On the 14th of January, a motion on gender budgeting was passed in the Assembly, a significant step in Northern Ireland’s gender budgeting journey. Put forward by the SDLP alongside a number of other motions relating to gender equality, the motion read: That this Assembly recognises the role of gender-responsive budgeting in addressing systemic gender […]
Campaigns: Guarantee our Essentials Siobhán is part of a campaign from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and the Trussell Trust calling for an Essentials Guarantee within Universal Credit. The Essentials Guarantee would embed in the social security system a principle that at a minimum Universal Credit should protect people from going without essentials. You can read […]
February 2025 Scheme Funder Note Date Henry Moore Foundation Henry Moore Foundation Winter Opening Date 09:00 01 Feb 2025 Austin and Hope Pilkington Trust Austin and Hope Pilkington Trust Grant Round 1 – The Arts: Improving Access opens 01 Feb 2025 European Youth Foundation: Pilot Activity European Youth Foundation Application deadline 01 Feb 2025 CABWI […]
Siobhán continues to attend meetings of the Cliff Edge Coalition Working Group which is working to strengthen the existing mitigations package for Northern Ireland. The Coalition was pleased to hear that the Minister for Communities announced plans to bring forward legislation to extend the existing protections against the Benefit Cap beyond 31st March 2025. The Cliff […]
The Department of Health has issued a consultation on Help with Health Costs. The purpose of this consultation is to outline the potential changes to the eligibility criteria for automatic support being provided under the Help with Health Costs scheme for Universal Credit recipients. The deadline for comments is Monday 10th March and is available […]
The Department of Finance has issued a consultation on the draft budget for 2025-26. The Draft 2025/26 Budget sets out the proposed funding for all the different Government departments for the financial year. The NI Executive is encouraging people to get involved in the Draft Budget consultation and have their say on how to prioritise […]
The Department for Communities is consulting on a new Fuel Poverty Strategy for Northern Ireland. The draft Fuel Poverty Strategy proposes a framework for addressing fuel poverty and its impacts. Fuel poverty is the inability of a household to heat and power their home adequately. It is affected by the cost of energy, the energy […]
The Department for Communities is consulting about policy changes to the Social Fund Winter Fuel Payment Scheme, to limit the annual Winter Fuel Payment in Northern Ireland to pensioners in receipt of Pension Credit or other means tested benefits. The deadline for comments is Sunday 2nd March and is available on the Department for Communities […]
Sinn Fein have launched a Private Members Bill on Holiday Hunger. This Private Members’ Bill (PMB) is about legislating to provide direct support to children and young people entitled to free school meals and their families throughout school holiday periods. Approximately 100, 000 children are eligible for free school meals. However, this entitlement ends when […]
WOMEN’STEC and #NotJustForBoys were delighted to take part in another Heritage Skills Joinery. Taster Day, hosted by the Department for Communities’ (DfC) Historic Environment Division. This incredible event offered participants the chance to explore the artistry of traditional joinery techniques while learning about the vital role of preserving our historic buildings. From crafting their own […]
