Collaborative delivery
The Belfast Community Planning Partnership (CPP) was established in February 2018 with the shared aim to improve the economic, social and environmental wellbeing of our communities.
The partnership continues to lead and provide collective oversight on delivery of the Belfast Agenda. This work is supported by four thematic delivery boards, a number of operational delivery groups and a refreshed voluntary, community and social enterprise panel who drive work on actions and seek to problem-solve and innovate.
Community Planning Partnership
Boards accountable for ownership and delivery of Belfast Agenda Priority Action Plans.
- Our People and Communities delivery board
- Health Inequalities
- Community and Neighbourhood Regeneration
- Older People
- Children and Younger People
- Inclusive Growth and Anti-Poverty
- Good Relations and Shared Future
- Our Economy delivery board
- Educational Inequalities
- Jobs and Skills
- Sustainable and Inclusive Economic Growth
- Our Place delivery board
- Housing-led Regeneration
- Connectivity, active and sustainable travel
- Future City Centre and wider regeneration and investment
- Our Planet delivery board
- Re-naturing city and increasing resilience to climate
- Creating a sustainable circular economy
- Innovating to Net Zero
A number of delivery sub-groups exist to support implementation of specific priorities.
Connecting with the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector (VCSE)
In Spring 2020, a VCSE Sectoral Advisory Panel was established to recognise Belfast’s vibrant and active voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector, and to further strengthen the sector’s involvement in the community planning process. During its first term the VCSE Panel has helped to drive forward the Belfast Agenda.
Recognising the unique role of our VCSE organisations within community planning and in supporting effective community engagement, members of the VCSE Panel were actively involved in a cross-sectoral steering group to oversee the development of a co-design framework. The process of developing the co-design framework highlighted the importance of adopting a broader approach to civic participation and community engagement. The CPP and VCSE Panel is committed to enhancing how we listen, engage and work collaboratively with our residents, communities and our partners. It is anticipated that the practical framework will become just one element in a more joined-up approach to involving people and communities in community planning. The framework is already being tested in relation to developing a Whole Systems Approach to Healthy Weight.
Following an independent nomination and selection process led by NICVA, membership of the VCSE Sectoral Advisory Panel was refreshed and ratified by the CPP in April 2025.
As the panel enters a second four-year term (2025-2029), membership has doubled from 15 to 30 representatives to better reflect Belfast's large and diverse voluntary, community and social enterprise sectors. Panel members reflect a balance from across areas of the city, neighbourhood renewal partnership areas, Belfast agenda themes and priorities, Section 75 and minoritised voices and large and small organisations.
The VCSE Panel aims:
- to ensure that the diverse voices of the sector are represented in the community planning process
- to develop and improve cross-sectoral relationships and partnership working, and
- to promote ongoing and effective community engagement.
