External Liaison Unit
The work of the External Liaison Unit can be broadly categorised into these areas:
Northern Ireland Assembly & Business Trust
Community Outreach
Inward Visits
Parliamentary Outreach
Work Experience
Bursary Programme
Northern Ireland Assembly & Business Trust
The NIABT is an educational charity which provides a forum to Parliamentarians and the business sector to develop a better understanding of each others respective needs. The NIABT organises educational programmes in order to carry out its functions. Typical programmes include fellowships, educational business visits, briefings and seminars. For further details on the NIABT, have a browse through the website at niabt.org
Community Outreach
The External Liaison Unit provides an outreach service to representatives from statutory agencies, voluntary and community groups and business groups to explain how the Assembly works and to encourage involvement and engagement.
The medium and long-term objectives of outreach visits are twofold:
- to build contact between the Assembly and the public, with the intention of increasing knowledge about the legislature, and promoting engagement with it;
- to create a consultative forum through which feedback can be channelled directly back into the Assembly, and into the outreach policy writing process.
Get Involved Conference:
The Northern Ireland Assembly, in partnership with Carrickfergus Community Forum, is holding a conference at the Jubilee Hall, Town Hall, Carrickfergus on Friday 30 March. Find out more...
Newsletters:
Read the Community Outreach newsletter "Get Involved" Issue 1
Read the Community Outreach newsletter "Get Involved" Issue 2
Read the Community Outreach newsletter "Get Involved" Issue 3
For further information please contact:
Community Outreach Coordinator
External Liaison Unit
02890 521195
Email: outreach@niassembly.gov.uk
Inward Visits
The External Liaison Unit develops tailor-made programmes to meet the needs of the many delegations requesting visits.
The Assembly receives a large number of requests, mostly from post-conflict countries and students of politics wishing to discuss and share experience with Northern Ireland politicians. During the 2009-10 Session, the Assembly hosted approximately 60 visits from countries such as Bosnia, Brazil, Canada, Latvia and Mongolia to name but a few.
For further information please contact:
Inward Visits Coordinator
External Liaison Unit
02890 520321
Email: elu@niassembly.gov.uk
Parliamentary Outreach
The Northern Ireland Assembly is represented on various parliamentary bodies by MLAs. These bodies include the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, the British Irish Parliamentary Assembly and the Committee of the Regions. Involvement with these bodies allows MLAs to voice their opinions on various global issues and to learn from the experiences of other parliaments throughout the world. The External Liaison Unit assists the Assembly’s continued participation with these bodies by organising conferences and events and ensuring attendance at various meetings throughout the year.
For further information please contact:
Parliamentary Outreach Coordinator
External Liaison Unit
02890 521029
Email: elu@niassembly.gov.uk
Work Experience
The External Liaison Unit organises work experience programmes within the Northern Ireland Assembly for GCSE and A' Level students. These programmes ensure that students receive an overview of each of the Directorates in the Assembly and their various offices.
A maximum of two students per week can participate in the programme and places will be allocated on a ‘first come, first served’ basis. Generally, one month’s notice will be required to process a student’s request.
Please note: Work experience within the NI Assembly gives an overview of all the offices within Parliament Buildings that assist with the work of the Assembly, and does not provide any direct shadowing of politicians.
For further information please contact:
Work Experience Coordinator
External Liaison Unit
02890 521029
Email: workexperience@niassembly.gov.uk
Further information on the programme is available by downloading the links below.
Procedure for work experience
Learning Log
Feedback Questionnaire
For further information please contact:
Bursary Programme Coordinator
External Liaison Unit
02890 521029
Email: elu@niassembly.gov.uk