Community NI and You with Frances McCandless

Name: Frances McCandless

Location: Based in Belfast, although Frances works with groups throughout Northern Ireland.

Occupation: Director of Policy, NICVA

Within your role, what do you use the web for?

"Primarily getting at information - from government, media, academics and other voluntary and community organisations - all the information that enables me to undertake policy analysis and keep a handle on what's going on in the sector."

What do you use Community NI for?

"Keeping in touch with the work of other organisations in our sector and finding out what they need to know."

"Getting information back from members and others to inform our policy work."

"Trying to spot trends in the sector's work and its environment that might involve NICVA before they happen."

What do you see as the benefits of Community NI?

"Policy makers will be able to access information on the work of the sector and its issues. The fact that this can be geographic or thematic is a real boost."

"It gives me the chance to get information and up to date policy news and analysis out to users at the very earliest opportunity."

"The opportunity is there to provide an advice and information resource on areas such as political work and lobbying."

"Opportunities to see regional trends in different locations and thematic links across the sector."

What would be your ultimate goal for the Community NI website?

"To give organisations, big and small, access to the knowledge they need to do their jobs and bring about change in Northern Ireland."