Scope Articles

Tough times can bring out the best in people

25 Jan 2023

Two new pieces of research lay out two sides of the cost-of-living crisis: poor mental health, and communities rising to meet the problems we all face.

Youth organisations have a big role in improving child mental health

7 Apr 2022

The wellbeing of Northern Ireland’s children and young people remains a concern. Local youth groups could do with better financial support – and help building systems where they can collaborate.

Westminster needs to prioritise replacing EU funding

Northern Ireland has done pretty well from structural funding (graph from the Institute for Government)

24 Nov 2020

The delay – or complete absence – of a consultation on the planned UK Shared Prosperity Fund is not encouraging. Perhaps this week will bring some news.

Community response to Covid-19 is vital

Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey MLA (centre) with NICVA Chief Executive Seamus McAleavey and Deputy Chief Executive Una McKernan

19 May 2020

The pressures Covid-19 has placed on the third sector are, amongst other things, ironic. They also get to the heart of what the sector is, and why it is special. DfC’s Community Response Plan illustrates this well.

Covid-19 poses huge challenges for charities – and shows their importance

Photo by Fusion Medical Animation on Unsplash

1 May 2020

Coronavirus has forced huge, reactive changes across our lives. The third sector is no different. Organisations are working hard, individually and collectively, to adapt. They are also proving their worth.

Government must create a coronavirus package for charities

1 Apr 2020

The COVID-19 crisis means the third sector’s work is more valuable than perhaps ever before. It is also much more difficult. This is a problem that must be fixed. Government help is essential.

Northern Ireland needs a Programme for Government that’s fit for the future

4 Mar 2020

If we want to cut our cloth as best as possible for the short- and long-term, the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals might be a good place to start.

Let’s talk about Shared Prosperity

23 Oct 2019

Where is the consultation on the UK Shared Prosperity Fund? And, when it does come, what should a new infrastructure fund look like?

Fighting back against violence

Fight for Peace is working in Northern Irleand

17 Aug 2018

A new report from the Big Lottery Fund makes a good effort at illustrating what prevention and early intervention actually mean, when it comes to reducing youth violence.

The Red Cross you might not know

10 Aug 2018

As image concerns go, it's a bit different; the Red Cross is a world-famous organisation held in high esteem. However, most awareness concerns the work in the world's worst disaster zones. Their day to day is less spectacular but just as important.

Hearing loss can be devastating - it can also be helped

Volunteer Melissa and service user Patricia

17 May 2018

It's Deaf Awareness Week, and Scope spoke with Action on Hearing Loss about a vital service which helps older people feeling lonely and desperate - a service searching for more funding and volunteers.

Major merger announced in NI third sector

(l-r) Ray Jordan, Siobhan Hanley and Tom Kitt

30 Mar 2018

War on Want NI has joined together with Self Help Africa, based in the Republic of Ireland, and people from both charities are enthusiastic about the future.

Making the Global Goals relevant for citizens

2 Jun 2017

Scope talks with the Northern Ireland Environment Link about their plans to improve awareness and understanding of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Grassroots are top of the tree

No-one expects utopia, but NI can be a brighter place

12 May 2017

The latest thinking in social innovation involves ideas that are led by the local community - i.e. those set to benefit - on every level, with support organisations like Amplify NI and even major funders like the Big Lottery Fund fully bought in.

Why NI's budget crisis could easily have been avoided

Our last budget was signed off in January 2016 - but could have made provision for this period of uncertainty

5 May 2017

By mirroring other jurisdictions and including multi-year spending plans in our annual budgets, Stormont could have avoided the tension and uncertainty that is plaguing Northern Ireland in 2017.

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