The Independence of the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise Sector
Building Change Trust Limited
Two years ago the Building Change Trust commissioned Ulster University to conduct research into the independence of the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise Sector in Northern Ireland. Join us for the launch of the final report.
As part of its Creative Space for Civic Thinking Theme, in 2015, the Trust appointed Ulster University to carry out a 2 year research project into this crucial issue. Building on a previous opinion piece by Dr. Nick Acheson and similar research at UK level showing that the sector's independence faced multiple threats and challenges, the Trust wished to build a deeper evidence base as a platform for dialogue within the sector and between the sector and government.
In January 2016, we launched our interim findings which focused on the the VCSE sector's own views of the situation. We are now ready to announce and launch our final report which builds on the interim findings by adding a range of views from across politics and government.
The launch will take place at the Long Gallery, Stormont and will include a presentation on the report's frindings by its lead author Dr Markus Ketola. As well as this, we will be joined by Communities Minister Paul Givan MLA who will give a government response to the findings.
As well as a range of contributors from the local VCSE sector we will have views from outside Northern Ireland including Ivan Cooper from The Wheel - the Republic of Ireland's largest VCSE sector representative network; and Caroline Slocock, Director of Civil Exchange - who was centrally involved in the Baring Foundation's Panel on the Independence of the Voluntary Sector from 2012 - 2015.