To ask the Minister for Communities (i) how she ensures employment and funding opportunities within the community and voluntary sector are widely publicised in order to ensure optimum take-up and applications; and (ii) which community and voluntary (a) jobs; (b) training schemes; and (c) funding opportunities received no applicants in each of the last five years.

Funding, training and job opportunities for the sector come from a wide variety of sources beyond this Department’s remit and we do not hold data on the uptake of opportunities.

However, in terms of raising awareness of opportunities, my Department provides funding to a consortium led by (NICVA) to deliver Regional Infrastructure Support for the Voluntary and Community Sector. NICVA communicates up to date information on jobs, grant funding and tendering opportunities. It has a number of communication platforms including the NICVA website, the ‘Community NI’ website and a ‘grant tracker’ tool which are available to the Community and Voluntary sector.

Additionally, my Department operates a free service for employers, including voluntary and community sector employers, to advertise their job vacancies on Jobcentre Online. Jobcentre Online reaches a wide audience and allows jobseekers to apply for vacancies directly to employers. Jobseekers can target their search for jobs in the voluntary and community sector, if this is their work area of choice.