Working in partnership with the voluntary and community sector
We have policy responsibility for the relationship between government and the voluntary and community sector. The aim is to have a vibrant and sustainable sector that can work closely with the public sector to design policies and services that meet the needs of the people of Northern Ireland.
Guidance for working with the voluntary and community sector
The department provides Guidance for working with the voluntary and community sector. This is across a wide range of issues including governance and financial matters.
Partnership Agreement between Government and the Voluntary and Community Sector in Northern Ireland
The Partnership Agreement is between the Northern Ireland Executive, its Ministers, the Departments they lead and the public and arm’s length bodies which they are responsible for, on the one part and representatives of the Voluntary and Community Sector in Northern Ireland, on the other.
This Partnership Agreement supersedes the 2011 Concordat between the Voluntary and Community Sector and the Northern Ireland Government. Building on the foundation provided by the Concordat, the Partnership Agreement contains new provisions to strengthen and develop relationships between the sectors, reflective of contemporary challenges and issues faced, whilst also looking to the future. The Partnership Agreement is underpinned by core values and ways of working and a set of Fair Funding Principles, applicable to both public sector and voluntary and community organisations.
Fair funding principles
While many Voluntary and Community Sector organisations operate without public funding and for others it makes up just a small part of their overall income, there are also many voluntary and community organisations who are key partners in the delivery of public services and recipients of financial support from Government. Public funding should achieve value for money and deliver the best results for individuals and communities recognising the basis on which public funding is provided to voluntary and community organisations is fair and transparent.
The Partnership Agreement contains a set of fair funding principles and ways of working to underpin the funding relationship and build good practice between government and the voluntary and community sector. These principles and ways of working are interconnected and applicable to both funders and funded bodies with the aim of enabling the best use of public funding and greater impact on our communities.
Joint forum
The Joint Forum facilitates open discussion of key issues which impact on and shape the relationship between the voluntary and community sector and Northern Ireland departments and their agencies. The Joint Forum has developed a new Partnership Agreement between Government and the Voluntary and Community Sector in Northern Ireland.
Contact
If you have any queries please contact Voluntary and Community Division
Useful links
- Funding for the voluntary and community sector
- Community evaluation Northern Ireland (CENI)
- NI Council for Voluntary Action (NICVA)