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Scope asks NICVA Chief Executive Seamus McAleavey why his organisation has taken the unprecedented step of campaigning in the upcoming European referendum. 

The new PfG - currently under construction, intertwined with sticky negotiations over the Executive - will be "outcomes-based". What does this mean? Surely this can't be new? Scope looks at a new model for all sectors.

Many in Northern Ireland and in Scotland and Wales would be forgiven for feeling locked out of the referendum debate. 

Coverage of Culture Secretary John Whittingdale’s white paper on the future of the BBC has concentrated on the abolition of the BBC Trust and the publication of the salaries of the highest paid stars. 

Part two of our look at health reform in the context of Stormont parties' policies. Here we examine party manifestos - and find contradictions, shameless vote grabbing, and deceit or stupidity or both.

The need for health reform will become even more pressing throughout the next mandate. Scope has analysed party policy alongside the unanimous view of experts who say how and why HSC should be remodelled. The conclusions are worrying.

Among the various political goings on right now, NI politicians have until the end of June to feed proposals into a UK-wide action plan on open government.

What on earth is going on at the RSPB? 

At more than 37,000 words and 88 pages the Alliance Manifesto is by far the longest to be published to date. 

We continue to look at the main party's manifestos ahead of the Assembly elections - and find that Sinn Fein's document is unsurprising.

The latest major party manifesto to be released ahead of the Assembly elections comes from the UUP. Scope takes a look.

Recent controversies have underlined how important it is to raise funds ethically. Scope asks Jayne Murray, head of the British Heart Foundation in Northern Ireland how it should be done. 

Scope picks through the SDLP manifesto which contains a few surprises 

Kerry Anthony, chief executive of Depaul analyses the homeless crisis and poses a solution 

There’s rarely any policy debate during Elections in Northern Ireland. Scope dissects the party manifestos, to see what else they stand for, starting with the DUP.

The European referendum campaign has got off to an entertaining start, but rarely has any debate shed such little light on the real issues. 

Adam Tinson, senior research analyst at the New Policy Institute analyses the growing gap between benefits sanctions in Northern Ireland and GB. 

The Big Lottery Fund has just published a report on the future of charities 

Bizarre variations in English lessons for asylum seekers, refugees and other vulnerable immigrants have recently been ironed out by DEL. Scope hears why this is good for all of us.

What is the state of democracy in Northern Ireland? Many would give a one-word answer. But to improve the world around us we need engagement, and to embrace of nuance, complexity and the views of others. No-one said it was easy.