How we influence Get involved The Civic Initiative The Civic Initiative aimed to test the appetite for citizen engagement in Northern Ireland and border counties, in recognition of the absence of the Civic Forum under the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement. To achieve the purpose of providing a meaningful space for civic engagement the Civic Initiative developed a four-stage process.Stage 1: Organize regional community-based forums and workshops across Northern Ireland and border counties to provide views, suggestions, and recommendations on a broad agenda of identified socio-economic and cultural areas including healthcare, poverty, housing, education, culture, rural access, human rights, and political institutionsStage 2: Make an open call for submissions and survey responses from individuals and organizations on areas identified as a priority for communities at stage 1.Stage 3: Create a Citizens’ Forum of randomly selected participants to take forward a priority area identified through stage 1 and 2.Stage 4: Produce a final report with recommendations agreed by the Citizens’ Forum, alongside conducting public opinion polling. Two working groups, and an oversight committee, work to deliver the aims of the project. Oversight CommitteeCommunity Foundation Northern Ireland, Women's Resource and Development Agency (WRDA), Northern Ireland Youth Forum, Northwest Cultural Partnership, CRAICNI, Disability Action NI, HEReNI, The Corrymeela Community, Migrant Centre Northern Ireland, Youth Action NI, TASC, and individual members; Eileen Weir, and Tara Grace Connolly, convened by independent chair Les Allamby Process design groupThe work of the Civic Initiative is further informed by two expert panels which includes the following members; Dr Jamie Pow, QUB, Dr Joanna McMinn, Sara Singleton, TASC, Rebekah McCabe, Involve, Suzie Cahn, iCommunity, convened by Emma DeSouza Content curation committeeProf Rory O’Connell, Ulster University, Seamus McGuinness, ERSI, Prof Tony Gallagher, QUB, Ann Watt, Pivotal, Joanne Vance, Community Health and Development Network, Prof Paddy Gray, Ulster University, convened by Emma DeSouza Over the course of 18 months the Civic Initiative delivered; 38 community-based workshops and public forums delivered across Northern Ireland and border counties 118 cross-border survey responses and 8 expert submissions a Citizens' Forum on Housing including 84 members of the general public recruited via a postal lottery system Public opinion polling on citizens' assemblies and cross-border cooperation that showed 69% of respondents support citizens' assemblies/forums Read the report here Read written submissions received by the Civic Initiative here: Homeless Connect Integrated Education Fund PPR Housing Rights Apex Housing Cooperation Ireland Mid Ulster Seniors NICCY