Year 2 of the Animate-Build-Connect Programme is now open, and NIRWN is looking for 8 rural women’s groups to join us from September 2026. If you’re part of a group that could do with some dedicated support, this is worth reading. Successfully selected groups will receive: a tailored mentoring and development plan, a mix of […]
The Women’s Regional Consortium, in partnership with Ulster University, has submitted evidence to the Northern Ireland Assembly Committee for Education strongly backing the proposed Education (Holiday Meal Payments) Bill and calling for urgent action to address rising child poverty and food insecurity. The joint submission draws on extensive research with women across Northern Ireland, revealing […]
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 […]
The Education Committee is welcoming views on the contents of The Education (Holiday Meal Payments) Bill. This is a Private Members Bill from Danny Baker of Sinn Fein. It seeks to restore the ‘Holiday Hunger’ payments which were made to those entitled to Free School Meals during holiday periods. These payments were stopped in 2023. […]
The latest Consortium research paper ‘Mental Health Matters for Women’ has now 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 […]
03 June 2026 – The Women’s Regional Consortium (WRC) has submitted our response to the Department of Health’s Draft Budget Consultation, raising serious concerns about the potential impact of proposed allocations on women and families across Northern Ireland. In our response, WRC highlights that ongoing financial pressures and constrained investment in health and social care […]
3 June 2026 – The Women’s Regional Consortium (WRC) has raised serious concerns about the Executive Office’s proposed Framework for Race Relations, warning that it lacks the clarity, ambition, and accountability needed to effectively tackle racism in Northern Ireland. In its response to the public consultation, the Consortium endorsed submissions from the Equality Coalition and […]
29 05 2026 – The Women’s Regional Consortium has today submitted its response to the UK Government’s Timms Review of Personal Independence Payment (PIP), calling for urgent reform that protects disabled people from hardship and recognises the disproportionate impact of any changes in Northern Ireland. Drawing on direct engagement with women across Northern Ireland, the […]
The Women’s Regional Consortium has published its 2025–2026 Annual Report, showcasing a year of advocacy, research, and direct engagement with women in disadvantaged and rurally isolated communities across Northern Ireland. The report highlights the Consortium’s continuing role as a vital link between women, community organisations, government and statutory agencies, ensuring that women’s lived experiences help […]
A major €2.75m investment in rural renewal has been unveiled with the launch of the Maximising Community Space (MCS) Project, a transformative initiative designed to support community organisations and people that manage halls, facilities and community spaces that bring people together. The project brings together a multi stakeholder partnership comprising of Rural Action who […]
