Pioneering new voluntary and community sector project aims to address evidence gaps across Northern Ireland, Ireland and Great Britain

The Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action (NICVA) has launched a new project with partners across the UK and Ireland to make it easier to compare data between countries that will strengthen the case for change, inclusion, and long-term peace.

The InsightLink project is supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). It will invest over €1.5m in a number of ways to strengthen cross-border cooperation including a Shared Knowledge Hub, collaborative engagement events and an All-Island Alliance of representatives from the voluntary and community sector (VCSE).

This collaborative project was devised because it can be increasingly difficult to identify patterns, causal links or potential solutions between countries because of differences in the way they collect information. This can be frustrating for organisations looking to advocate for solutions that would reach beyond borders.

It represents an unprecedented North/South and East/West partnership between NICVA and The Wheel (Ireland), SCVO (Scotland), NCVO (England) and WCVA (Wales) engaging participants in capacity-building, research, dialogue and policy engagement.

InsightLink will build a sustainable, all-island and cross-jurisdictional infrastructure to support the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector in using shared data, evidence, and collaboration to drive policy and peacebuilding.

Speakers at the launch included Paul Sheridan, SEUPB Director of Corporate Services and NICVA Chief Executive Celine McStravick. The event also featured video messages from Minister of Finance John O’Dowd MLA and Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation Jack Chambers TD.

Minister of Finance John O’Dowd MLA said: “I welcome the launch of the PEACEPLUS funded InsightLink project. This important initiative will strengthen collaboration across the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise sector, enabling more effective engagement in cross-border policy development. Its strong North-South and East-West focus will promote shared learning, deeper cooperation and more informed strategic planning across jurisdictions.”

Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation Jack Chambers TD said: “The €1.5 million InsightLink project is another example of how we can strengthen cross-border collaboration thanks to the support of the PEACEPLUS programme. InsightLink will help community and voluntary organisations from across Ireland and Northern Ireland to fully realise the benefits of access to shared data. I also welcome the establishment of the associated All-Island Alliance, which will act as a forum for greater collaboration, knowledge sharing, and strategic development for the voluntary, community, and social enterprise sector.”

SEUPB Chief Executive Gina McIntyre said: “InsightLink is an important example of how PEACEPLUS is supporting practical cooperation across these islands. Supported by an investment of more than €1.5 million, the project will help strengthen the evidence base available to the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector, while creating new opportunities for collaboration across Northern Ireland, Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales.

“InsightLink will help organisations access reliable information, share experience and contribute more effectively to policy development. Strong communities are built on strong relationships, informed decision-making and meaningful cooperation, and this project will provide a valuable platform to support all three in the years ahead.”

NICVA Chief Executive Celine McStravick said: “This is a landmark moment for our sector. InsightLink will transform how voluntary and community organisations connect, share evidence and influence policy across these islands. Together with our partners, we are building the data, structures and relationships that will strengthen peace, inclusion and resilience for the long-term.”

The Wheel’s Chief Executive Pat Watt said: “Complex social, economic and environmental challenges do not respect borders, and our response to them cannot be constrained by them either. Stronger collaboration across the island is essential if we are to build the evidence, influence policy and deliver lasting change. InsightLink is exactly the kind of strategic partnership we need to build a stronger, more connected and more resilient civil society, one that is equipped to tackle shared challenges and shape better outcomes for communities across the island, with the added benefit of insights from the involvement of our partners in Britain.”

PEACEPLUS is managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) and represents a funding partnership between the European Union, the Government of the United Kingdom, the Government of Ireland and the Northern Ireland Executive.