Email Briefing 4 Oct 04

• Get the lowdown on Give as You Earn
• Money down the drain? NICVA survey on changes to non-domestic water charges
• Resource centres face funding vote
• Small Grants Programme for Areas with Weak Community Infrastructure
• Taking the lead with Common Purpose
• Community Arts Training
• Training and Funds for Single Parent Groups and Individuals
• Big Draw Northern Ireland
• Disability Discrimination Act - A practical workshop
• The Time of Your Life
• Highlights from NICVA’s website
• Membership
• Subscribe to the email briefing
• Feedback

1. Get the lowdown on Give As You Earn

NICVA is hosting two one-day practical skills workshops on Give As You Earn, in conjunction with Charities Aid Foundation (CAF).

The workshops take place on 26 October and 29 November 2004 and will provide essential tips and advice on how to access Give As You Earn funds. They will be facilitated by Pankikos Efthimiou, Charity Relations Manager with CAF.

The cost has been kept down to a very reasonable £20 for NICVA members and £25 for non-members.

Contact Elizabeth Hamill on 028 9087 7777, 028 9087 7799 or elizabeth.hamill@nicva.org.

2. Money down the drain? NICVA survey on changes to non-domestic water charges

NICVA has recently sent out a questionnaire in response to the announcement of water and sewerage charges in Northern Ireland. The charging proposals will directly impact upon a large number of voluntary and community organisations and NICVA would be grateful if you could complete the short survey in order to help produce an estimate of how much the sector currently pays in terms of water, what impact these new arrangements may have and what further response there should be.

Please return your completed questionnaire by email to gordon.mccullough@nicva.org or telephone 028 9087 7777 for more information.

3. Resource centres face funding vote

A new approach to consultation appears to be being championed by Belfast City Council. Voluntary and community groups in the Council area have been invited to a debate in the Waterfront Hall about the future allocation of funds to resource centres funded by the Council. The invitation asks ‘are you a community group using a resource centre who thinks that Belfast City Council should stop funding resource centres and allocate additional funding to local groups?’ The debate is to be chaired by Mike Nesbitt and opposing views will be argued by Avila Kilmurray (CFNI) and Stevie Johnston (WEA).

The audience will be able to express opinions using ‘latest participatory technology – think Stars in Their Eyes, Who wants to be a millionaire … you can help shape the future of the sector by coming along and casting your vote’.

It would appear that groups are being pitted against each other and the funding and consultation processes are being trivialised. Watch this space...

4. Small Grants Programme for Areas with Weak Community Infrastructure

Castlereagh Local Strategy Partnership invites applications to this programme which is open to disadvantaged communities where problems are not being addressed because of weak or no community development infrastructure. To be eligible, a group should be a locally accountable voluntary or community organisation or a partnership involving the voluntary and community sector. Organisations should also have a constitution.

Community infrastructure refers to the range of skills, resources (financial and human), facilities, networks, partnerships, motivation, local involvement and so forth, which help communities and groups to help to improve their local areas and address local issues.

Small grants will be available for the development of Networking, Pilot Community-led Initiatives and Resources. The deadline for applications is 3.00pm on Friday 15 October 2004.

Application packs are available from Castlereagh LSP, Donard, S&EBT, Knockbracken Healthcare Park, Saintfield Road, Belfast BT8 8BH, 028 9079 2501, info@castlereaghpartnershiplsp.co.uk.

5. Taking the lead with Common Purpose

Common Purpose invites applications for its programme entitled Navigator - Charting a Course to a Brighter Future, which runs from 15 to 19 November 2004. Navigator is an intensive fast-paced five day residential programme, aimed at emerging leaders, the rising generation of high-potential individuals, tipped as people to watch in their organisation or community. The programme enables participants to explore the wider context in which they operate, introduces them to their peers in other sectors and establishes a broader base from which to develop strategic thinking and decision-making. The programme also offers a real insight into how Northern Ireland works, addresses the key issues facing the community and develops leadership potential.

A previous participant described it as "A programme that challenges everything you thought you knew about people, places and business in Northern Ireland."

to nominate a member of staff, suggest a possible participant or request an information pack, contact Toni or Mairead on 028 7186 1561 or foyle@commonpurpose.org.uk.

6. Community Arts Training

Down Community Arts has been awarded funding to run arts skills training for people throughout Down District. Its ‘cre8’ programme offers training for those interested in delivering arts activities within their local community. The training is pitched at all levels and will appeal to those interested in working with special client groups such as pre-school children.

Contact Down Community Arts for further information on 028 4461 6006, enquiries@downcommunityarts.co.uk.

7. Training and Funds for Single Parents and Groups

Single Parent Action Network (SPAN), an organisation working to improve the lives of one parent families throughout the UK, is offering two free accredited distance learning courses entitled Making Changes and Managing Your Self Help Group, which cover essential skills such as influencing your community, networking, meetings, equal opportunities, finance, fundraising and much more.

SPAN is also making a number of ‘Link-up’ grants available for single parent self-help groups around the UK. These can be used to provide an Information Service, set up an Internet Access Project or even to run an event. SPAN also offers free membership and members will receive the SPAN newsletter.

Visit http://www.singleparents.org.uk/ for more information. To enquire about Making Changes or a Link Grant please email jacquie@spanuk.org.uk . For details on Managing Your Self Help Group email chris@spanuk.org.uk , 0117 951 4231.

8. Disability Discrimination Act - a practical workshop

From October this year all service providers, including community organisations, will be expected to make reasonable adjustments and remove physical barriers to enable disabled people to access their services and activities. This workshop will enable you to find out more about what the Act will mean for you, identify changes to your policies, practices and facilities and plan actions for change in your organisation.

Paul McStay from Community Technical Aid and Christine Ferrin from Community Change will provide information and advice.

Places are limited so please confirm attendance with The Fermanagh Trust by Friday 8 October 2004, 028 6632 0210 or mailto:fermanaghtrust@talk21.com

9. Equality Under Devolution

The School of Sociology and Social policy is hosting a seminar featuring speakers from the Four Nations entitled, Equality Cultures and Practices: Comparing Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and England. It will take place on Thursday 28 October 2004 from 9.45 am to 4.00 pm in Express by Holiday Inn, University Street, Belfast. A bursary scheme is in operation for small organisations.

Contact Gillian Purdy, School of Sociology and Social Policy, Queen’s University Belfast, 028 9097 1243.

10. The Time of Your Life

Training for Women Network (TWN) and Action Cancer are hosting a conference entitled ‘Time of Your Life’ on Thursday 21 October 2004 at the Waterfront Hall, Belfast. It is intended for young women throughout N Ireland who are likely to fall out of the education system, inspiring them to take control of their career choices whilst encouraging them to be proactive regarding their health issues.

The event showcases a range of inspirational women from diverse backgrounds such as entrepreneurship and media. Celebrity Kerry McFadden (I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here) will be on hand to facilitate and the keynote address is by Martine McCutcheon (Eastenders, My Fair Lady and Love Actually). Delegates will also be given the opportunity to participate in a range of interactive workshops to focus on the opportunities that lie in areas such as music, health, media, outdoor pursuits, beauty and more. For further information please contact Kellie-Ann Hunter at TWN on 028 9031 9888, kellie-ann@twnonline.com or visit www.twnonline.com/up/uploads/images/inside_large.jpg.

11. Big Draw Northern Ireland

Big Draw Northern Ireland was launched last weekend and a range of events is taking place across the country from 13 to 20 October 2004. The Big Draw is organised by Drawing Power, whichhas a simple but ambitious aim - to get everyone drawing. The Campaign was initiated in 2000 by The Guild of St George, a small charity founded by John Ruskin, the Victorian artist, writer and visionary. Ruskin saw drawing as the foundation of visual thought. His mission was not to teach people how to draw, but how to see.

For the full events programme visit http://www.thebigdraw.org.uk/ and select Northern Ireland from the events-search page. No experience is necessary for any of the events.

12. Highlights from NICVA’s website

Purchase Link photographs
Many of you have phoned NICVA to enquire aboutbuyingphotographsfromthe recent Link Awards Gala. This link gives instructions on how to buy thephotographsonline http://www.nicva.org/events/link_awards/article.asp?ArticleID=9541

Managers must 'be the best that we can be'
Mickey Harteaddresses first line graduates fromNICVA's ManagementDevelopment Programme. http://www.nicva.org/news/article.asp?ArticleID=9540

I will survey-ve
Doing asurvey? If you are a voluntary andcommunity organisation you canpublish itonNICVA's website for no charge. Email thesurvey to website@nicva.org and we willpublish it in the Policy and Research section of ourwebsite.

Currentsurveys
1.Tapping into your thoughtson water bills.Help NICVAassess theimpactof water charges on the sector. This is a veryshort, six question survey.
2.Telephone Helplines Association Survey. Give your feedback on usinghelplines in Northern Ireland. http://www.nicva.org/policy_and_research/surveys/index.asp

Viewfinder 3 results
You may remember weaskedyou to take part in the thirdViewfinder research seriesearlier thisyear. The survey gathered your opinionsonthesector's infrastructure. Leeann Brady, new Research Officer at NICVA, has now analysed the results and prepared a short report. Use this link to read a quick summary of the findingsor to downloadthe full results: http://www.nicva.org/policy_and_research/policy_news/article.asp?ArticleID=9532

…and don’t forget the Community Diary…

Have an event to promote? Enter your upcoming events in NICVA's Online Diary:Just follow this link: www.nicva.org/events/diary/index.asp. Click on ‘submit an event’ and enter the details on a simple form. After moderation your event will appear in the diary.

Membership

Is your organisation a member of NICVA or do you know of another organisation that would benefit from NICVA membership? Membership is open to all voluntary and community organisations in Northern Ireland.

To find out more about the benefits of NICVA membership, or to obtain a membership pack, please contact Frances McAtamney on 028 9087 7777, frances.mcatamney@nicva.orgor visit the website www.nicva.org .

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Feedback

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The information contained in this digest has been provided and collated from numerous accredited sources. NICVA does not take responsibility for any third party content or any of the opinions expressed.

Briefing compiled by John McCormick, Information Officer