The Victims and Survivors Unit works to raise awareness of, and co-ordinate activity on, issues affecting victims and survivors of our troubled past across the devolved administration and throughout Northern Ireland in general.

The Victims and Survivors Unit works to raise awareness of, and co-ordinate activity on, issues affecting victims and survivors of our troubled past across the devolved administration and throughout Northern Ireland in general.

Our aim

To ensure that the rights and needs of victims and survivors are given a high priority.

The unit has oversight responsibility for the Commission for Victims and Survivors and the Victims and Survivors Service.

Commission for Victims and Survivors

The Commission for Victims and Survivors was established to address the needs of all victims and survivors by ensuring excellent service provision, acknowledging the legacy of the past and building for a better future.  The principal aim of the Commission is to promote the interests of victims and survivors.  The Commission is responsible for providing advice to Government on matters affecting victims and survivors.

The Commission is accountable to the Executive Office in terms of its procedures, activities, and financial responsibilities.

For more information please visit the Commission for Victims and Survivors website.

Victims and Survivors Service

The Victims and Survivors Service (VSS) is the delivery body for the Strategy for Victims and Survivors (2009).The VSS was established to consolidate the provision of support and funding for victims and survivors.  The aim of the VSS is to coordinate service delivery and funding to meet the needs of individual victims and survivors, ensuring that these services are provided at the appropriate standard.  VSS delivers funding to individuals and organisations through two main programmes – the Individual Needs Programme (INP) and the Victims Support Programme (VSP).

The VSS is accountable to the Executive Office in terms of its procedures, activities, and financial responsibilities.

For more information please visit the Victims and Survivors Service website.

Public consultation on the new Strategy for Victims and Survivors – Consultation drop-in clinics.

There is still time to have your say on the draft new strategy for Victims and Survivors. The consultation has been extended until 29th March 2024.

You can respond to the consultation online through our questionnaire which can be accessed here.

We are keen to listen to your views and feedback and would like to invite you to attend one of our regional drop-in consultation clinics or alternatively log in to our online session. The consultation clinics offer an informal opportunity to chat with one of our team and find out more about the strategy and ask any questions you may have.

You can attend any of the clinics below, the team will be on hand to chat over coffee at the times/dates noted:

Area

Venue

Date / Time

Newry

Canal Court Hotel

Merchants Quay, Newry, BT35 8HF

11 March 2024

1.00pm -4.00pm

Londonderry

City Hotel

Queens Quay, Derry, BT48 7AS

12 March 2024

1.00pm -4.00pm

Belfast

Clayton Hotel

22-26 Ormeau Ave, Belfast, BT2 8HS

14 March 2024

1.00pm -4.00pm

Omagh

Silverbirch Hotel

5 Gortin Rd, Omagh, BT79 7DH

15 March 2024

09.30am -12.30pm

Enniskillen

Killhevlin Hotel

Dublin Rd, Enniskillen, BT74 6RW

15 March 2024

2.30pm -5.00pm

Antrim

Dunsilly Hotel

20 Dunsilly Rd, Antrim BT41 2JH

19 March 2024

1.00pm -4.00pm

Alternatively, if there are any individuals who are unable to attend one of these in-person sessions and would welcome an opportunity to give their views online, we may also hold an online session on Monday 25 March at 6.30pm.

Anyone wishing to attend the on-line session should forward their email details to vsstrategypublicconsultation@executiveoffice-ni.gov.uk to be included in the invitation link.

Contact us

Victims Unit

Recruitment of Victims and Survivors Service Board Chair and Members

The Executive Office have launched a public appointment competition for a new Chair and  Board Members for the Victims and Survivors Service.

For more detailed information and how to apply, please visit the Northern Ireland Civil Service Recruitment Webpage.

Alternatively, an application pack can be requested by contacting:

HRConnect, PO Box 1089,
The Metro Building,
6-9 Donegall Square South,
Belfast, BT1 9EW.

Telephone: 0800 1 300 330.
Email: recruitment@hrconnect.nigov.net
Public Appointment Vacancies

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