Minister for the Economy, Dr Caoimhe Archibald MLA, has formally launched a public consultation on modernisation and reform of Credit Unions. DfE officials have co-designed the proposed policy changes with Irish League of Credit Unions (ILCU) and Ulster Federation of Credit Unions (UFCU). Views are now sought on priorities for legislation and assisting credit unions […]
In our response to the Department’s earlier consultation on Domestic Rating Measures we highlighted a range of issues that impact on people’s ability to pay for any proposed charges in relation to revenue raising which we re-state here. We believe that many people on the lowest incomes would struggle to afford any such additional charges. […]
We’re thrilled to announce that WOMEN’STEC has been awarded a grant from the Department for the Economy’s Apprenticeship Inclusion Challenge Fund for our Pathways Plus project. This initiative is all about breaking down barriers and boosting support for women in construction and construction-related apprenticeships across Derry~Londonderry, Newry, and Belfast. Construction is a traditionally male-dominated industry, […]
There has been considerable coverage in the media about the Labour Government’s proposed cuts to disability benefits including Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Universal Credit health support. The Pathways to Work consultation outlines the Government’s proposals including: Scrapping the work capability assessment. Any extra financial support for health conditions in Universal Credit will therefore be solely based […]
In November 2023 the Department of Finance consulted on seven rates proposals including three in the domestic sector. This supplementary consultation now builds on that process and the feedback provided to the Department. The two Domestic proposals being looked at by the Department in this supplementary consultation are: Increasing the maximum capital value cap (the […]
Caoimhe’s entry into Joinery wasn’t always the plan! When she first signed up for Camp America, she wanted to do kayaking and canoeing. Needing to choose a third activity for the summer and because of Caoimhe’s GCSE in Technology & Design (T&D), she chose Woodwork. Once the camps noted that she had woodworking skills, they […]
Campaigns: Guarantee our Essentials Siobhán is part of a campaign from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and the Trussell Trust calling for an Essentials Guarantee within Universal Credit. The Essentials Guarantee would embed in the social security system a principle that at a minimum Universal Credit should protect people from going without essentials. You can read […]
Supplementary Consultation on Domestic Rating Measures In November 2023 the Department of Finance consulted on seven rates proposals including three in the domestic sector. This supplementary consultation now builds on that process and the feedback provided to the Department. The two Domestic proposals being looked at by the Department in this supplementary consultation are: Increasing […]
Siobhán continues to lobby about this significant piece of research which was carried out in partnership with Ulster University. The research found that many women were struggling to cope with increases in the cost of living particularly around the cost of essentials such as food and energy bills. The report was packed full of quotes […]
WSN Policy Worker Siobhán Harding spoke at the second ever Women’s Parliament event held in Stormont in February 2025 about Consortium research on women and unpaid care. Siobhán highlighted the research work carried out in partnership with Carers NI which showed that many women have given up work to care, decreased their working hours due […]
