✨ The Foyle Foundation completes 25 years of giving, distributing £185M to 7,000+ charities & schools across the UK. A final £2.2M goes to 11 community foundations, including NI, leaving a lasting legacy. 🔗 Full story: tinyurl.com/ya5ufbbw

Our CEO @cmcstravick.bsky.social and Maeve Monaghan (CEO of NOW Group) spoke on BBC Evening Extra about the 64% cut to NI community-led programmes and the impact on services, jobs & people. 🎧 Listen back from 10mins 30 sec in: tinyurl.com/4jvs26kb #NICantWait #VoiceOfTheSector

Today’s announcement is devastating news for our sector. Despite 2 years of NICVA & #NICantWait campaigning, a 64% funding cut will force organisations to make impossible decisions about staff & services. We will continue to press the NI Executive to act urgently. Read more: bit.ly/493rCwL

🚨 64% funding cut confirmed for NI community sector Funding drops from £25m → £9.2m in 2026, leaving services, staff, and users in uncertainty. NICVA & Economic Inactivity Coalition's #NICantWait campaign warned this cliff-edge was coming. Read More: bit.ly/493rCwL #NICantWait #VoiceOfTheSector

Did you know NICVA is a Charity Commission Helper Group? We provide practical support with charity registration, annual reporting & regulatory requirements, alongside regular charity regulation updates & guidance. Explore our resources on the website: tinyurl.com/mt4kcfd2 #GoodGovernance

🎓 Fully funded Level 6 Careers Guidance qualification now open to VCSE staff. Study online with the Open University & strengthen careers support in NI. 📅 Info webinar on 28 Jan to find out more 👉 Full details: tinyurl.com/y6mezrsp #CareersGuidance #SkillsDevelopment

🎄🥫 Thank you to #TeamNICVA, our tenants and visitors who donated to our Christmas foodbank collection. Today Roy from North Belfast Foodbank collected the donations, which will support local individuals and families this festive season. 💛

⏰ #NICantWait With just 100 days left before UKSPF ends, our CEO @cmcstravick.bsky.social has written today to SoS Hilary Benn urging urgent action. Co-design can’t be delivered in time. A bridging arrangement is now essential to avoid a cliff edge for vital services in NI.

🎄☕ Christmas Jumper Day at NICVA! Today #TeamNICVA came together for our annual coffee morning, organised by our Wellbeing Group, and chose to support The Niamh Louise Foundation - a local mental health charity doing incredible work. Amazing bakes, festive jumpers & supporting our members 🧁💛

📽️ “Short-term budgets make absolutely no sense.” The voluntary & community sector delivers across all areas of public life in NI. Speaking to ITV, @cmcstravick.bsky.social explains why annual funding puts jobs and services at risk. Multi-year budgets mean stability and better value for money.

This new FREE EANI funded OCNNI qualification will support Churches & Faith-based organisations to attract, recruit & manage the volunteers who work with & lead children & young people. 📅 14 & 15 Jan 2026 ⏲️ 9.30am-4.30pm 📍 Online ➡️ https://ow.ly/eZrh50XFBvi

📣 Weekly funding roundup: 💷 £2k–£50k for deprived communities 🤝 £1k–£2k for small community groups 🏠 £620k care leavers housing pilot 🎨 £30k–£300k arts & education 🕊️ Up to £10k for good relations work 🔗 Full details: tinyurl.com/2zumuu4p #GrantTracker

Free HR support for NI voluntary & community organisations! 📅 Upcoming sessions: Performance Management, Wellbeing, Diversity & Inclusion, Succession Planning. Participants also get access to: ✔ 1-to-1 clinics ✔ Templates & resources Book now 👉 bit.ly/4qRPUSp

📣 This week’s funding roundup: 💷 £5k–£30k for health-waiting-list support 🌟 £60k/2yrs for youth projects 🧭 £40k/yr + £5k for youth organising 🎨 €4.6m for creativity & wellbeing 🧪 £30k–£60k for early-stage tech 🤝 £3k & £5k–£10k for community work 🔗 tinyurl.com/uh23ytta #GrantTracker

🎉 NICVA has a fresh new look! After 16 years, our brand has evolved to reflect the people, energy, and impact at the heart of everything we do. Same mission, fresh identity – ready to champion the voluntary and community sector across Northern Ireland. Explore 👉 bit.ly/3XHlzJ6

Our Festive AGM 2025 brought the NICVA community together for reflection, connection, and inspiration. We celebrated the sector’s achievements, shared a first look at our refreshed strategy and brand, and heard a powerful keynote from Darren McGarvey. Read more 👉 bit.ly/44iW3xw

At yesterday’s Banking Roundtable at Stormont, our Governance & Charity Advice Manager continued to press for better banking services for charities, community groups & voluntary organisations. Reviewing banking options? Our updated NI charity bank account comparison table may help: bit.ly/41gDOrV

🎁 Stallholder Spotlight: Storybox Storybox brings thoughtful, sustainable gifting to our Mini Christmas Fair on Friday. Their collection features ethical gifts from local makers and social enterprises, with every purchase supporting community impact across NI. Register: bit.ly/3WWeaVP

Great to be part of the Shared Island Innovators Conference in Dublin yesterday. Our CEO @cmcstravick.bsky.social joined a strong lineup to discuss cross-border collaboration. Well done to @thewheelireland.bsky.social for an inspiring and impactful event.

🎨 Stallholder Spotlight: Living in Colour Living in Colour (Head Injury Support) will join our Mini Christmas Fair & AGM on Friday! Their handmade jewellery, cards and art are created in Newry by ABI survivors, with every purchase supporting their vital services. Join us on Friday: bit.ly/3WWeaVP

Yesterday, Dr. Eve Cobain presented our recent research for the Alliance for Lifelong Learning, created with FALNI, looking at how the impact of adult education is captured in Northern Ireland. You can read the report here: tinyurl.com/ytjpntxx

📣 Creative Ireland grants now open! 🎨 Creative Health & Wellbeing in the Community 🤝 Creative Communities on a Shared Island 🌱 Creative Youth Nurture Fund 📅 Closing: 27 Feb 2026, 1pm 💻 Info sessions: Jan 14 (Belfast), Jan 22 (Dublin), Dec 15 (online) 🔗 Apply: tinyurl.com/mrxedt8e #GrantTracker

Free workshop: Facilitation Skills for Community Development 📅 11 Dec | 📍 NICVA Learn tools for active listening, group dynamics & inclusive decision-making. Open to those living/working in the Belfast City Council area. Register: tinyurl.com/4439vx4t #BelfastPEACEPLUS @seupb.bsky.social

🕯️ Stallholder Spotlight: Bolster Community Bolster Community joins our Mini Christmas Fair this Friday! Their Acorn Scents candles are hand-poured by young adults with additional needs, with all profits supporting their services. Come meet the team on 5 Dec... Register: bit.ly/3WWeaVP

🚀 Great session this morning on building a case for support + driving change! Huge thanks to all who joined, shared insights and contributed to the discussions. 👉 Our next Impact Practice Network meeting will have an Impact Innovation Lab focus. Sign up: tinyurl.com/3e24cf5f @aontas.com

📣 Funding roundup! Here's what's new this week: 🏘️ Multi-year community & infrastructure grants 🎵 Up to £1,500 or instruments for music projects 🍽️ Food projects for vulnerable children 💷 Up to £5,000 for local initiatives 🩺 £25k–£150k for cancer support 🔗 Full details: tinyurl.com/vhm38pyv

Great to join Rural Community Network for a timely discussion on banking access for rural voluntary & community organisations. The event brought together sector organisations, MLAs from the Finance Committee, and the Charity Commission to discuss the real challenges and explore practical solutions.

Today marks the start of Homelessness Awareness Week 2025. We are at Stormont today as the All-Party Group on Homelessness hosts an event in the Long Gallery at Parliament Buildings.

⌛ Final call for King’s Award for Voluntary Service 2026! KAVS is the top honour for UK volunteer groups. If you know of a group doing exceptional work, why not nominate them. ❗ Group members can’t nominate. 📅 Deadline: 1 Dec 2025 Nominate here: kavs.dcms.gov.uk/make-a-nomin... #GrantTracker

🎄 One week to go! Join us next Friday (5 Dec) for our Festive AGM. We’re excited to welcome guest speaker Darren McGarvey, enjoy a performance from the Sing for Life Choir, and host our Mini Christmas Fair with brilliant local social enterprises. Haven’t registered yet? Sign up: bit.ly/3WWeaVP

Looking to give back with your holiday plans this year? Organise a bake sale at work, Christmas jumper night out with friends, or holiday themed quiz night with family and support older people across Northern Ireland who might be feeling lonely or forgotten this Christmas season 🎄

Homelessness Awareness Week is only a few days away! Make sure to have a look at our programme outlining all the events taking place during the week: homelessconnect.org/events/ #HAW25 #SeeThePerson

⏰ Deadline tomorrow! The James Kane Foundation is closing EOIs on 28 Nov at 12pm. Funding for projects supporting STEM pathways & helping students choose between careers & higher education. Open to education bodies, employers, charities + social enterprises. ℹ️ tinyurl.com/zk528pnu #GrantTracker

Congratulations to our fantastic learners who completed our OCN L2 Community Development course today! 🎉 Proud of their hard work - and of our first OCN delivered through the Community Empowerment Programme. Looking forward to running it again in 2026! #BelfastPEACEPLUS @seupb.bsky.social

The Happiness Fund (Laughology) 💷 Up to £5,000 for grassroots UK projects to support mental health and wellbeing, inclusion, learning and skills development. 📅 Deadline: 28 November 2025 🔗 Apply: tinyurl.com/mr2uafxt #GrantTracker

The Charity Commission for Northern Ireland will hold its annual public meeting on Thursday, 22 January 2026, from 10.30am to 12.30pm (registration opens at 10am) at Malone House, Barnett Demesne, Belfast, BT9 5PB. For more info and booking see: www.charitycommissionni.org.uk/news/commiss...

Today is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. Mark today by signing up for our event double bill on the 6th Dec ▶️ Challenging the Far Right Weaponisation of EVAWG 11:00 AM (lunch 12:15pm) buff.ly/q2D4U6V ▶️ The Role of Firearms in VAWG in NI 1:00 PM buff.ly/ITzGE3z

Civil society is carrying more responsibility than ever - but what does that mean for our future? Hear from Darren McGarvey at our AGM on 5 Dec. His keynote explores the role of communities, the state of public services & where hope lies. 📅 Book now: bit.ly/3WWeaVP #ValueOfTheSector

Funding News! This week’s opportunities include: • £500K+ for a UK transformation project • £60–140K for peace/rights/justice projects • £50–150K for cancer care inequality • Up to £5K for community/education • Support for animal welfare projects Full details: tinyurl.com/bdfykptv #GrantTracker

🗳️ NICVA Members — voting is open for the 2025 Executive Committee Elections. ⏰ Deadline: 5pm, Thurs 27 Nov. All voting details and the ballot link were emailed to member organisations - please check your inbox and submit your vote. #NICVAElections #Governance

⏰ Final call! Applications close 24 Nov (midday) for our Director of Policy & Insight role - lead policy, research & comms shaping the voluntary sector’s voice across NI. More info 👉 www.nicva.org/article/director-of-policy-insight #TeamNICVA

Great turnout for our first Leadership Insights event yesterday! Key message: innovation starts in communities - and the VCS must shape NI’s innovation agenda, from AI to inclusive growth. Thanks to Adrian Johnston MBE, Stephen Dallas & all who joined the conversation. More to come in 2026!

The Fore – Spring 2026 funding opening soon 💷 Up to £45k unrestricted over 3 yrs 🌱 For small orgs needing transformational support 🤝 Applications encouraged from orgs working with underserved communities ⏰ Register 26 Nov–3 Dec - thefore.org/apply-for-fu... #GrantTracker

Denise delivered an Effective Chairing session for East Belfast Community Development Agency (EBCDA) today! 🙌 Build your chairing skills at our online Being an Effective Chair session on 2 Dec. Book now 👉 tinyurl.com/5xefjxvz Or get in touch for bespoke options. #GoodGovernance #NICVAtraining

A new Pivotal report, 'Voluntary and community sector-led approaches to economic inactivity', commissioned by @NICVA has been launched at Stormont. Details and a link to the full report here - www.pivotalpolicy.org/our-work/new...

At yesterday's APG on the Voluntary & Community Sector, we launched a major new report from Pivotal on the role & impact of VCS-led approaches to tackling economic inactivity. The report reinforces our #NICantWait & highlights the risk if decisions don’t come soon. Read more: bit.ly/49XjIXJ

✨ Funding News out now! ✨ ⛪ Winter-ready support for churches 👥 Funding for youth orgs 📅 New council programmes across arts, events, sports, community & EVAWG 🌳 Woodland creation grants 🏛️ Capital funding for education, science, health, heritage & arts Full ℹ️ : tinyurl.com/4za2tjfv #GrantTracker

NICVA gave evidence to the Communities Committee last week, with Jonny Currie and Karen Smith (Joint Forum VCS Chair) highlighting what’s needed to make the Partnership Agreement work: resources, accountability and real cultural change across government. 🔗 Watch: tinyurl.com/fsa59cae #NICantWait

Great few weeks on our OCN Level 2 Award in Community Development 🙌 Huge thanks to our recent speakers for sharing their experience & insight: Lynda Gould (NICVA), Shannen O’Connor (Marrowbone CA), Diarmaid Marsden (Ulster GAA), Roisin McLaughlin (NWCN), Niall Mulrine (LGFA). ℹ️ www.nicva.org/cep

It’s Children in Need Appeal Day and a good time to highlight their year-round funding is open. * £1k–£40k/yr (up to 3 yrs) * For work with children & young people (18 or under) 📝 Apply anytime - speak to your local grants team first Details: tinyurl.com/wn5ppdd5 #GrantTracker #ChildrenInNeed