Vital Links Project - 22 March 2010

Good morning ladies and gentlemen.

Thank you Seamus and Bob for inviting me to the launch of the Vital Links project.  I am delighted to be here today with you.

May I begin by stating that the Northern Ireland Executive fully recognises the important service the voluntary and community sector provides to people in Northern Ireland and I believe that this project will make a valuable contribution to help the sector perform in this role.

I am very happy to be here at the launch of the Vital Links project.  This is an innovative and exciting project which I consider to be long overdue and one which will make a valuable contribution to bringing the state and the citizen closer.  

It is also very appropriate that the launch takes place here in Stormont, where Government and the people should meet, engage, talk and listen to each other.

That this project aims to develop the links between the sector and political institutions is very welcome.

I can assure you that my Department fully supports the strengthening of these links.

I fully recognise that engagement between Government and the voluntary and community sector is vital to the public interest and helps assist in creating a more inclusive and responsive society.

Last week I had the honour of visiting Washington and can confirm from first hand experience the importance of lobbying and engagement between politicians and citizens.  I also saw active participation in the development of a vibrant and inclusive democratic society.

Within the Northern Ireland Executive my Department has lead-responsibility for relationships between Government and the voluntary and community sector.  I consider it of vital importance that this relationship is properly maintained and further enhanced, so that the Government succeeds in meeting the needs of all our communities.

Within my own Department significant progress has been made in many areas of policy which impact on and contribute to this relationship.  I’d like to outline a number of these developments which I consider demonstrate how engagement and participation can contribute to good policy development and implementation.

- A draft Concordat for the relationship between Government and the sector is currently being developed.  This will establish the respective roles for the voluntary and community sector and for Government.  It will formally reflect on the importance of this relationship.  Consultation on these proposals is schedule over the coming months.

- Late last year I undertook 14 road-shows across all parts of Northern Ireland which allowed me to hear first hand the views of local people.  These contributions were very much welcomed and will feed into policy development within my Department. They demonstrate a very clear and real example of the importance of the linkage between Government and local communities. Such inputs make an important contribution to the continuing development of a cohesive society here in Northern Ireland.

- The Review of Public Administration has presented significant challenges on the way local services will be delivered within Northern Ireland.  This will involve…

All of these will impact on social and economic regeneration and present an opportunity for real and meaningful engagement.

- A Charity Commission for Northern Ireland has been established and is beginning to function fully.  Its key role will be the regulator of the charitable sector.  It will also increase public confidence in charities, encourage charitable giving and work with the sector to enable charities to improve their operations.

- My Department continues to invest around £2.2 million per annum to support the development and promotion of volunteering and we have launched a 5-year strategy for the delivery of Voluntary Advice Services to the community.  

- A pilot Community Faiths Forum is about to be established with representatives from all across the faith sector to engage with officials from my Department.  The objective of this pilot forum is to unlock potential of faith based organisations in addressing social need in areas of high deprivation, reducing poverty and alleviating exclusion and marginalisation.

- Some £18m is being invested through the Modernisation Programmes in some 80 projects. These are assisting voluntary and community organisations to address the significant challenges they face in providing services to the people of Northern Ireland.  

Working co-operatively and in partnership is as vital to the successful development of the sector as is the engagement between Government and the sector.

I am aware that my Department will be involved in the roll out of this Vital Links project.  I look forward to receiving regular updates of its successful implementation and I commit to ensuring that officials from my Department make a real and meaningful contribution to it.

I would like to finish by thanking NICVA for inviting me here today to help launch the Vital Links project. Thanks are also due to the European Union for providing the significant resources to run it.  May I wish NICVA and all those involved in Vital Links every possible success.

Thank you very much.