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Policy expert tells voluntary and community activists how to grab the attention of Stormont ministers - is it a question of knowing your enemy or (ally)?
NICVA's Policy, Lobbying and Advocacy Forum got some useful pointers on a visit to UUP Headquarters. Dr Brian Crowe, the party's Head of Policy, suggested that to get the interest of local political parties , groups should keep up-to-date with policy developments at Stormont.
“An awareness of the contemporary agenda at Stormont is vital. It is important to keep an eye on the debates and issues that arise at the Assembly and to remain alert to what is happening on a weekly and monthly basis.”
When trying to influence the political agenda, the Forum also heard of the need to ensure that issues raised with political parties are relevant to the Assembly and that organisations have an understanding of both the policy-making processes at Stormont as well as the budgetary constraints that dictate what can be realistically achieved.
Understand the political culture
Dr Crowe reminded members of the forum of the need to be aware of the ‘political culture’ of parties in relation to whether they see themselves as being on the political left, right or centre ground. He suggested that voluntary and community organisations need to make a judgement about the most effective course of action when engaging with parties which may have a different ethos to the organisation or simply disagree with what they are saying.
Common concern or confrontation?
Organisations need to decide if they should identify areas of common concern in order to get things done or adopt a ‘quasi-confrontational approach’ which tries to change the ethos of political parties.
He stressed the important role party spokespeople play in formulating the policy of political parties and urged voluntary and community organisations to get in touch with party policy staff in the first instance if they are not sure who to contact in a party.
Membership of the forum is drawn from across the voluntary and community sector and is open to any organisation with an interest in policy, lobbying and advocacy.
For more information about the Forum, contact sean.kelly@nicva.org
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