an online engagement session for voluntary and community sector organisations and groups to hear from and share their views on these proposals directly with Departmental officials. | Draft |
| APG on the Voluntary and Community Sector holds March 2025 meeting | Article | The second APG on VCS meeting of 2025 was held on Tuesday 25 March in Parliament Buildings, Stormont. | Published |
| NICVA Response to Department of Finance 2025-26 Draft Budget Consultation | Article | NICVA recently submitted a response to the 2025-26 Draft Budget for NI published for consultation by the Department of Finance. | Published |
| Dept of Health’s EQIA of Draft Budget 2025 -26 - Informing our response | Event | NICVA is hosting an online event for voluntary and community sector organisations and groups to have a say on the Department of Health’s current Budget 2025 -26 Equality Impact Assessments (EQIA). Brigitte Worth, Finance Director for the Department of Health will join the session to provide a high level overview of draft budget proposals and take questions. | Draft |
| Navigating Social Media in a Post-Truth World (online event) | Event | NICVA values the positive role social media can play in helping voluntary and community organisations communicate their messages. But we also understand and recognise people’s growing concerns about the divisive nature of social media platforms and the challenges this presents in light of our sector's strong value base. | Draft |
| All Party Group on Voluntary and Community Sector - March 2025 Meeting | Event | Arrangements for the March 2025 meeting of this All Party Group have now been confirmed. | Draft |
| All Party Group on Voluntary & Community Sector holds its first meeting of 2025 | Article | The All Party on the Voluntary and Community Sector held its first meeting of 2025 in NICVA offices, with a packed house of voluntary and community sector representatives, MLAs and the Minister for Communities in attendance. | Published |
| All Party Group on Voluntary and Community Sector - Further Meeting Dates for 2025 confirmed | Article | Future arrangements for the All-Party Group on the Voluntary and Community Sector meetings for 2025 have been confirmed. | Published |
| Department of Finance 2025-26 Draft Budget Consultation - VCS Engagement Session | Event | Join us to share your views on the 2025-26 Draft Budget.The 2025-26 Draft Budget was announced by the Finance Minister on the 19th December 2024 The budget provides the Draft Resource and Capital investment funding allocations to government departments for the 2025-26 period.The draft budget is currently out for public consultation, closing on the 13 March 2025. | Draft |
| Government & Voluntary Sector Joint Forum hold first meeting of new Joint Forum Term. | Article | 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. | Published |
| New Appointments to the JF VCS Panel for current Joint Forum term confirmed | Article | 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. | Published |
| DoH 'Being Open' Public Consultation - Online VCS Engagement Session | Event | NICVA is hosting an online engagement event with the Department of Health (DoH) in relation to the departments current public consultation on the draft ‘Being Open’ Framework and the establishment of a Duty of Candour in Northern Ireland. | Draft |
| Will the NI Executive Take Action on Poverty ? - Call from civil society Anti-Poverty Strategy Group | Article | Civil society members of The Anti-Poverty Strategy Group are pressing the NI Executive for the inclusion of Eradicating Poverty as a priority within the new Programme for Government. | Published |
| All Party Group on Voluntary and Community Sector - 2025 Meeting Dates & Update | Article | Arrangements for the All-Party Group on the Voluntary and Community Sector meetings for 2025 are currently being rescheduled to ensure fullest engagement from the voluntary and community sector and MLA colleagues. | Published |