Delivering Change in a Shifting Landscape Future challenges

Delivering Change in a Shifting Landscape: Future challenges and opportunities for the VCSE and its partners NICVA 19 th June 2017

The BCT VCSE Futures Programme 2016 -2018 • Substantial engagement with the sector, funders and policy makers to identify issues and actions • Commission and publication of thought provoking opinion pieces on relevant and topical issues • 5 small projects through each of the original Trust partners supported

Why do this work? • Desire of Building Change Trust to leave a legacy beyond the 5 themes • Trust started with consultation to shape its themes/strategy - what has changed in the last 8 years • Opportunity to use Trust’s networks and knowledge to help shape future interventions for sector – Trust has no selfish agenda beyond 2018 • Timely – big changes in NI – governance failure, Brexit, cuts • Fits within context of other initiatives – NPC State of the Sector – Inquiry into future of civil society in England

Process for this initiative Phase 1 (Initial engagement) Design of process Phase 2/3 (Engagement) Ongoing engagement and opinion pieces Phase 3 (Critical Reflection) July to October Reflection on overall findings Phase 4 Focused engagement on developing proposals Oct 17 - March 18 Regional Round Tables Phase 5 – Setting the Agenda April - June 2018 Closing Conference

Overall Framing of the Futures Project To create the enabling environment that delivers the best outcomes for the people and places the VCSE sector works with: What specific actions can: • the sector take? • policy makers take? • funders take?

Engagement Events • Initial Sector wide Workshop • ACF Conference • Ballymoney Community Resource Centre • Community Arts Partnership • CO 3 Conference • Development Trusts NI • Disability Action • Early Years • Fermanagh Trust • NICVA • NWCN & Holywell Trust • WRDA • NI Trusts Group • Public Sector Group • Rural Community Network

A flavour of themes emerging to date • Need a shared understanding of how the VCSE sector is defined - what is the sector? ; why does it matter? ; how do we promote it?

themes emerging to date… • How can the VCSE Sector achieve the best outcomes? - though co-design & co-production; through advocacy and challenge? • Collaboration is required at different levels – intersectoral; intra-sectoral.

themes emerging to date… • Recognition of independence and interdependence of the CVSE sector and other players – and of the potential tensions between these - is required. • Clear, more participative structures are required for influencing policy. • There is a need to develop sustainable and/or alternative funding models. • There is a desire for reduced bureaucracy associated with funding, and associated with being a charity.