Participatory Budgeting primed for development in Northern Ireland

Participatory Budgeting primed for development in Northern Ireland

The Trust has made a £50,000 award to a new collaborative project which will support Participatory Budgeting initiatives across Northern Ireland.

Trust calls for Coalition to make Democracy more Deliberative

Trust calls for Coalition to make Democracy more Deliberative

The Building Change Trust met with partners and organisations from across the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise Sector in Northern Ireland, and further afield, to discuss a possible collaboration to promote and nurture deliberative democracy in Northern Ireland.

Trust Looking into the Health of Democracy in NI

Trust Looking into the Health of Democracy in NI

As part of our work in Creative Space for Civic Thinking, the Trust has done a number of projects and pieces of work. We’re now happy to announce another research project we hope will expand the definition of democracy here in Northern Ireland.

Trust launches research into the Independence of the Sector
Ulster University's Markus Ketola, who authored the research, at the launch in November 2016.

Trust launches research into the Independence of the Sector

The Trust has launched the findings of a two year research project, carried out by Ulster University, into the independence of the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) Sector in Northern Ireland.

Independence of the Voluntary Sector Survey

Independence of the Voluntary Sector Survey

Ulster University’s Institute for Research in the Social Sciences (IRiSS) has been commissioned by the Building Change Trust to carry out research into the independence of the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector in Northern Ireland.

Trust Announce Civic Activism Programme Awards

Trust Announce Civic Activism Programme Awards

10 July 2015

The Trust is excited to announce eight awards to groups within the Community, Voluntary and Social Enterprise sector as part of of Civic Activism Programme. 

Open Government Partnership Update

Open Government Partnership Update

The Open Government Partnership is continuing its mission to shine light onto the everyday workings of local government, with several important appointments made to the steering committee at the network’s meeting in May.

Trust and UU to launch Sector Independence Research Project
UU's Nick Acheson (centre right) with the Trust's Nigel McKinney (second right) at the launch of our initial research into sector independence in July 2013.

Trust and UU to launch Sector Independence Research Project

Ulster University Institute for Research in the Social Sciences (IRiSS) has been commissioned by the Building Change Trust to carry out research on the independence of the Voluntary, Community and Social Economy (VCSE) sector in Northern Ireland.

Trust to Stir Debate at Imagine! Belfast
Paul Braithwaite with Belfast's Lord Mayor Nichola Mallon at the Launch of the Imagine! Belfast Festival.

Trust to Stir Debate at Imagine! Belfast

An expert panel chaired by the BBC’s William Crawley will debate whether charities should ‘stick to their knitting’ as suggested by former UK Minister for Civil Society, Brooks Newmark or whether seeking to influence politics is fair game.

Trust Taking Part in Exciting New Festival
The Trust's Paul Braithwaite with Belfast's Lord Mayor Nichola Mallon at the launch of Imagine! Belfast 2015.

Trust Taking Part in Exciting New Festival

The Trust are proud to be sponsoring and hosting at event an exciting new cultural festival in Belfast. 

Trust launches Civic Activism Programme
The Trust launched their Civic Activism Programme at the 174 Trust in Belfast in January 2015.

Trust launches Civic Activism Programme

The Building Change Trust launched its exciting and innovative Civic Activism Programme at the Duncairn Centre for Culture and Arts in Belfast this week.

New Trust Website Promotes Civic Activism
The Trust's new Civic Activism website features cartoons by local artist Brian John Spencer.

New Trust Website Promotes Civic Activism

The Building Change Trust has launched a new website to give interested organisations further information on its Civic Activism Programme.

Trust to launch Civic Activism Programme

Trust to launch Civic Activism Programme

The Building Change Trust will launch its exciting and innovative Civic Activism Programme on 21st January 2015 at the Duncairn Centre for Culture & Arts in Belfast.

Why you should join the Open Government Network in NI

Why you should join the Open Government Network in NI

Following our event last week in which the The Building Change Trust hosted a seminar and discussion session for all those organisations and individuals interested in progressing an open government agenda and getting involved in a campaign for the implementation of the Open Government Partnership (OGP) in Northern Ireland.

Open Government Partnership Launch - The Twitter Buzz
A WordCloud of the Twitter Buzz on the day of the #OpenGovNI Launch

Open Government Partnership Launch - The Twitter Buzz

Last week, the Building Change Trust and a range of Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector representatives came together alongside politicians, academics and speakers from across the UK and Ireland to discuss the benefits of a more open and participative government.

Trust thinks Open Government may be the shift change Stormont desperately needs
(Left to Right) Peter Osborne, Finance Minister Simon Hamilton MLA, Building Change Trust Director of Operations Nigel McKinney and Trust Director Joe McVey.

Trust thinks Open Government may be the shift change Stormont desperately needs

The Building Change Trust, along with a wide range of Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) Sector representatives highlighted the benefits of a more open and participative government on 5th November at an event at Malone House in Belfast. 

Trust hosting Open Government Network

Trust hosting Open Government Network

The Building Change Trust will be hosting a seminar and discussion event on 5th November for all those organisations and individuals interested in progressing an open government agenda and getting involved in a campaign for the implementation of the Open Government Partnership (OGP) in Northern Ireland. 

Update on the Open Government Partnership

Update on the Open Government Partnership

The Trust has been busy raising the profile of the Open Government Partnership during the last few months. Paul Braithwaite explains what is coming up.

Trust Launches Independence Research Tender

Trust Launches Independence Research Tender

As part of its work in Creative Space for Civic Thinking, the Building Change Trust is seeking proposals from experienced organisations for a programme of research on the state of the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) Sector’s independence in Northern Ireland.

Trust looking for OGP Researcher

Trust looking for OGP Researcher

As part of its work in Creative Space for Civic Thinking, the Trust is looking for an experienced consultant to undertake research exploring the potential for the implementation of the Open Government Partnership (OGP) in Northern Ireland.

Trust to hold Idea Generation Workshops

Trust to hold Idea Generation Workshops

28 May 2014

Ahead of the launch of a potential of our Civic Activism Fund, Building Change Trust will be running a series of Idea Generation Workshops, designed to encourage innovation and creativity within the local Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) Sector.

What Twitter was saying at ogpbelfast

What Twitter was saying at ogpbelfast

The Twitter-sphere came alive last week when the Building Change Trust hosted a seminar on the potential implementation of the Open Government Partnership (OGP) in Northern Ireland. 

Trust Holds Seminar on OGP

Trust Holds Seminar on OGP

Last week, the Building Change Trust hosted a seminar on the potential implementation of the Open Government Partnership (OGP) in Northern Ireland.

Trust representatives attend Open Government Partnership conference
OGP was launched in 2011 to provide an international platform for domestic reformers committed to making their governments more open, accountable, and responsive to citizens.

Trust representatives attend Open Government Partnership conference

Last week, the Building Change Trust organised for a group of Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector representatives from Northern Ireland to attend the Open Government Partnership’s European Regional Meeting, hosted by the Irish Government in Dublin.

Trust attends launch of Xchange Summer School
The Xchange Summer School is a new and innovative event for people who want to bring about social change in Northern Ireland.

Trust attends launch of Xchange Summer School

Last week, Bill Osborne of the Building Change Trust attended the official programme launch of the inaugural Xchange Summer School.

Participation, Transparency and Accountability, can we do better
The Trust is host a seminar on the Open Government Partnership on May 16th.

Participation, Transparency and Accountability, can we do better

As part of their work on Creative Space for Civic Thinking, The Building Change Trust has called for the in the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector in Northern Ireland to engage in a debate around transparency, accountability and participation in government.

Seminar will promote the Open Government Partnership
The Trust is hosting a seminar on the Open Government Partnership as part of its work in 'Creative Space for Civic Thinking'.

Seminar will promote the Open Government Partnership

The Building Change Trust is seeking to raise awareness of the Open Government Partnership within the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector with an event on the 16th May.

Trust looking into shaping the sector

Trust looking into shaping the sector

The Building Change Trust have hosted the second in a series of three workshops to plan their work on the theme Creative Space for Civic Thinking.

Independence of the Sector on the Agenda
(L to R) Will Haire, Permanent Secretary DSD, Bernadette McAliskey and the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation's John Mulligan discuss the independence of the NI Third Sector.

Independence of the Sector on the Agenda

On the 7th November, The Building Change Trust and the Association of Charitable Foundations held a joint seminar on the Independence of the Community and Voluntary Sector. 

Trust publishes Cross-Border Seminar Report
Bill Osborne with Avila Kilmurray (left) and Deridre Garvey at the launch of the report into Cross-Border collaboration in October 2013.

Trust publishes Cross-Border Seminar Report

As part of its Creative Space for Civic Thinking area of work, the Building Change Trust recently hosted an event looking at research carried out by Andy Pollak and Brian Harvey from the Centre for Cross Border Studies.

Trust Brings together Sector on Creative Space for Civic Thinking
Participants at the Trust's workshop on Creative Space for Civic Thinking in October 2013.

Trust Brings together Sector on Creative Space for Civic Thinking

The Building Change Trust brought together a group of around 20 influential individuals from the Community and Voluntary Sector to help plan the Trust’s work on Creative Space for Civic Thinking.

Trust looks into Cross-Border learning in the Community and Voluntary Sector
(Left to Right) Report author Andy Pollak, with Avila Kilmurray, Trust Chair Bill Osborne, Deirdre Garvey and co-author Brian Harvey.

Trust looks into Cross-Border learning in the Community and Voluntary Sector

Learning between the community and voluntary sectors on each side of the border was on the agenda at a seminar hosted by the Building Change Trust on Friday 18th October 2013.

Building Change Trust looking into Cross-Border learning in the Community and Voluntary Sector

Building Change Trust looking into Cross-Border learning in the Community and Voluntary Sector

Learning between the community and voluntary sectors on each side of the border is on the agenda at a seminar being hosted by the Building Change Trust. 

Trust brings sector together to look at Independence

Trust brings sector together to look at Independence

The independence of the Community and Voluntary Sector was debated as the Building Change Trust launched the first in a series of opinion pieces on the sector in Northern Ireland.

Trust looks at independence of the Community and Voluntary Sector

Trust looks at independence of the Community and Voluntary Sector

The Building Change Trust is hosting an event, taking place at the NICVA offices in Belfast on Friday 5th July, looking at the independence of the community and voluntary sector in Northern Ireland.