The Policy Unit seeks to facilitate and stimulate critical social policy debate in Northern Ireland, thus contributing to more effective policy making. To this end ARK organises regular Policy Roundtables that aim to engage policy makers, practitioners and academics in a Chatam House Rule roundtable discussion on key issues facing Northern Ireland. ARK's Policy Briefs include a summary of research evidence and and the discussions at the associated Policy Roundtables.

2 July 2013	A Sexual Orientation Strategy for Northern Ireland Although much progress has been made towards achieving equality in relation to sexual orientation over the last few decades, the issues and disadvantages that affect the everyday lives and equality of opportunity of lesbian, gay and bisexual people in Northern Ireland have not notably improved. Participants at this ARK round table held in Belfast in July 2013 discussed the reasons for the lack of progress and identified what would be required to ensure the successful development and implementation of a sexual orientation strategy. They agreed that top/down leadership is required with Ministers being seen to accept and embrace a strategy. The roundtable was chaired by Dirk Schubotz, Lecturer in Social Policy at QUB and Director of the Young Life and Times Survey, and was conducted under the Chatham House Rule. The Policy Brief can be accessed here .
29 November 2012	Welfare Reform in Northern Ireland: what are the implications for housing? The Welfare Reform Bill for Northern Ireland (2012) will have significant consequences for the housing sector. At this ARK roundtable held in Belfast, representatives from a range of organisations including policy makers, housing providers, the Chartered Institute of Housing, academia and NGOs discussed the real impact of reform. Chaired by Professor Paddy Gray, School of the Built Environment at the University of Ulster, participants questioned whether the risks of welfare reform had been adequately assessed and how the devolved administration could ensure that policy and legislation takes into account the particular circumstances existing in Northern Ireland. The event took place under Chatham House Rule. A copy of the Policy Brief can be accessed here
6 October 2010	Young People not in Education, Employment or Training (in collaboration with Youth Action) The economic downturn has further increased concerns about young people. Young people have been disproportionately affected by the recession and a growing number are not in employment, education or training. This ARK roundtable was organised in partnership with YouthAction NI. It brought together participants from a range of statutory and voluntary organisations working with young people, policy makers from a number of government departments, funding bodies, academia and young people themselves. Issues discussed included whether the education structure and organization of schools in Northern Ireland exacerbate the problem and create barriers to effective responses and what strategic and practical role should the youth sector have in addressing the problems facing young people not in employment, education or learning? The roundtable was chaired by Ann Marie Gray, Director of the ARK Policy Unit and was conducted under the Chatham House Rule. The Policy Brief can be accessed here here
17 September 2010	The Future of Social Care Policy in Northern Ireland This is an issue which has gained increasing policy prominence in the UK and internationally. The urgency of the debate has been increased by concern about growing levels of unmet need and the funding of long term care provision. In Northern Ireland there has been less discussion of the direction of future policy. This roundtable event looked at the challenges facing the social care system in Northern Ireland and at policy priorities, including in relation to the social care workforce. Participants included representatives from the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, the Northern Ireland Social Care Council, the Patient Client Council, Age NI and care home providers. The roundtable was conducted under the Chatham House Rule and was chaired by Goretti Horgan, Deputy Director of the ARK Policy Unit and the Policy Brief can be accessed here
24 March 2010	Welfare to Work The Policy Brief can be accessed here
3 November 2009	Challenges and Opportunities for Social Science Research in Northern Ireland Click here for a description of this roundtable