Email Briefing 1 Mar 04

Contents:

1. Survey of NICVA’s website
2. Enrol now for NICVA's Management Development Programme
3. BDS Consultancy
4. Competition Time at Laganside
5. Hate Crime in Northern Ireland: request for evidence
6. The All Island Trade and Business Awards
7. Improved banking – Alliance and Leicester
8. Free computer equipment
9. Youth and Vulnerable People Workshop
10. NCVA Web Headlines

1. Survey of NICVA’s website

One day remains for those still intending to complete NICVA’s website survey. Return the form before Tuesday 2 March 2004 and be in with a chance of winning one of three prizes:

Avec Solutions - one day’s free IT consultancy
Grant Tracker - one year's free subscription
SCOPE social policy magazine - one year’s free subscription

Three winners will be picked from a hat in March.

Access the survey using the quick link on the left hand side of the homepage at www.nicva.org . The short survey can be completed online or print out the attachment in the article and fax or post it back to NICVA.

Thank you also to all those who have already returned a survey – your comments will help us make plans for the future of the website.

2. Enrol now for NICVA's Management Development Programme

The next first line management course starts on 23 April 2004 with a residential and continues for nine consecutive Fridays until 25 June 2004. The programme is held in NICVA offices from 10.00am to 4.15pm.

This ten week programme is accredited by The Open College Network at level three and students are required to compile a portfolio of learning.

The programme is aimed at:

• new and relatively new managers to the voluntary and community sector
• first line/project mangers and supervisors
• staff recently promoted to a managerial position in their organisation
• staff who wish to gain skills in management for future career progression.

As NICVA will be supporting 75% of the costs, this course will cost £175 per participant rather than the total cost of £700. Completed applications should be returned before Friday 26 March 2004.

For further information contact Roisin Kelly on 028 9087 7777 or Roisin Kelly@nicva.org .

3. BDS Consultancy Training

BDS Consultancy team will be providing consultancy training for the voluntary sector. This includes a beginner’s guide to Prince 2 (project management), Balanced Scorecard (strategic management) and Economic Appraisal and Policy Development. The events will be scheduled as early as possible, hopefully in May. More information will be distributed when details are finalised.

To register interest, or for further information, please contact Zoë Anderson in NICVA on 028 9087 7777 or Zoe Anderson@nivca.org .

4. Competition Time at Laganside

Win a TV/DVD Combi for your voluntary or community group and leave your mark on Belfast!

Laganside is keen to engage voluntary and community groups in the Laganside local community (includes wards from Duncairn, New Lodge, Ballynafeigh, Botanic, Rosetta, Shaftesbury, Stranmillis, Ballymacarrett, Island, Ravenhill, The Mount, Woodstock, Falls and Shankill) to design an art piece for Belfast’s Waterfront Hall.

The lucky winning group will receive a replica of the art piece, TV/DVD Combi and of course the opportunity to make their mark on Belfast’s Waterfront Hall.

If you would like to enter this competition, make a painting or drawing of something to do with the regeneration of the Laganside area. Your paintings or drawings should be in full colour and approximately 40cm width × 20cm height in size.

Entries are to be submitted to Laganside by 15 March 2004. Installation of the winning design will take place in July 2004, where it will stay in the Waterfront Hall for a period of three years.

If you would like more details, please contact Sinead McCormick, Laganside Corporation, on 028 9032 8507, textphone (minicom): 028 9024 8609 or sinead@laganside.com .

5. Hate Crime in Northern Ireland: request for evidence

The Northern Ireland Affairs Committee is requesting evidence for a new inquiry into hate crime. The Committee wishes to do the following:

• To explore the reasons for the reported increase in crimes and incidents motivated by hatred within and between the communities in Northern Ireland.
• To examine the effectiveness of measures taken by government and relevant agencies to tackle prejudice, and to support the victims of such prejudice.
• To assess the effectiveness of the existing law and proposed changes to that law.

Submissions should not exceed six sides of A4 in length. Submissions sent by email should be followed by a single hard copy, for verification purposes. It is expected that hearings will take place shortly after Easter. The Committee seeks views from any individual or group which has an interest in this issue. Submissions should be sent by 25 March 2004 to the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee, Committee Office, 7 Millbank, London SW1P 3JA or northircom@parliament.uk .

6. The All Island Trade and Business Awards

InterTrade Ireland, in conjunction with IBEC-CBI Joint Business Council, hosts this event with the aim of recognising companies which benefit from trade opportunities on the island of Ireland, north and south, and also to create a greater awareness of cross border trade and business. These prestigious awards also encourage the future growth of trade on an all island basis.

Categories 2004:
Small Business in Northern Ireland
Small Business in Ireland
Large Business, North and South
Best All Island Strategic Partnership
Best Tradeable Services
Best Newcomer
Best Social Economy Business.

The closing date for applications is 19 March 2004. The Awards ceremony will be held on 3 June 2004 at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast. For more information, contact InterTrade Ireland on 028 3083 3001, michelle@allislandawards.com or web: www.allislandawards.com .

7. Improved banking – Alliance and Leicester

Alliance and Leicester Commercial Bank have announced improvements to their Community Accounts package (was Girobank's Clubs and Societies). The Current Account provides free banking, and access via internet, phone and two nominated Post Offices. There are also deposit accounts available. An information pack (sent by post) is available. For more information, contact your local Alliance and Leicester branch or web: www.alliance-leicestercommercialbank.co.uk

8. Free computer equipment

The Institute for Conflict Research has equipment to give away to a community group. The equipment consists of:

• two PCs (non-Pentium), running Windows 95. Both have a 17" monitor, keyboard, mouse and speakers.
• Mac laptop and printer.
• Brother electronic typewriter.

All items are working, and can be collected from their offices in North Belfast. For more information, contact Sylvia on 028 9074 2682.

9. Youth and Vulnerable People Workshop

At the request of rural community groups in Lisburn, TADA Rural Network’s Rural Lisburn Outreach Project has been asked to hold monthly workshops based on the themes identified from the launch of the project and a follow-up information session.

The theme selected by the groups to discuss at the next monthly workshop is Youth and Vulnerable People. The date for this monthly workshop has been scheduled for Wednesday 3 March 2004 at 7.30pm in St John’s Parish Centre, Moira.

These workshops are an opportunity for rural communities living in Lisburn, and other interested parties to present their views about issues relating to Youth and Vulnerable People and suggest how their concerns in rural areas can be addressed. There will be guest speakers on these issues and support available for rural communities will be highlighted.

For further information about this workshop or about the project, please contact Jude or Amanda on 028 3882 0006, mobile: 0796 639 5114 or tadarlop@utvinternet.com .

10. NICVA Web Headlines

A new section about NICVA's partnership with CIVICUS, the global alliance strengthening civil society

Public workshops on Neighbourhood Renewal in Regional Towns and Cities

NICVA's response to the Review of Public Administration is now available to read

The Website Survey. Submit your comments and enter the prize draw. Closing date extended to Tuesday 2 March

NICVAnews. Issue 54

Jobs. Three pages of jobs, including Development Officer for Mediation NI and Research Director at INCORE

Upcoming this week:

Stories about fairtrade in Northern Ireland in celebration of Fairtrade Fortnight 1 - 14 March 2004

Members section. A new guide to IT services for the sector.

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