Social Inclusion Strategies

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In accordance with the New Decade New Approach, the Executive has agreed the indicative timetable for the development and publication of a suite of Social Inclusion Strategies for which the Department for Communities is responsible.

Timetable for Development of Social Inclusion Strategies

The Strategies, which include an Anti-Poverty Strategy,  Disability Strategy, Gender Strategy and Sexual Orientation Strategy, will bring focus to identifying and addressing the issues, barriers and disadvantages that undermine equality of opportunity in our community.

Indicative Timetable for the development  and publication of Social Inclusion Strategies.

Stage

Key Outputs

Indicative Timescale

Early engagement, evidence gathering and establishment of supporting structures for strategy development

Expert Advisory Panels appointed, TOR agreed and work commenced.

Strategy development groups convened and TORs agreed:

  • Strategy Co-Design Groups (first meetings held Nov 20); and
  • Cross-departmental working groups (First meetings Jan/Feb 21).

Oct 20 – Jan 21
4 months

Consideration of evidence, additional research and initial drafting

Expert Advisory Panel reports finalised and submitted to Minister and the Executive;

Ongoing engagement with the Co-Design Groups and Cross-departmental Working Groups;

Focus groups held with stakeholders and their representative groups;

Section 75 screening and rural proofing commenced;

Themes and headline actions agreed.

Dec 20 – Feb 21
3 months

Finalisation of themes and  action plan

Final themes agreed by the Co-Design Groups and Cross-departmental Working Groups;

Strategy documents drafted;

Production of a supporting action plans to align with PfG Outcomes;

Finalisation of section 75 screening and rural proofing.

March 21 – June 21
4 months

Ministerial Steering Group meeting

Consideration of progress to date and maximise cross-departmental collaboration across all four Social Inclusion Strategies.  Discussion of themes and headline actions across the four strategies.

April 21

Ministerial Steering Group meeting

Consideration of progress to date and maximise cross-departmental collaboration across all four Social Inclusion Strategies.  Discussion of draft strategies and supporting action plans.

June 21 (TBC)

Approvals

Minister and Executive to approve draft strategies and action plans (will be dependent on scheduling of Executive and Committee meetings).

Drafts sent to Communities Committee with early notice of public consultation.

July 21
1 month          

Consultation and Analysis

Minimum 8-week public consultation exercise (August/September 21);

Communities Committee engagement;

Collation and analysis of responses;

Preparation of departmental responses;

Ministerial clearance of consultation reports and departmental responses and submission to Communities Committee;

Amendments to draft strategy, action plan, section 75 screening and rural proofing, taking account of consultation comments.

Aug 21 – Nov 21
4 months

 

Ministerial Steering Group meeting

Consideration of progress to date and maximise cross-departmental collaboration across all four Social Inclusion Strategies.  Discussion around consultation responses and proposed amendments to strategies.

Oct 21
(TBC)

Final Approvals

Ministerial clearance of final draft of strategies;

Executive and Communities Committee approval (will be dependent on scheduling of Executive and Committee meetings);

Design and finalisation of agreed strategy documents and alternative formats.

Nov 21
1 month        

Launch of strategy

Publication and launch of strategies and action plans;

Ministerial statement to the Assembly.

Dec 21
As soon as final strategies and alternative formats are produced.

Implementation and monitoring

Establishment of monitoring and reporting structures to oversee progress of the strategies.

Ongoing throughout the life of the strategies

Social Inclusion Strategies expert advisory panel membership

Anti-Poverty Strategy Expert Advisory Panel

Goretti Horgan - University of Ulster Social Policy and Director of ARK’s Policy Unit
Emeritus Professor Mike Tomlinson - School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work, Queens University
Pauline Lesson CBE: Chief Executive of Children in NI (CiNI)
Bernadette McAliskey: Chief Executive of South Tyrone Empowerment Programme (STEP)

Disability Strategy Expert Advisory Panel

Dr Eilionóir Flynn Director of the Centre for Disability Law and Policy, National University of Ireland Galway
Dr Bronagh Byrne: QUB School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work
Seán Fitzsimons: disabled professional and activist working in the field of disability rights
Tony O’Reilly: human rights activist in the disabled persons’ movement and a member of the North West Forum of People with Disabilities.

Sexual Orientation Strategy Expert Advisory Panel

John O’Doherty: Director of The Rainbow Project
Cara McCann: Director of HERe NI
Ellen Murray: Executive Director of Transgender NI
Dr Fidelma Ashe: School of Applied Social and Policy Science Ulster University

Gender Strategy Expert Advisory Panel

Professor Ann Marie Gray: Professor of Social Policy and Co-Director of ARK
Siobhan Harding: Research and Policy Officer for the Women's Support Network (WSN)
Rachel Powell: Women’s Sector Lobbyist with the Women’s Resource and Development Agency
Louise Coyle : organisation Director for Northern Ireland Rural Women’s Network (NIRWN)

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