NICVA
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nicva.org
NICVA
@nicva.org
We're the Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action. We support and represent voluntary and community organisations across Northern Ireland.
⌛ 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
November 28, 2025 at 5:19 PM
🎄 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
November 28, 2025 at 4:44 PM
⏰ 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
November 27, 2025 at 10:57 AM
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
November 26, 2025 at 9:18 PM
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
November 25, 2025 at 5:03 PM
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
November 25, 2025 at 2:47 PM
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
November 24, 2025 at 5:27 PM
🗳️ 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
November 24, 2025 at 1:47 PM
⏰ 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
November 21, 2025 at 4:11 PM
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!
November 21, 2025 at 4:10 PM
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
November 20, 2025 at 8:39 PM
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
November 19, 2025 at 8:36 PM
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
November 19, 2025 at 2:43 PM
✨ 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
November 17, 2025 at 3:36 PM
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
November 17, 2025 at 2:49 PM
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
November 14, 2025 at 4:52 PM
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
November 14, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Join us on 5 Dec for An Audience with Darren McGarvey and our Festive AGM.

Hear Darren’s keynote on the state of public services and the role of civil society, plus festive networking, Christmas stalls and the Sing for Life Choir.

Don't miss it!

🎄 Book your place: bit.ly/3WWeaVP
November 14, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Still time to apply!

We're recruiting a Director of Policy & Insight - leading policy, research & communications to strengthen the voluntary sector’s voice across NI.

📍 Belfast (hybrid) | ⏰ Closes 24 Nov

Apply 👉 www.nicva.org/article/director-of-policy-insight

#CharityJobs
November 13, 2025 at 4:59 PM
🏛️ NI churches can apply for £500–£3,000 Winter Ready Grants from the National Churches Trust.

For small repairs & maintenance - roofs, gutters, draught-proofing - to keep buildings safe & warm this winter.

🕓 Apply by 30 Nov (works must finish within 8 weeks)
🔗 tinyurl.com/3v3ke544

#GrantTracker
November 13, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Free HR support returns!

With funding from Halifax Foundation NI, we're helping voluntary and community organisations across NI strengthen their teams with:

✅ Free HR training
✅ 1-to-1 HR clinics
✅ Practical resources

Register now 👉 bit.ly/4qRPUSp

#NICVAtraining #HRSupport
November 13, 2025 at 2:53 PM
🍕 Local pizzeria Little Wing is giving five £1,000 bursaries to support local kids’ clubs! 🌟

Clubs within 5 miles of a Little Wing can apply with up to 300 words on why they deserve the funding and how it’ll make a difference.

⌛️Apply by 14 Nov 2025: tinyurl.com/2wppj52c

#GrantTracker
November 12, 2025 at 9:41 AM
Join the APG on 18 Nov (1–2pm) at Stormont for the launch of Pivotal’s report on Economic Inclusion & the VCS, commissioned by NICVA as part of our #NICantWait campaign.

Evidence, impact & urgent calls for clarity on the Local Growth Fund.

🔗 Register: tinyurl.com/y7rpmvbh
November 12, 2025 at 9:11 AM
#TrusteesWeek may be over, but our support for trustees continues! 💪

Join one of our free / low-cost sessions on good governance, cyber security or being an effective Chair 👉 www.nicva.org/training

🔗 Plus, explore our online governance resources: tinyurl.com/2wvjf8ba

#GoodGovernance
November 10, 2025 at 4:00 PM
✨ New funding this week! ✨

🎁 Support for children & families this Christmas
🎭 £60k for culture-led transformation projects
💬 Up to £10k for women’s orgs campaigning for change
🏥 £10k for health charities & hospices
🎨 £5k per year for local arts

More info 👉 tinyurl.com/4h6t6xhp

#GrantTracker
November 10, 2025 at 2:17 PM