eNews 28 November 2005

Contents:

1. NICVA kicks off with an early Christmas celebration
2. Finding a solution to funding core costs
3. Nominate one in a million
4. Get Heard at regional event
5. All change in the Northern Ireland departments
6. Rights Based Approach to Housing
7. Citizenship for a Shared Future
8. Bill of Rights residential
9. Stopping violence against women
10. Why don't people take up energy efficiency schemes?
11. DANDA here to help
12. Broadcast training scheme for Irish speakers
13. Party funds available
14. Social Europe dies a death
15. Wise up to science
16. Volunteers wanted for literary conference
17. Pick of the Websites
18. Make Your Move - new jobs this week on communityni.org
19. Community NI Diary
20. Membership
21. Subscribe to eNews
22. Feedback
23. Submit an Article

1. NICVA kicks off with an early Christmas celebration

NICVA's annual Christmas reception for its members takes place this Friday 2 December 2005 at 3.00pm.

A major conference will take place earlier in the day. Civil Society - what is it and what can it do? features a keynote speech by Professor Nicholas Deakin, an update on CIVICUS research by Gordon McCullough, NICVA's Head of Research, and a presentation by Saso Klekovski, Executive Director, Macedonian Center for International Co-operation on, 'Macedonia - parallels in a divided society'. This will be followed by NICVA's AGM.

For more information or to book please contact Teresa Flanagan or 028 9087 7777.

2. Finding a solution to funding core costs

Using the latest Full Cost Recovery Model designed by ACEVO and New Philanthropy Capital, this course could change every organisation's approach to core funding. The one day course delivered by Sayer Vincent Consultants and Auditors and facilitated by NICVA's Management Development Programme uses the Full Cost Recovery toolkit - a resource pack and software to help realistically budget for organisational and project costs.

Judith Miller, who delivers the course, has worked with the Association of Charitable Foundations, Victim Support, NCVO, Whizz Kids and Guidestar and has considerable experience of the voluntary and community sector.

Neil Irwin, Member Services Manager at NICVA, found the course extremely valuable and would highly recommend it to other fundraisers, managers, finance officers and treasurers.

The next Full Cost Recovery training takes place on 26 January 2006 and is a brilliant opportunity to gain practical guidance on costing the full cost of projects and activities - so organisations no longer short change themselves.

Register now by contacting Roisin Kelly or 028 9087 7777.

The course is subsidised by 75% making it great value and participants also receive a free copy of the software, valued at £30.

3. Nominate one in a million

NICVA's websites now receive one million page views each month, and we'd like you to join the celebrations by contributing to the 'One in a Million' series of articles that will be published across the websites during December.

Simply email a short paragraph to say who or what you think has been 'one in a million' in the voluntary and community sector during 2005. Perhaps it was Niall Fitzduff winning the Beacon Award for his efforts for rural development, Bob Geldof demanding the G8 Make Poverty History, the Year of the Volunteer events, A Shared Future paper being published, or maybe it's something closer to home?

Send your paragraph, together with your name, organisation, email address and phone number to Miriam Bell at NICVA.

4. Get Heard at regional event

Northern Ireland Anti-Poverty Network has organised this regional event to bring together participants who have recently attended the Get Heard workshops to feed back their findings to each other, to government and to policy makers.

The Get Heard Project is a participatory process to enable people with experience of poverty and social exclusion to express their views on government anti-poverty initiatives and policies. Many groups have been involved including those working with asylum seekers and refugees, Travellers, women's groups, people with a disability, community workers, Sure Start users and many others. The groups have commented on issues such as immigration policy, the Anti-Poverty Strategy for NI, the Children and Young Persons Strategy, Neighbourhood Renewal, Tax Credits and Social Security.

Come to NICVA, 61 Duncairn Gardens, Belfast at 10.00am on 13 December 2005 and hear what issues local people have raised and consider how we can move forward collectively.

For more information or to book a place, please contact Patricia at NIAPN on 028 9024 4525, info@niapn.org.

Find out more about the Get Heard Project at www.ukcap.org/getheard/index.htm.

5. All change in the Northern Ireland departments

The Northern Ireland Civil Service has announced a number of changes at Permanent Secretary level in Northern Ireland Departments.

The changes are as follows:

Bruce Robinson, currently in the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, will transfer to be Second Permanent Secretary in the Department of Finance and Personnel. His main responsibilities will include finance, budgets and driving forward the efficiency and reform agenda across all Departments.

Stephen Quinn, currently in the Department for Regional Development, will transfer to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment.

Gerry McGinn, currently in the Department of Education, will transfer to the Department for Regional Development.

Will Haire, currently in the Department for Employment and Learning, will transfer to the Department of Education.

Aideen McGinley, currently in the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, will transfer to the Department for Employment and Learning.

It is intended that the transfers will take effect by early in the New Year. The Permanent Secretary Post in the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure will be filled following a public recruitment competition, the arrangements for which will be put in place as soon as possible.

6. Rights Based Approach to Housing

This week is Homelessness Awareness Week and Simon Community Northern Ireland is hosting this conference in conjunction with the University of Ulster and Northern Ireland Housing Executive, on Friday 2 December in the Calgach Centre, Derry at 9.30am.

The conference will examine the impact of any proposed Bill of Rights on existing housing and homelessness issues by considering the local, national and international aspects of social and economic rights.

To book your attendance, please contact Diane Connor on 028 9023 2882.

7. Citizenship for a Shared Future

The Spirit of Enniskillen Trust (SOE) has launched its Dealing with Difference Programme for 2006 and is now seeking applications from young people of all backgrounds aged between 16 and 19 and living in Northern Ireland. SOE particularly wishes to attract individuals with the potential to pass on the learning gained from their participation on this leadership and diversity programme.

All sixty successful applicants will travel to overseas projects in the USA, Canada, Sweden and Cyprus, where they will work with other young people from diverse backgrounds, who are also dealing with their differences. They will explore how to cope with conflict, and will be trained in the personal skills and awareness needed to communicate across cultural boundaries. Citizenship for a Shared Future is accredited at Open College Network level three.

Application forms and more information are available from www.soetrust.co.uk or the SOE offices on 028 9038 1500.

The final closing date for applications is 21 December 2005. Applications from those coming from rnarginalised and disadvantaged backgrounds will be particularly welcomed.

8. Bill of Rights residential

As part of Human Rights Week and in preparation for the next phase of consultation on a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland, the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (NIHRC) is holding a two-day residential conference on Wednesday 7 and Thursday 8 December 2005 in the City Hotel, Armagh City, on the topic "Towards a Bill of Rights".

The conference aims to bring together politicians, human rights experts, statutory and non-governmental organisations to discuss how best to work together to create a strong, effective Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland. The conference will:

• Provide the first annual NIHRC forum bringing together groups and individuals with an interest in human rights.
• Discuss with participants the possible process and content of a Bill of Rights.
• Give the Commission and its new Chief Commissioner, Professor Monica McWilliams, the opportunity to listen to participants' views and concerns in order to help plan its Bill of Rights work.

The Human Rights Commission is tasked with advising the Secretary of State on what rights might be included in a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland. This is a great opportunity to have your say. Visit www.nihrc.org for more information.

To book a place, please contact the administrator at NIHRC on 028 9024 3987, bernadette.rooney@nihrc.org.

9. Stopping violence against women

As part of Amnesty International's worldwide campaign, Stop Violence Against Women, Professor Monica McWilliams, Chief Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, will deliver a lecture entitled Stopping Violence Against Women: Locally and Globally at 5.30pm on 5 December in Room G06, Peter Froggatt Centre, QUB.

As Professor of Women's Studies and Social Policy at the University of Ulster, Monica introduced the first accredited access courses for women returning to education and she has published ground-breaking research in this field which highlighted, for example, the fact that 50% of deaths due to domestic violence take place after the victim has left the relationship.

Please contact Patricia Campbell if you would like to attend.

10. Why don't people take up energy efficiency schemes?

NEA is conducting research into why people are reluctant to avail of energy efficiency measures. For anyone working in the energy efficiency and fuel poverty world, it can be frustrating when households refuse or ignore the free energy efficiency measures available to them. Just as baffling is when they withdraw or refuse some of the measures, after previously having signed up for them.

NEA wants to find out more about refusal and drop-out, and what can be done to reduce their frequency. It would like to hear about your experiences, especially those with clients who've refused or changed their minds about energy efficiency works and any actions you've tried or considered to deal with these problems.

Some questions being asked are:

What is your involvement (eg installer, social housing stock improvement, local scheme manager)?

Have you information about the size of the problem (eg '65% of those offered actually sign up, and of these, 20% drop out altogether, 10% refuse some of the measures')? Does this incur costs?

Are there any patterns?

What do you find are the barriers to take up and to keeping people on board?

What solutions has your organisation tried (or considered)? What success did it have?

If you feel you can help please contact the NEA Research Team on 0191 261 5677 or helen.stockton@nea.org.uk.

11. DANDA here to help

The Developmental Adult Neuro-Diversity Association (DANDA) invites you to the next meeting of its support group for sufferers of dyspraxia, dyslexia, dyscalculia, AD(H)D, Asperger's syndrome or Tourette's syndrome.

The group hopes to make the relevant Trust staff and other related agencies aware of its activities to encourage their support and referrals.

The meeting takes place in Dungannon Park on 12 December 2005, from 8.00pm to 9.00pm. Contact Orla Hughes on 0775 348 9863 if you would like to attend.

12. Broadcast training scheme for Irish speakers

The Irish Language Broadcast Fund seeks applications from Irish speakers for a training scheme in conjunction with local TV services (NvTv in Belfast and Channel 9 in Derry). During the year long scheme, which will start in January 2006, trainees will produce TV programmes in Irish which will be broadcast on Channel 9 and NvTv.

Trainees will be paid the statutory minimum wage during the scheme and they must be fluent in Irish.

For an application pack, contact Caoimhe Ní Laighin on 028 9023 2444, caoimhe@niftc.co.uk or visit www.niftc.co.uk.

The deadline for applications is Friday 2 December 2005.

13. Party funds available

Help the Aged welcomes in the Christmas season by announcing a small grants scheme to help local older people's groups host festive parties for their members.

There will be £100 per group available from a limited pot of funds on a first come first served basis - so be quick!

To find out more about the grant scheme please call Bronagh Cappa at Help the Aged on 028 9023 0666 or Bronagh.Cappa@helptheaged.org.uk.

14. Social Europe dies a death

The Gibson Institute for Land, Food and Environment Seminar Series presents The Strange Death of Social Europe: the EU, Neoliberalism and Globalisation, a seminar by Dr Andrew Storey of the School of Politics and International Relations, University College Dublin.

The seminar takes place on Tuesday 13 December 2005 at 4.00pm in The Seminar Room, 3 Lennoxvale,

Malone Road, Belfast.

Please contact Caitríona Doherty for more information, or if you would like to attend, on 028 9097 5449.

15. Wise up to science

Sciencewise invites expressions of interest from consortia to deliver a substantial programme of public engagement beginning in the spring of 2006. The work will involve a range of activities to bring together citizens, scientists and stakeholders to explore the wider implications of emerging areas of science and technology.

Details of the work and the process for submitting an expression of interest will be presented at an information event on 14 December 2005 at the DTI Conference Centre, London. The event will also provide you with the opportunity to identify potential consortium partners.

For more details and to register for the event visit www.sciencewise.org.uk/default.cfm or contact the Sciencewise Team on 0870 2402943 or info@sciencewise.org.uk.

16. Volunteers wanted for literary conference

Creative Writers Network is hosting a literary conference at the Ormeau Baths Gallery next weekend (2 and 3 December) and is looking for some volunteers to help out. Volunteers would help with the exhibition and assist a number of important Northern Irish writers. This would be ideal for someone interested in literature or a literary career.

If you would like to offer up some time to help, please contact Fionnuala Kennedy at the Creative Writers Network, Peter@Creativewritersnetwork.org.

17. Pick of the Websites

Community NI

Nominate 'One in a Million'. There's still time to nominate the person or moment that you feel was 'One in a Million' in 2005. The feature will go live in December on Communityni.org to highlight the good news stories of the past year in the non profit sector. The series is part of celebrations to mark one million page views each month on NICVA's websites.

Call for stories. As you get ready to hoist your Christmas tree on the 1 December, don't forget to send news of your Christmas projects, fundraisers and activities to the Community NI website.

Research: State of the Sector. Did you know that the non profit sector is a major employer in NI? It consists of 4,500 organisations and has a workforce of 29,000 people. Find out more facts from the special online reports on Community NI, or order State of the Sector IV from Lynn Anderson to get the full picture.

Views: New liquor licensing laws in NI. The government would like to hear your views on new steps to combat under age drinking.

Publications: It's a tough time for everyone. A partnership between Bardnardo's and the Prison Service of NI has produced a comic book for the children of prisoners to help them cope with having a loved one behind bars.

NICVA

New deal - how good is it in your area? New Deal is becoming less successful year by year. Paul McGill at NICVA asks you to send your thoughts on how you feel the scheme is doing in your area.

Happy 30th birthday to SCOPE. Northern Ireland's longest running social affairs magazine looks at what has changed or stayed in the last 30 years.

19. Make Your Move - new jobs this week on communityni.org

This section contains a random selection of the latest jobs from the Community NI website.

Head of Concern Worldwide
Closing Date: 2 December 2005

Business Development Manager for the HIV Support Centre
Closing date: 9 December 2005

Temporary Development Officer (PT) at the Horizon Project
Closing date: 17 December 2005

Centre Manager at Greenway Women's Group
Closing date: 31 December 2005

20. Community NI Diary
NICVA's successful Community Diary now has a new home on the Community NI web portal.

Submit details of your upcoming events in Community NI's Events Calendar at www.communityni.org/index.cfm/section/events.

Simply follow the Submit an Event link to the right of the page, enter the details, and we'll do the rest.

21. Membership

NICVA membership is open to all voluntary and community organisations in Northern Ireland.

To find out more contact Frances McAtamney or 028 9087 7777.

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