Collaboration NI highlighted by DSD

Collaboration NI was today( 10 February 2011)  highlighted as an example of innovative work by the Department for Social Development during their engagement with the community and voluntary sector at an event in the Spectrum Centre in Belfast.

Minister Alex Attwood today engaged with the community and voluntary sector at an event in Belfast entitled " The Voluntary and Community Sector in Northern Ireland - Innovation in an age of austerity " .  At the event those present listened as the Minister outlined some key challenges facing the sector and wider community in the context of the budget.  The £1 million Collaboration NI initiative - commissioned by the Trust from NICVA , CO3 and Stellar Leadership  and also in receipt of a financial contribution from DSD was highlighted at the event as an example of innovative and forward thinking emerging from within the sector to support change in challenging times.

Nigel McKinney - the Trust Administrator outlined the genesis of the Trust commissioning Collaboration NI whilst Una McKernan from NICVA set out what Collaboration NI would be doing and offering to the sector and how interested organisations could go about getting support. She highlighted that a launch conference would take place at NICVA on 30 March 2011 and encouraged anyone interested in support from the initiative to complete and return an expression of interest form.

For further information on Collaboration NI visit the Collaboration NI website  and/or contact Una McKernan at NICVA on 028 9087 7777