Positive Steps One Year On - How was it for you?

Summary of the event
Frances McCandless from NICVA opened the event by outlining the background to the event. She also told participants the results of the research into how the Positive Steps recommendations were impacting on the sector.
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What's Happening with...

... the skills strategy.
Una McKernan from NICVA outlined movement in relation to the development of skills in the sector. She emphasised the importance of coordinating existing work rather than reinventing the wheel and that fact that the sector now needs to take action on this issue rather then simply debating a strategy. She informed everyone about a sector skills conference that will be held on 31 May. For more information on the conference visit this link.
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...the ICT strategy.
NICVA's Head of ICT Stephen Gray told participants about developments relating to ICT in the sector. He outlined how the ICT strategy should not be just about hardware and buying kit about it should concentrate on using ICT to help organisations get better and more efficient at what they do.
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... funding
Marie Abbott from the Voluntary and Community Unit outlined developments regarding new funding opportunities and approaches to funding that have arisen since the publication of Positive Steps. Click here to see the presentation.

Joanne Mc Dowell outlined how the outcomes of Investing Together and Positive Steps had influenced the strategic development of the BIG Lottery Fund. BIG were now actively using concepts like outcome focused funding and exploring ways of instigating long term strategic funding to support the changes that the sector is going through.
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... governance
Introducing this topic Seamus McAleavey from NICVA stressed how import governance is for the sector. He outlined the taskforce's thinking behind the need for improved governance and alerted everyone to the challenges that lie ahead in light of the changes that will result from the review of Charity Law. Seamus explained that management committees were one important element of governance.

Sandra Adair from the Volunteer Development Agency then outlined work on information and support for management committees that has already been undertaken in NI. She explained the development of the Governance Hub in England and explored the idea of creating a similar structure here. Sandra invited participants to the 'Developing Governance conference which will explore all these issues in more depth. Find out more about the conference.
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... support services
Geoff Beattie from the Voluntary and Community Unit outlined the proposed elements in the review of and strategy to support voluntary and community sector support services. To see the presentation click here.

Geraldine Keyes from FOCUS in Omagh reminded everyone of the impact and practicalities of delivering these issues on the ground. She outlined how, in many cases, the positive aspects of Positive Steps seemed a long way of from a sector that is struggling to get funding. She outlined how staff morale was extremely low in many organisations with lots of skilled staff leaving the sector for good. On a more positive note Geraldine outlined how networks and support agencies were now working more closely together and building relationship with the relevant statutory bodies. She also welcomed the announcement of the Community Investment Fund and Modernisation Fund.
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... policy development.
Lisa McElherron from NICVA began this section of the morning by outlining why policy is important to voluntary and community organisations. She highlighted the importance of increasing the policy capacity of the sector and gave examples of some of the actions NICVA has taken to try and make the the policy development process more accessible.
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Maurice Leeson from Barnardos argued the case for proper funding for policy work in the sector and that this should be recognised in negotiations on core costs and full cost recovery. In his role as Chair of the Joint Voluntary and Community Sector/ Government Forum Maurice updated everyone on the thinking of the Forum regarding Positive Steps and their role in monitoring its implementation.