Public Affairs

 Opportunities to Represent the Sector

As CO3's membership is made up from the leaders of the third sector leaders we are often asked to provide representatives to important working groups or advisory groups, which are chosen through open selection. Currently members are represented on Skills for Care and Development, The Reform of Social Work, Central Personal Social Services Advisory Committee, the NI Post Qualifying Education and Training Partnership for Social Work (NIPQETP), Confidence in Care Programme and the Western Health and Social Services Board Regional Adult Protection Forum.

If you would like a representative from the third sector to be on your panel or group then please contact CO3 to discuss further.

Consultation with our Members

CO3 has run a number of CO3 member consultation events in relations to areas of interest such as the Review of Public Administration the reform on Health and Social Care and the introduction of the new Charity Commission for Northern Ireland. 

If you  would like to Consult with CO3 members on an issue then feel free to contact CO3 to discuss further.

CO3 and Government

The home of the third sector is within DSD.  CO3 wishes to see DSD champion the role of the third sector and it's contribution to civil society.   CO3 endeavours at all times to support the DSD in building a strong, and vibrant Third Sector by helping to develop strong leadership in the Sector. 

The voice of third sector leaders.CO3 has consulted with members to identify what they think are the priority issues to focus on over the next period to the end of 2011.  CO3 commissioned some research to consider its future public affairs role.  The report of this work was presented to CO3 AGM in March 2010.   

CO3 has proposed the following approach.

1. Third sector leadership is 'political' and requires a degree of political engagement in order to lead a third sector organisation.
2. CO3 will not adopt a policy and public affairs team nor undertake the public affairs work of its members.
3. CO3 will mobilise its members to promote the sector and help members to establish a role in influencing and developing policy at the formative stages.
4. There was sufficient interest amongst members who wanted to adopt some collective public affairs work on a small number of distinctive and common issues, which third sector leaders in Northern Ireland would determine.  CO3 would coordinate the voice of its members on these key issues.  Members were also mindful that leadership in this sector is 'political' and CO3 can assist skills development through this collective work.

The summary report of the Public Affairs Research is available at the bottom of this page.

If you would like to discuss this please contact Majella on Majella@CO3.bzThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or telephone 02890245356