NICVA to encourage ‘Future Thinking’ at upcoming landmark Summit
Charlene Brooks, Interim Chair, NICVA Executive Committee, Stephen Dallas, Chief Executive of the Bytes Project & Celine McStravick, Chief Executive of NICVA
The highly anticipated ‘Future Thinking’ Summit will be held at W5 Belfast on Tuesday 22 October, bringing charities, community groups and social enterprises together to learn, share and celebrate the value and diversity of Northern Ireland’s voluntary sector.
With over 7,000 charities underpinning social and economic wellbeing in Northern Ireland, the summit organised by the Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action (NICVA), will create a space to inspire, connect and strengthen the sector. The event will offer leaders, influencers and changemakers a forum for addressing key issues, sharing best practice and promoting their work on a large scale.
NICVA members will play a pivotal role in the programme, hosting a variety of parallel sessions and discussions throughout the day. These engagement hubs, facilitated by organisations such as the Bytes Project, The Trussell Trust, and NI Rural Women’s Network, will tackle key topics including digital transformation, community action, gender equality, and collaboration.
The event will also feature performances and fringe activities, including the Colin Glen Men’s Shed Ukulele Band and Tunes Translated, a recently formed musicians’ collective that will perform traditional music from Ireland, Sudan, Somalia, Ukraine, and Iran.
Celine McStravick, Chief Executive of NICVA & Charlene Brooks, Interim Chair, NICVA
Launching the event Celine McStravick, Chief Executive, NICVA said:
“We are delighted to be bringing our sector together and offer delegates the opportunity to immerse themselves in the expertise that lies within our sector. We’re hugely thankful to our members who have helped develop and curate a programme that demonstrates the breadth and depth of our sector — a sector whose importance is often overlooked yet plays a unique and stabilising role for the people and communities it supports. Our summit programme truly celebrates the collective strength we possess as a sector and will look to what can be achieved in the future.”
Supported by the Department for Communities, The National Lottery Awards for All and Social Change Initiative, the conference will feature keynote speakers who will provoke new thinking, alongside panel sessions and a series of workshops and masterclasses will provide attendees with practical support to help them thrive in an evolving landscape.
Kate Beggs, Northern Ireland Director of The National Lottery Community Fund said: “We’re looking forward to working with NICVA on their landmark 2024 Summit, which is an important opportunity for the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector across Northern Ireland to come together to discuss key issues and look to the future. We are proud to be a funder of the VCSE and to support the great work that is delivered by the sector across Northern Ireland and look forward to contributing to this important event.”
Celine McStravick, Chief Executive of NICVA & Charlene Brooks, Interim Chair, NICVA with players from the Colin Men's Shed ukelele band