VCSE Sectoral Advisory Panel

Dear Colleagues from the Community, Voluntary and Social Enterprise Sectors

On behalf of the Community, Voluntary and Social Enterprise Sectors Advisory panel to invite you to our inaugural community conference “Putting Community Wellbeing at the Heart of Community  Planning

This exciting Conference will be held on Monday, November 30, 2020, 9:30 AM – 1:00PM

Background
The Community, Voluntary and Social Enterprise Sectors Advisory panel which was appointed by the Belfast Community Planning Partnership has only been established and active from June 2020 and our aims are:

  • to ensure that the sector’s voices are represented as part of the community planning process
  • to develop and improve cross sectoral relationships and partnerships
  • to promote effective community engagement

Conference
The conference will be opened by Minister for Communities Carál Ní Chuilín and will hear from key speakers from the Community Planning Partnership, including Belfast City Council Chief Executive Suzanne Wylie. The conference will also include speakers from other parts of the UK including Sophie Howe, the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales; giving attendees the opportunity to hear how others embed wellbeing into community planning.

There will also be an opportunity to discuss a range of key areas in workshops including, ‘Building a framework for decision making and accountability’, ‘Joint actions to deliver’, ‘Connecting sectors and citizens’ and the ‘Expectations of VCSE sectors on us’.

The conference will wrap up with a panel discussion and an opportunity to ask questions to a panel which will consist of:

  • Grainia Long, Commissioner for Resilience
  • John Tully, Director of City & Organisational Strategy
  • Alistair Reid, Strategic Director of Place and Economy
  • Ryan Black, Director of Neighbourhood Services

Irene Sherry, Chair of the VCSE Sectoral Advisory Panel said “We are delighted to be hosting this virtual conference for the sector in Belfast which will bring together key stakeholders to lay out the vision for community planning, connecting sectors and citizens, welcoming outside views and experiences from outside to help us build a framework for decision-making.”

To register for the event, please click on the Eventbrite link

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/putting-community-wellbeing-at-the-heart-of-community-planning-tickets-125592922813

We look forward to connecting with you at the conference.

Irene Sherry
Chairperson of CVSE Advisory Panel

Members of the VCSE Panel include;

  • Irene Sherry (Chair) –  Ashton Community Trust
  • Jim Girvan (Vice Chair) – Upper Andersonstown Community Forum
  • Laura Feeney- Save the Children
  • Joe O’Donnell – Belfast Interface Project
  • Michael Briggs – East Belfast Community Development Agency
  • Paula Powell – British Red Cross
  • Susan Russam – GEMS NI
  • Jim Bradley – Belfast Hills Partnership
  • Craig McGuicken – NI Environment Link
  • Natasha Brennan – Lower Ormeau Residents Action Group
  • Joan Devlin – Belfast Healthy Cities
  • David Babington – Action Mental Health
  • Dearbhla Holohan – Include Youth
  • Kendall Bousquet – Migrant Centre NI
  • Christopher Eisenstadt – Parenting NI