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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.
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
December 4, 2025 at 1:35 PM
🎁 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
December 3, 2025 at 9:04 PM
🎨 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
December 2, 2025 at 7:13 PM
📣 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
December 2, 2025 at 2:14 PM
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
December 2, 2025 at 10:08 AM
🕯️ 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
December 1, 2025 at 8:25 PM
🚀 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
December 1, 2025 at 4:58 PM
📣 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
December 1, 2025 at 4:31 PM
We've been working on this issue for several years, and we’ll continue to advocate for improvements through our work with regulators, government and the UK Banking Forum.

Find our more about this work on or website: bit.ly/3LLYxuH

#VoiceOfTheSector
December 1, 2025 at 3:27 PM
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.
December 1, 2025 at 3:27 PM
⌛ 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