McStravick said: "NCB NI has made considerable progress in the field of research, working very closely with our partners in our two universities, the government and the voluntary sector. I look forward to building on this solid foundation, using evidence-based research to inform policy in Northern Ireland and ultimately improve the lives of children and young people."
McStravick brings more than 20 years of experience in the voluntary, community and local government sectors to her new role. In 1997, she became partnership facilitator at Derry City Council and in 1999 joined Common Purpose Northern Ireland, a cross-sector leadership development organisation.
Over the past two years, McStravick has been developing innovative responses to issues faced by secondary schools as part of the Extended Schools Programme and lecturing on the Masters programme for Organisational Development at Queens University Belfast. She also sits on the board of directors for the Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education.
Barbara Hearn, deputy chief executive of NCB, said: "This role is instrumental in sustaining and enhancing NCB's strong presence within the childcare field in Northern Ireland and ensuring that the voices of children and young people are heard."
In addition, NCB NI has appointed Gillian Crouch as participation worker. She will be working with ethnic minority groups to enable them to get their voices heard and will also develop key messages for young people who are new to Northern Ireland.
Crouch joined NCB NI in October and is also responsible for developing Young NCB in Northern Ireland. Speaking at a recent Young NCB event, she said: "We already have 30 members of Young NCB in Northern Ireland. They are a diverse group of enthusiastic young people who are eager to get more involved in the work of NCB NI."
- NCB NI is based at Albany House, 73-75 Great Victoria Street, Belfast, BT2 7AF
- For more information or enquiries, call 028 9089 1730 or email ncbni@ncb.org.uk
TOP 10 DOWNLOADS
The top 10 NCB NI resources online:
1. The Daycare Needs of Disabled Young Children in NI
2. Being Part and Parcel of the School: Views and Experiences of Children and Young People in Relation to the Development of Bullying Policies in Schools
3. Fit for the Future? Residential Childcare in the UK
4. Getting it Together: Emotional Health and Young People
5. Views that Matter: Staff Morale, Qualifications and Retention in Residential Childcare in NI
6. Voices Behind the Statistics: Young People's Views of Sectarianism in NI
7. A Review of the Use of Secure Accommodation in NI
8. Child-Centred Care Planning - A Review of the Literature
9. Supporting Disabled Children and their Families in NI: A Research and Policy Review
10. Children from Cross-Community Families in Public Care in NI.
