Joint Forum
The Joint Forum between Government and the Voluntary and Community Sector (commonly known as the Joint Forum) is made up of representatives from central and local Government (Public Sector Group) and the Voluntary and Community Sector (Voluntary and Community Panel), and provides a mechanism to facilitate open discussion of key issues which shape the relationship between the voluntary and community and the public sectors.
The Joint Forum
The Joint Forum has been in operation since 1998 with an overarching aim “to develop and lead an effective working relationship between Government and the Voluntary and Community Sector in Northern Ireland”.
The operation of the Joint Forum is facilitated by Voluntary and Community Division and the NI Council for Voluntary Action (NICVA).
The Forum is jointly chaired by the Director of the Department’s Voluntary and Community Division and a member nominated by the Voluntary and Community Sector Panel .
Public sector membership includes representatives from all nine Government departments as well as local government representatives nominated by Society of Local Authority Chief Executives and Senior Managers (SOLACE NI) and Northern Ireland Local Government Association (NILGA). The current Voluntary and Community Sector Panel for the Joint Forum for the period 2024-27 comprises 20 representatives from across the voluntary and community sector appointed by a selection committee of the NICVA Executive following an open nomination process. The panel is representative of the diverse interests of the voluntary and community sector. Voluntary and Community Division, DfC and NICVA jointly support and provide secretariat for the Joint Forum.
Joint Forum membership
The Joint Forum between Government and the VCS consists of a Voluntary and Community Sector panel and a Public Sector group.
The current VCS Panel members (2024-2027) are:
| Name | Role | Organisation |
|---|---|---|
| Colm McDaid | Chief Executive | Supporting Communities |
| Charlie Fisher | CEO | Development Trusts NI |
| Karen Smith | (VCS Panel Chair/JF Joint Chair) Head of Contracted Services | Disability Action |
| Judith Poucher | Deputy CEO | Clanrye Group |
| Gareth Eannetta | Programmes Manager | NIACRO |
| Stephen Dallas | (VCS Panel Vice Chair) CEO | Bytes Project |
| Frances Campbell | Director of Northern Ireland and Head of Research | Community Transport Association UK |
| Samantha Gallagher | Policy & Public Affairs Officer | Rural Community Network |
| Avery Bowser | Fostering Services Manager | Action for Children |
| Kathy Martin | Strategic Impact Manager | Community Development and Health Network |
| Manus Maguire | Manager | Cliftonville Community Regeneration Forum |
| Paul Boylan | Director of Programmes and Strategy | Cooperation Ireland |
| Roisin McLaughlin | Manager | Northwest Community Network |
| Anne Mc Vicker | Director | Women's Resource & Development Agency |
| Irene Sherry | Senior Leadership Team | Ashton Community Trust |
| Melissa Frame | Director of Services | Start 360 |
| Janet Schofield | CEO | CAN (Compass Advocacy Network) Compass |
| Jonny Currie | Director of Policy and Insight | NICVA |
Current Public Sector Group members:
| Name | Role in Organisation | Department / Organisation |
|---|---|---|
| Ray Caldwell | (PS Chair/ JF Joint Chair) Director, Voluntary and Community Division | Department for Communities (DfC) |
| Nichola Creagh | Community Empowerment Division | Department for Communities (DfC) |
| April Dalzell | Local Government policy - Community Planning & Local / Central Government Relations | Department for Communities (DfC) |
| Ruth Jamison | Programme Engagement and Impact, Voluntary and Community Division. | Department for Communities (DfC) |
| Laura McDonald | Strategic Funding Division | Department of Finance (DoF) |
| William Peel | Public Spending Group | Department of Finance (DoF) |
| Karen Weir | Budget Sustainability Team | Department of Finance (DoF) |
| Elaine Colgan | Economic Policy Group | Department for the Economy (DfE) |
| Kiera Lloyd/Gavin Hamilton | Strategy & Performance | Department for Infrastructure (DfI) |
| Glenda Davies | Special Education Team | Department of Education (DE) |
| Chris Gardner | Good Relations and T:BUC | The Executive Office (TEO) |
| Marc Bailie | Social Services Policy | Department of Health (DoH) |
| Jason Foy | Rural Affairs | Department for Agriculture, Environment & Rural Affairs (DAERA) |
| Maria Watson | Rehabilitation and Reducing Offending | Department of Justice (DoJ) |
| Joanne Doherty | Strategic Partnerships | The Executive Programme on Paramilitarism & Organised Crime (EPPOC) |
| Keith Forster | Economic Development, Belfast City Council | Society of Local Authority Chief Executives Northern Ireland (SOLACE NI) |
| Interim Reps: Alison Allen/Antoinette Kennedy | Northern Ireland Local Government Association (NILGA) | |
| Andrew Steenson | Regional Health Inequalities | HSCNI |
| Anne Armstrong/Lorraine Gallagher | Sectoral Policy and Engagement, Voluntary and Community Division | Department for Communities (DfC) |
Joint Forum work plan 2024-27
In July 2025, Minister Lyons launched the Partnership Agreement between Government and the Voluntary & Community Sector which had been fully endorsed by the Executive.
The Joint Forum has co-developed a three-year work plan to support implementation of the Partnership Agreement, including its Shared Values, Ways of Working and Fair Funding Principles. The work plan establishes working groups with equal representation from the public sector and the Voluntary and Community Sector to advance these commitments and strengthen collaboration.
Contact
For further information please contact the Joint Forum Secretariat:
Public Sector Group - jointforumsecretariat@communities-ni.gov.uk
Voluntary & Community Sector Panel- info@nicva.org