AQW 47556/11-15 Written question to the Minister for Social Development
To ask the Minister for Social Development to detail (i) the groups represented on the Joint Government/Voluntary and Community Sector Forum; (ii) who attended the last Forum meeting; (iii) what was discussed; and (iv) whether a date has been set for the next Forum meeting.
Asked by Claire Sugden MLA on 22 June 2015
- Answered
- Written
- Tabled
- 22 June 2015
- Answer due by
- 7 July 2015
- Answered
- 2 July 201510 days after tabling
- Department
- Department for Communities
- Priority question
- No
Answer
(i) & (ii)The groups represented on the Joint Government/Voluntary and Community Sector Forum and attendees at the last Joint Forum meeting are shown on the following table.
| PUBLIC SECTOR GROUP | ATTENDED |
| Department of Agriculture and Rural Development | N |
| Department for Culture, Arts and Leisure | Y |
| Department of Education | Y |
| Department for Employment and Learning | Y |
| Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment | Y |
| Department of the Environment | Y |
| Department of Finance and Personnel | Y |
| Public Sector Reform Unit (DFP) | Y |
| Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety | Y |
| Department of Justice | Y |
| Department for Regional Development | Y |
| Department for Social Development | Y |
| Office of the First and deputy First Minister | Y |
| Society of Local Government Chief Executives | Y |
| Northern Ireland Local Government Association | N |
| VOLUNTARY SECTOR PANEL | |
| Age NI | Y |
| Carers NI | N |
| Churches’ Community Work Alliance NI | Y |
| Disability Action | Y |
| East Belfast Community Development Agency | Y |
| Gingerbread NI | Y |
| North West Community Network | Y |
| Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action | Y |
| Northern Ireland Rural Women’s Network | Y |
| Northern Ireland Youth Forum | Y |
| Rural Community Network | Y |
| Sandy Row Community Forum | N |
| Save the Children | Y |
| Victim Support | N |
| Voluntary Arts Ireland | Y |
| Women’s Resource and Development Agency | Y |
| World Wildlife Fund | Y |
The usual Joint Forum agenda was suspended to focus on a discussion paper prepared by NICVA on behalf of Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) organisations. This paper outlined the emerging impact of budget efficiencies on VCS organisations. The agenda for the meeting covered the following topics:
Overview from VCS
Case studies from VCS
Going forward – the approach
Early engagement for 2016/17
OFMDFM overview and building on strategic approach and Dept responses.
Role of DSD Minister as champion for VCS.
How VCS can support government in difficult decision making processes.
A Potential Transition Fund.
New Programme for Government.
The next meeting of the Joint Forum is scheduled for October 2015. A date has yet to be arranged.