Pre-Election Manifesto Preparation – Survey & Focus Groups

The Manifesto aims to produce clear, evidence‑based policy recommendations for politicians and policymakers ahead of the 2027 Northern Ireland election.

To inform this work, a sector‑specific survey will be released in November to capture the experiences of co‑operatives, including barriers, effective practices, and use of existing support infrastructure. This will be complemented by focus groups that allow cooperators to shape and validate the draft manifesto, ensuring legitimacy when engaging with DfE and local councils.

In parallel, four co‑operative‑related questions have been integrated into the University of Liverpool’s Northern Ireland Public Opinion Survey, enabling insights from audiences not typically reached through sector surveys by exploring awareness, shopping behaviour, and membership.

A draft manifesto has been currently prepared by Dr Ellie Perrin, with sector input expected to refine priorities and identify potential game‑changing interventions.

Ground‑up feedback remains the core value of the process, ensuring recommendations are rooted in lived experience rather than top‑down assumptions.