Campaigns: Coalition of Carers Siobhán continues to attend regular meetings of the Coalition of Carers which is chaired by Carers NI. The Coalition is made up of a number of organisations all working to highlight the key issues that unpaid carers are facing across Northern Ireland. Campaigns: Cliff Edge Siobhán continues to attend meetings of […]
The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Ending the Need for Food Banks (APPG ENFB) at Westminster invited evidence for an inquiry into how the level of support offered by Universal Credit is decided. Siobhán made a response to this Inquiry highlighting the situation for women and families in Northern Ireland where there are reduced levels of […]
The Department for Communities has launched a consultation on changes proposed to the Discretionary Support Scheme. Discretionary Support provides support to people facing extreme, exceptional or crisis situations and is an important area of support for many low-income women. Siobhán will be making a response to this consultation. If you wish to contribute please contact […]
The Department of Justice is consulting on proposed reforms to the use of good character references at sentencing in criminal proceedings. The law currently requires a court when determining a person’s sentence for a criminal offence, to consider mitigating factors, which can include evidence of the accused’s good character. This can take the form of […]
From lived experience to policy conversations The women in the room did more than share personal stories. They brought forward the realities of rural life, the strengths of their communities, the challenges they encounter and the contribution they make every day. They talked about their communities. They raised the issues that matter. They spoke about […]
Guarantee our Essentials Siobhán is part of a campaign from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and Trussell 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. Siobhán has been working as part […]
The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Ending the Need for Food Banks (APPG ENFB) at Westminster is inviting evidence for a new inquiry into how the level of support offered by Universal Credit is decided. The inquiry team want to better understand whether the current approach to setting levels of financial support from Universal Credit is […]
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 […]
School Uniforms (Trousers) Bill The Ad Hoc Committee on the School Uniforms (Trousers) Bill is considering the Bill. The School Uniforms (Trousers) Bill was introduced by the Committee for Education to the Assembly in June 2026 and passed its Second Stage in June 2026. The Bill amends the School Uniforms Act to create a statutory right for […]
The latest Consortium research paper ‘Mental Health Matters for Women’ has been published and is available on the Consortium’s website. The full report contains a wealth of evidence from women on the contributory factors to their poor mental health, the impact of poor mental health on their lives and the supports they need and are […]
