Sandra Bailie

Sandra's Latest content

Title	Type	Summary
Supporting Stronger Organisations to Tackle Housing Insecurity and Homelessness	Article	NICVA is delighted to be partnering with the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland to strengthen the impact of organisations working on the frontline of housing insecurity and homelessness.	Published
Information session for CFNI Housing and Homelessness capacity building programme	Event	This one-hour online session will give an overview of the support available through the capacity building programme with NICVA to Grantees of the Housing and Homelessness Fund.	Published
Free laptops donated as part of The Digital Inclusion Action Plan	Article	As part of the Digital Inclusion Action Plan The Department of Finance received funding to help address device poverty and to support community‑led digital inclusion projects. Eligible VCSE organisations with up to £100K income are invited to apply for a free laptop.	Published
Launch of Belfast Learner Voices	Event	Come along to this 2-hour in-person event to find out how you can be involved in a unique project to empower learner voice across Belfast. This event is organised by FALNI and funded by Belfast Learning City, Belfast City Council.	Published
ASCEND Year 1: Building Stronger, More Resilient Organisations	Article	Over the past year, NICVA’s ASCEND Programme has supported grassroots organisations representing ethnically minoritised communities across Northern Ireland to strengthen leadership, build organisational capacity, and plan for long-term sustainability.	Published
Social Value session with SIB	Event	NICVA is hosting an online information session with Strategic Investment Board’s (SIB) Social Value Unit on 7 October 2026 from 10.00am - 11.30am	Published
Data (Use and Access) Act information seminar with ICO	Event	This webinar with Aaron Johnson, ICO Lead Policy Officer, is part of the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) Data Fundamentals Series 2026. It takes a look at the Data (Use and Access) Act and what it means for Voluntary and Community Sector organisations.	Published
Digital Empowerment Programme: Building Capability and Confidence	Article	Our latest Digital Empowerment Programme, delivered over six weeks in February and March 2026, brought together 12 voluntary and community organisations committed to strengthening their digital capability — and the impact is already clear.	Published
Data Fundamentals - Data Sharing (ICO blog)	Article	This blog from Aaron Johnson, ICO Lead Policy Officer, is part of the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) Data Fundamentals Series 2026. This blog takes a look at sharing data safety and responsibly.	Published
Celebration of Learning Event Highlights Growth and Sense of Community	Article	On 27 March, NICVA held its Celebration of Learning, recognising and congratulating everyone who participated in our accredited learning programmes over the past year. The event brought together learners from a variety of programmes and organisations, providing an opportunity for connection, reflection, and continued professional development.	Published
CEP Best Practice Visit Showcases East Belfast’s Regeneration Success	Article	The PEACEPLUS Community Empowerment Programme (CEP) held its first Best Practice Visit on 12 March, bringing participants from across Belfast to The Connswater Community Greenway at CS Lewis Square.  The visit explored the impact of the Greenway and how it has helped transform East Belfast socially, environmentally and economically.	Published
ASCEND Year 2 Information session	Event	We invite you to an online information session about the ASCEND programme for ethnically minoritised groups.	Published
Developing Your AI Policy: Ethics, Safety, and Strategy	Event	Following the highly engaged "Intro to AI" sessions, NICVA is pleased to partner once again with CiviCode for a new, hands-on workshop designed specifically for the Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector.	Published
The Value of Social Value	Article	We’re pleased to launch The Value of Social Value – a new piece of research funded through Dormant Assets NI.	Published
Inclusive Community Development in action	Article	On Wednesday 18 February 2026 over 75 community leaders came together as part of the PEACEPLUS Community Empowerment Programme (CEP) Inclusive Community Development event in Blackmountain Shared Space.	Published
CyberNI week 2026	Article	Charities and voluntary organisations across Northern Ireland are being encouraged to take part in CyberNI Week 2026, running from Monday 2 to Sunday 8 March 2026.	Published
Developing Stronger Cases for Support and Funding Applications (CEP)	Event	This one-day workshop is part of the PEACEPLUS Community Empowerment Programme (CEP) and is only available to individuals living and/or working in the Belfast City Council area. Participants will be equipped with a range of templates, real-world examples, and activities that build on skills and help to write stronger cases for support and funding proposals.	Published
#FundingFebruary Guest Blog Fundraising Regulator	Article	Guest Blog for Funding February from Gráinne Mathews, Stakeholder and Policy Manager – Northern Ireland, Fundraising Regulator.  The blog shares some useful information about how the Fundraising Regulator can support your charity in making sure your digital fundraising remains open, honest and respectful.	Published
Responding to a data breach - CyberNI Week	Event	This free one-hour webinar is in partnership with NI Cyber Security Centre, PSNI and Extern as part of CyberNI week.	Published
Cyber Awareness video series	Resource	The Northern Ireland Cyber Security Centre (NICSC) has launched a new series of short Cyber Awareness videos. They are short 2-minute videos that are well worth a watch.	Published
Community Connections Derry/Londonderry	Event	Following the Community Connections Conference and pre-conference workshops, we are delighted to announce our next workshop to support VSCE organisations and businesses to continue to develop their partnerships and to provide additional networking opportunities.	Published
Trustees Training Series 2026	Article	Our Governance and Charity Advice team has a wide range of training on offer. Ranging from Governance for new and nearly new trustees to financial reporting to the board.	Published
Digital Empowerment Programme (DfC bursary) Registration closed	Event	The Digital Empowerment Programme has been developed by CiviCode in partnership with NICVA. We are delighted that this course is supported by The Department for Communities, meaning we can offer it for the greatly reduced fee of £100. It has been developed to equip voluntary and community organisations with practical tools to thrive in the digital age.	Published
EDI Resource Directory	Resource	This directory is designed to help boards, staff teams and volunteers embed equality, diversity and inclusion into everyday practice. Whether you are strengthening your recruitment processes, improving governance, developing inclusive HR policies, or seeking specialist support, you will find a wide range of resources to guide your work.	Published
Data Fundamentals - Retention (ICO blog)	Resource	This blog from Aaron Johnson, ICO Lead Policy Officer, is part of the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) Data Fundamentals Series 2026. This blog takes a closer look at the rules around how long you should be holding onto personal data, and some steps that you can take to ensure compliance.	Published
Facilitation Skills for Community Development (CEP) Registration closed	Event	This one-day workshop is part of the Community Empowerment Programme (CEP) and is only available to individuals living and/or working in the Belfast City Council area. It offers a practical introduction to facilitation. It focuses on the skills and approaches that help groups to work together effectively, share ideas and make decisions that reflect community priorities.	Published
Digital Empowerment Programme Info Session	Event	This short online session is for anyone interested in learning more about the Digital Empowerment Programme and wishing to register to participate. NICVA, in partnership with CiviCode, is delighted to offer this programme supported by The Department for Communities. It has been developed to equip voluntary and community organisations with practical tools to thrive in the digital age.	Published
CEP Networking Event 2: Inclusive Community Development	Event	This is the second in a series of City-wide networking events as part of the Community Empowerment Programme, which is being delivered by NICVA and a network of community partners from across Belfast.	Published
DfE-Funded Level 6 Careers Guidance Qualification	Article	We are pleased to announce that the Department for the Economy Skills Fund has fully funded a number of places for those working in The Voluntary and Community Sector on the Open University Level 6 Careers Guidance Qualification.	Published
Supporting Careers Guidance – New Quality Assurance Guidelines for NI and DfE funded Level 6 Careers Guidance Qualification	Article	This is a blog from Justin Kerr, Head of the Department for the Economy’s (DfE) Careers Service, introducing the recently published Quality Assurance Guidelines for the Provision and Delivery of Career Guidance in Northern Ireland.  Justin also raises an upcoming opportunity for staff in the Voluntary and Community sector to complete a Level 6 Careers Guidance Qualification, funded through DfE’s Skills Fund.	Published
New guidance from FR to support charities using AI in fundraising	Article	Many charities are exploring using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support their fundraising. As more adopt AI, The Fundraising Regulator (FR) has published new guidance on the use of AI in charitable fundraising.  This is a Blog from FR introducing the new AI guidance.	Published
NICVA Establishes New Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Stakeholder Group	Article	NICVA is pleased to announce the formation of our new Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Stakeholder Group — an important step in strengthening our commitment to creating an inclusive and welcoming environment for all.	Published
ASCEND Learning event - Communication	Event	This is the third of the ASCEND learning events and is focused on communication skills. This two-hour session will help you find your voice and communicate with impact, confidence, and care. This is only open to organisations that are part of the ASCEND programme.	Published
Facilitation Skills for Community Development CEP (registrations closed)	Event	This one-day workshop is part of the Community Empowerment Programme (CEP) and is only available to individuals living and/or working in the Belfast City Council area. It offers a practical introduction to facilitation. It focuses on the skills and approaches that help groups to work together effectively, share ideas and make decisions that reflect community priorities.	Draft
Trustees Week 3-7 November 2025	Article	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.	Published
Launch of New NCSC Cyber Action Toolkit	Article	On 14 October, during Cyber Awareness Month 2025, the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) released the ‘Cyber Action Toolkit’, a new service aimed at helping Sole Traders, Micro and Small Businesses / Organisations improve their cyber security.	Draft
Cyber Action Toolkit	Resource	The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC)  ‘Cyber Action Toolkit’ is a service aimed at helping organisations improve their cyber security.	Draft
Cyber security for Trustees: what you can do to defend your charity against an attack	Event	As part of Trustees’ month, The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) and NI Cyber Crime Centre are holding a session for Trustees on cyber security, the role of the board and how your charity can defend itself against the threat of a cyber attack.	Draft
ASCEND groups meet to connect and learn	Article	On 7 October, participants from NICVA’s ASCEND Programme gathered at NICVA for the first of four Year One learning events - an evening focused on connection, peer learning, and building skills in fundraising.	Published
Leadership Insights: Inclusive Innovation	Event	NICVA Academy is proud to launch the Leadership Insights Series, starting with Inclusive Innovation on 20 November with Adrian Johnston, the Innovation Commissioner for Innovation City Belfast (ICB)	Draft
Understanding Social Value in Public Procurement	Event	This online session in partnership with The Social Investment Board (SIB) will increase your understanding of social value in public procurement and give you practical advice on submitting bids.	Draft
Cyber Awareness Month 2025: Keep Your Charity Cyber Safe	Article	October marks Cyber Awareness Month 2025, with this year’s theme “Secure Our World”. The focus is on practical, everyday steps we can all take to stay safe online, whether as individuals, organisations, or communities.	Published
ICO would like to hear from our sector	Article	We are excited to announce that we are starting a new project in partnerhsip with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), to support The Voluntary and Community Sector in NI with their awareness and confidence levels when it comes to data protection.	Published
Building digital capacity in the VCSE sector: What's ahead for Autumn 2025	Article	NICVA’s autumn 2025 digital plans will offer targeted support, peer learning, and practical tools to help the sector grow in confidence and capability.	Published
NICVA's new communication training series October 2025- March 2026.	Article	We know that effective communication is crucial for organisations - it's how we build trust, amplify impact, and connect with those we serve. This training series will give you the tools and confidence you need to launch a successful podcast, develop a social media strategy, generate social media posts and communicate your message with the media.	Published
NICVA Autumn Training Calendar: Skilling Your People, Strengthening Your Organisation	Article	Is your organisation planning staff and board development this autumn?Are you looking for practical, tailored training that meets your needs?Do you want to offer your team opportunities for networking, peer learning, and action-focused growth?NICVA’s Autumn Training Calendar is for you.	Published
Managing the Media	Event	This interactive and practical one-day training session with Sarah Travers will help you improve how you work with the media and communicate your message.	Published
Strengthening Leadership and Inclusion: ASCEND Programme	Article	We are proud to be working alongside seven organisations that support ethnically minoritised communities across Northern Ireland as part of the NICVA ASCEND Programme.	Draft
Securing your organisation with The Cyber Crime Centre, NICSC and Bytes	Event	This one-hour session is part of the NICVA Digital Series and Cyber Awareness Month. It will be delivered in partnership with the PSNI Cyber Crime Centre, The NI Cyber Security Centre and Bytes.	Draft
CEP OCN Level 2 Award in Community Development (1)	Event	This OCN Level 2 Award in Community Development is the first of six courses developed and delivered by NICVA as part of the Community Empowerment Programme (CEP) and is only available to individuals living and/or working in the Belfast City Council area.	Draft