The NI Assembly passed the Period Products (Free Provision) Act NI in May 2022, making period products available free of charge to anyone who needs them. Libraries NI now provide free period products in all public libraries (static and mobile) – known as the Free Period Products scheme. A survey has been launched to gather […]
NIRWN’s Executive Director, Louise Coyle alongside sector colleagues met with Lord Paul Murphy who is leading an independent review of the Withdrawal Agreement and its effectiveness. Sense checking with Civil Society and creating the mechanisms with which to do so is critical if we are to thrive post EU Exit. Issues discussed by those in […]
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 […]
This document details the Minister for Communities’ initial Budget 2025-26 decisions and how they will impact on the Department’s ability to deliver public services. Siobhán hopes to make a detailed response to this consultation. If you have any input to this consultation please contact Siobhán as soon as possible at policy@wsn.org.uk The deadline for comments […]
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 […]
Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK or Ireland where there is no protection against age discrimination in the provision of goods, facilities and services. A private member’s bill is being brought forward by Claire Sugden MLA to propose legislation to tackle this issue and close the gap in our equality laws to […]
The Department of Health is consulting on proposals to amend the minimum standards for childminding and day care for children aged under 12. The purpose of this consultation is to get feedback on proposals to changes two key areas of childcare regulation. The first area is in relation to vetting (the requirement for all prospective […]
There has been much discussion about the forthcoming draft Anti-Poverty Strategy which has been signed off by the NI Executive and is due to be released soon for public consultation. The Anti-Poverty Strategy Group has been formed and is made up of former members of the Anti-Poverty Co-Design Group who worked alongside the Department for […]
Siobhán continues to lobby around the findings and recommendations of a number of Consortium research papers as follows: Meeting with Fermanagh & Omagh Council on Women, Skills & Barriers to Work research paper findings and recommendations Recording podcast for Women’s Platform on Women’s Experiences of the Cost-of-Living Crisis in Northern Ireland research paper available to […]
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 […]
