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Department for Communities Department for Communities An Roinn Pobal Depairtment fur Commonities

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  • Voluntary and community

    Policy and strategy in the voluntary and community sector, volunteering and community development advice and guidance

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    Voluntary and community strategies and policies

    We keep informed about policy developments affecting the voluntary and community sector (the Sector) and are committed to working with other departments and with the sector on issues such as alternative financing models, contracting and procurement, support for social economy enterprises, asset transfer and support for philanthropy.

    • Department for Communities Fresh Start commitments
    • Community and Voluntary Sector Infrastructure Support - future plans
    • Introduction to strategies and policies supporting the voluntary and community sector

    Regulation of charities

    The Department is responsible for the policy and legal framework for charity regulation in Northern Ireland. The Department is also responsible for overseeing the work of the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland (the Commission) which is one of the Department’s Non-Departmental Public Bodies.

    • Independent Review of Charity Regulation
    • Independent Review of Charity Regulation - terms of reference
    • Introduction to the regulation of charities in Northern Ireland

    Working in partnership with the voluntary and community sector

    The department has policy responsibility for the management of relationships between Government and the voluntary and community sector (the Sector). The main relationship between the sector and central government has been developed to include councils, health and education sectors.

    • Introduction to working in partnership with the voluntary and community sector
    • Guidance for working with the voluntary and community sector
    • Joint Forum

    Funding for the voluntary and community sector

    Funding to the voluntary and community sector falls into two main areas. One is to support the voluntary and community sector regionally and helping it to grow. The second is to help the sector to be self sustaining through the development of the social economy and building assets for longer term sustainability.

    • Regional Infrastructure Support Programme
    • Government funders database
    • Investment Readiness Programme

    Related to Voluntary and community

    Most recent publications

    • Charities Annual Report 2024

      Published 30 May 2025
    • NICIFC fact sheet 31 March 2025

      Published 7 May 2025
    See all publications in this topic

    Most recent consultations

    • Consultation on a £20k registration threshold for charities in Northern Ireland

      Published 20 May 2024 Consultation closed
    • Consultation on Voluntary and Community Sector Infrastructure Support

      Published 15 November 2023 Consultation closed
    See all consultations in this topic

    Most recent news items

    • Communities Minister Lyons launches Musical Instruments Programme

      Published 19 June 2025
    • Minister announces £1500 Support Payment for Voluntary and Community organisations

      Published 25 March 2025
    See all news in this topic

    Access to information

    How to request information from the Department for Communities including Freedom of Information (FOI) and the use of our Publication Scheme. You may also request your own personal information, via a Right of Access Request.

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