LCC Community Trust Calls for Strengthened Anti-Poverty Strategy in Northern Ireland
LCC Community Trust has submitted a formal response to the Northern Ireland Executive’s draft Anti-Poverty Strategy. While we welcome the ambition behind the strategy, we believe it needs sharper focus, stronger commitments, and meaningful collaboration with the voluntary and faith sectors to truly make a difference.
As a faith-based charity rooted in Lisburn, LCC Community Trust supports many individuals and families each week through initiatives such as the Foodbank, Kickstart Social Supermarket, Community Money Advice & Money Matters courses, and support services. Drawing on this frontline experience, we know that lasting change is possible when government, charities, and communities work together with purpose and compassion.
Our response highlights key areas for improvement:
-
-
- Delivery Mechanisms: The draft strategy fails to include timelines, measurable outcomes, or a costed implementation plan; making it difficult to assess its viability.
- Need for Executive-Level Ownership: Poverty affects every government department. The Trust calls for full Executive adoption and cross-departmental accountability.
- Recognition of Faith-Based Organisations: The Trust emphasizes the vital role of faith communities in delivering holistic, culturally relevant support and calls for greater faith literacy among policymakers.
- Sustainable Support for the Voluntary Sector: While community organisations have stepped up during the cost-of-living crisis, the current reliance on volunteers is not sustainable without long-term support.
- Contextual Blind Spots: Northern Ireland’s unique social and economic challenges must be acknowledged, alongside lessons from other devolved nations.
-
The Trust’s response concludes with a call for a revised strategy that is properly resourced, cross-departmental, and rooted in lived experience. It reaffirms LCC Community Trust’s commitment to being part of the solution.
We’ve had our say – now it’s your turn.
The consultation is open until 19 September 2025, and we strongly encourage local charities, churches, and community groups to make their voices heard.
Send your response to: AntiPovertyConsultation@communities-ni.gov.uk
Share your stories, your expertise, and the impact your work has made.