Email Briefing 13 September 2004

• Suspend Big Lottery Fund consultation
• Don’t miss senior management development opportunity
• Response to SEUPB consultation on Extending Peace II published
• Get a better anti-poverty strategy
• Charities thank businesses at Link Award nomination ceremonies
• Community groups to benefit from Neighbourhood Renewal Phase II funding
• Give As You Earn calls all charities
• Equality Commission fair employment conference
• Entrepreneurial solutions for voluntary and community sector organisation
• Youth Voice Roadshow
• Walk This Way for Speechmatters
• Highlights from NICVA’s website
• Membership
• Subscribe to the email briefing
• Feedback

1. Suspend Big Lottery Fund consultation

NICVA is calling for the suspension of the consultation on the Big Lottery Fund (BLF). This call follows a recent roundtable discussion with the Big Lottery Fund. That event endorsed the opinion that Tessa Jowell's advance announcement of three themes for the BLF before the consultation has been completed makes a mockery of the consultation process, and effectively makes this consultation redundant.

An open letter has been sent to Angela Smith MP, Minister for Culture, Arts and Leisure, with nine issues for her to address.

Walter Rader of BLF has weighed into the debate by writing to express ‘disappointment’ at NICVA’s suspension call. NICVA Chief Executive, Seamus McAleavey, has in turn written back to express his disappointment at having to make the call in the first place.

NICVA suggests that organisations respond to the consultation calling for its suspension until the consultation on the three broad themes, outcomes and priorities has been completed.

For more information contact Neil Irwin on 028 9087 7777, Neil Irwin .

2. Don’t miss senior management development opportunity

Thursday is the closing date for applications to the Advanced Diploma in Management Practice, part of NICVA’s Management Development Programme. The Advanced Diploma is delivered by the University of Ulster and runs from 7 October 2004 to 29 April 2005.

The six modules of the Diploma cover areas such as managing personal effectiveness, organisational improvement and managing strategy.

Commenting on the programme, Eleanor McGarrity of the Environmental Information Centre who participated last year said:

‘The programme has greatly improved my understanding of business methodologies and practices and how they can be applied to the voluntary sector. It has also improved the scope for networking and sharing experiences.’

Download an application form or contact Roisin Kelly on 028 9087 7777, Roisin Kelly . All applications must be received by 16 September 2004 so there’s no time to lose. Interviews will be held on 22 and 23 September 2004.

3. Response to SEUPB Consultation on Extending Peace II published

The consultation on the extension of Peace II was launched by SEUPB on 30 July 2004 and ran until 10 September 2004. NICVA has submitted a detailed response in line with the views of its members.

The response addresses the three basic questions asked in the consultation, namely:

What type of activities should the programme fund?
Who should benefit from the programme?
How should the programme be implemented?

4. Get a better anti-poverty strategy

OFMDFM has extended its consultation on New TSN – the way forward until Friday 15 October.

This means voluntary and community organisations now have time to meet and discuss their attitude to the government proposals and to NICVA’s alternative. This extension could particularly benefit networks, which could get together with and encourage their member organisations to submit an individual response.

More than 150 organisations throughout the sector have already backed NICVA’s belief that New TSN does not provide an adequate basis for a strategy that will reduce inequality and improve the position of adults and children who live in poverty.

A poster has been sent to NICVA members. Please display it and make sure your organisation discusses the important issues at stake. If you agree, sign up to the document and return it to us before 1 October 2004.

The government must produce an effective anti-poverty strategy and this is our final opportunity to make a difference.

For more information contact Zoe Anderson or Paul McGill on 028 9087 7777, Zoe Anderson or paul.mcgill

5. Charities thank businesses at Link Award nomination ceremonies

The build up to the Link Awards final is gathering pace, with two nominations ceremonies hosted by Paul Clark of Ulster Television taking place on 8 and 9 September 2004. A total of 107 nominations were made and each business received a framed Link certificate and will be a contender for the overall Link Award, winners of which will be announced at a Gala dinner in the Ramada Hotel, Belfast, on 23 September 2004.

This is the eighteenth year of the Awards which were designed so that charities could say a public thank you to business supporters who donated time, money and expertise to their cause.

6. Community groups to benefit from Neighbourhood Renewal Phase II funding

The Department for Social Development is inviting groups to suggest ideas on how to progress neighbourhood renewal in the 32 areas designated as being in the greatest need of support and community regeneration. Funding became available from 1 September 2004 and can be accessed under a number of categories which, depending on uptake, will allow community organisations serving these Neighbourhood Renewal Areas to initiate community regeneration projects.

The list of designated areas identified as suffering from the most severe multiple deprivation have been chosen for priority treatment under the People and Place strategy and includes 13 in Belfast, four in Londonderry and 15 in other towns and cities across Northern Ireland.

Information on how to access funding is available from the Belfast Regeneration Office, Regional Development Office and the North West Development Office. The list of neighbourhood renewal areas, funding application form and more information are available to download from www.dsdni.gov.uk/urb-reg/Neighbourhood.asp .

7. Give As You Earn calls all Charities

NICVA is offering the chance to attend a one-day practical skills workshop on Give As You Earn, in conjunction with Charities Aid Foundation (CAF).

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

Allocation of places will be on a ‘first come, first served’ basis. The cost is £20 for NICVA members and £25 for non-members.

Contact Elizabeth Hamill on 028 9087 7777, 028 9087 7799 or Elizabeth Hamill .

8. Equality Commission fair employment conference

The conference takes its theme from the book Northern Ireland: a generation on and is aimed at an international audience of policy-makers, academics, politicians, employers and service providers from the private and public sectors, NGOs and trade unions.

It takes place on 9 November 2004 at the Hilton Hotel, Belfast and will examine the experience of thirty years of fair employment legislation, the current situation and the implications for future policy. Key speakers will include the co-editor of the book, Bob Osborne of the University of Ulster, a former senior advisor to the Cabinet Office, Shamit Saggar of Sussex University, and the book contributor, Chris McCrudden of Oxford University. A panel of local politicians will also give their views on future policy agendas.

Email Liz Law at LLaw@equalityni.orgfor more information.

9. Entrepreneurial solutions for voluntary and community sector organisations

New Ideas for the Social Economy, a cross-border social enterprise support programme, and Cresco Trust are hosting a series of events which should be of particular interest in the light of the launch by Economy Minister, Barry Gardiner of the government’s three-year strategic plan for the social economy, which aims to raise the profile of the social economy sector, increase its business strengths and provide a more supportive environment in which it can prosper.

A one day conference takes place at Lusty Beg Conference Centre, Kesh on 27 September 2004 which should interest those involved in the development of social enterprise, social economy practitioners and support agencies, people in the public and private sectors who work with the social economy, academics, and researchers. The keynote speaker is Jerr Boschee, Founder and Executive Director of The Institute for Social Entrepreneurs.

A two day master class for directors, trustees and senior managers of voluntary and community sector organisations that are either creating a social enterprise for the first time, or are expanding an existing social enterprise takes place at the Verbal Arts Centre, Londonderry, on 28 and 29 September 2004. This will involve group-working sessions in which participants can gain practical skills and put them into practice.

For more information visit www.nise.org.uk/events.php or phone Carol Follis on 028 6863 2158 or Joanne Smith on 028 7134 3006.

10. Youth Voice Roadshow

UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund, will be holding a Youth Voice roadshow for young people aged 12-18 on 9 October 2004 in Belfast City Hall from 10.30am to 5.00pm. UNICEF's Youth Voice project seeks to interest, inspire and activate young people on global children's rights issues.

The roadshows will combine information about UNICEF and international issues with practical tips on how to campaign, fundraise and work with the media. There will also be art and music sessions with an international theme and lunch will be provided. There is no charge for the event. Groups can book up to 10 places (including youth workers/adult support workers), but as places are being snapped up pretty swiftly it would be advisable to book as soon as possible.

For more information or to book a place, contact Tope Adeyemi on 020 7312 7640, youthvoice@unicef.org.uk or visit the website www.therightssite.org.uk/roadshow .

11. Walk This Way for Speechmatters

Join the six mile charity walk at Castleward on 25 September 2004 in aid of Speechmatters, an organisation supporting people living with aphasia, their carers and families. Entry costs £5.00 per person (minimum donation) and the walk leaves from the Car Park at Audley’s Castle at 2.00pm.

For further information contact :Janice at Speechmatters on 028 9040 1389 or info@speechmatters.org .

12. Highlights from NICVA’s website

Is the Lottery consultation a dog's dinner? asks the September issue of SCOPE. Read the editorial and cover story on the website:

New TSN consultation. OFMDFM hasextended thedeadline for this consultation, givingthe voluntary and community sectorextra time to sign up to NICVA'slobbying paperwhichcampaigns for a better anti-poverty strategy for Northern Ireland. Download the a campaign poster and lobbyingpaper.

Deer Sri/Madum. Have you received a letter from NICVAwith a mistake in theaddress or your name spelt wrong? If so, please let us know so we can update our database with the correct information.

Volunteers make a differencethrough Business in theCommunity's'Cares Programme'.

Jobs . Advertise your job vacancy for free on our website.

…and don’t forget the Community Diary…

Have an event to promote?Enter your upcoming events in NICVA's Online Diary. 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 or visit the website http://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.

Compiled by John McCormick, Information Officer