Community infrastructure allows new work and new organisations to develop, supports existing organisations, and facilitates networking.
Read the RISP joint policy statement. This programme is currently under review. More information is available.
Generic strand
The Generic strand is a joint arrangement between the Department and the Department for Agriculture Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), geared to support the voluntary and community sector in respect of representation, training board members, capacity building, handling governance issues and income generation.
The Consortium that delivers this part of RISP are:
- Chief Officers 3rd Sector (CO3)
- Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action (NICVA)
- Rural Community Network
Volunteering support strand
The Volunteering support strand is geared to support, promote and maximise volunteering across NI. The volunteering strategy aim is to create the conditions under which volunteering activity within Northern Ireland can develop and flourish.
This strand is delivered though funding a number of volunteering support organisations across Northern Ireland:
- Causeway Volunteer Centre
- Cookstown and Magherafelt Volunteer Centre
- Mid Ulster Volunteer Centre
- Craigavon and Banbridge Volunteer Bureau
- Limavady Volunteer Bureau
- Omagh Volunteer Centre
- Volunteer Now
The volunteering support strand also supports and develops the volunteering infrastructure through a volunteering Small Grants Programme and the Volunteering Innovation Fund which supports volunteering in thematic areas such as faith and sport which traditionally have not been supported by government.
Women in disadvantaged/rural areas strand
The Women in disadvantaged/rural areas strand a joint programme between DfC and DAERA, geared to maximise the ability of women living in disadvantaged/rural areas to contribute to their communities.
Read the Joint policy statement Programme for Regional Support for Women in Disadvantaged Areas.
Faith based engagement strand
The Faith based engagement strand supports NICVA and RCN in providing infrastructure support services to faith-based organisations in Northern Ireland to develop and grow, supports those Groups already there, and facilitates networking.
Read Thematic support for regional faith based engagement.
The vision of RISP
“That voluntary and community sector organisations across Northern Ireland (urban and rural) are provided with the key generic infrastructure support which allows them to function effectively to deliver government objectives and maximise the impact of the work they do.”
The overarching aim of the advice strand of RISP is to enable the advice sector to deliver its services efficiently and effectively.
RISP supports the generalist advice network with an emphasis on advising, empowering and supporting citizens to have access to free independent advice and information. This funding is to provide advice services with specific advice training, support with policy, management information, quality standards, and to provide a voice for advice sector.
Current Delivery Partners - Advice NI and Law Centre NI.
- Advice NI provides regional support to its frontline membership organisations
- Law Centre provides second tier legal advice and supports to the Advice NI network.
Contact
If you have any queries please contact VCD.BusinessSupport@communities-ni.gov.uk