Email Briefing 24 May 04

• New TSN consultation
• NICVA Management Development Programme – MSc Voluntary Sector Management
• Concordia Outward and Forward Looking Region project
• eEurope4all – Best Practice Conference
• ‘Come on Board’ for Film Magic!
• Joint Committee on Draft Charities Bill Established
• Call for a A Big Lottery Foundation
• Citizenship in Northern Ireland: Implications for Citizenship Education
• Education and Learning from a Rural Perspective Workshop
• Russell Commission on a National Youth Volunteering Strategy
• GRUNDTVIG - A Funding Opportunity for Voluntary and Community Sector Groups.
• On NICVA’s website today

1. New TSN consultation

NICVA will be holding three consultation events to discuss the recently released document ‘New TSN — the way forward’. There will be two general consultation events: Monday 14 June 2.00pm in NICVA offices, 61 Duncairn Gardens, Belfastand Thursday 17 June 10.00am in Omagh Community House, Drumragh Avenue, Omagh (held jointly with FOCUS). There will also be one event specifically for networks on Wednesday 16 June 10.00am in the Island Centre, Lisburn.

To register please contact Teresa Flanagan on 028 9087 7777 or email teresa.flanagan@nicva.org . NICVA has produced a briefing paper on the consultation document which is available at www.nicva.org or from Teresa Flanagan as above. Copies of the document ‘New TSN — the way forward’ are available at http://www.newtsnni.gov.uk/ or on 028 9052 2236.

2. NICVA Management Development Programme – MSc Voluntary Sector Management

NICVA is pleased to announce the addition of the Master’s level to the Management Development Programme.

The MSc Voluntary Sector Management from Cass Business School, City University in London, has been chosen as the programme being offered at this level. Cass is the only Business School in Europe that offers a range of degrees specifically for the voluntary and community sector and is currently ranked third in the UK for part time Masters courses, as well as being one of the top ten business schools in the UK.

This Masters programme has been designed for managers who want to gain a sound understanding of the management of people and finances in a needs-led framework. Theory and practice are interwoven around subjects such as strategy, marketing, fundraising, diversity, finance and leadership.

The course will start on 24 September 2004. It is part time and takes 24 months to complete. The learning is achieved in a variety of ways including lectures, residentials, group work, shadowing, action learning sets, and a management project.

A brochure with further details will be available in June. In the meantime please contact Sandra Bailie at NICVA to express your interest in the MSc Voluntary Sector Management programme.

Tel 028 9087 7777 or email: sandra.bailie@nicva.org .

3. Concordia Outward and Forward Looking Region project

As part of its Outward and Forward Looking Region project, Concordia, the social partners group (CBI, ICTU, NICVA and the Ulster Farmers Union), will fund some transnational activities from participants from the four sectors it represents. Some of these activities will be carried out in conjunction with the other partners and some on a sector or individual basis. Concordia will fund short study visits to other regions by individuals, some organised study tours by groups, and longer six month placements with appropriate organisations for individuals within the Northern Ireland vluntary and community sector.

At this stage NICVA is interested in generating ideas from the sector as to the type of study visits and activities you would like to engage in. This will help inform the development of Concordia’s programme of events. Opportunities for individuals in the sector will be advertised by NICVA as with the previous opportunity to attend the CIVICUS World Assembly.

If you have an idea for a study visit or placement, please put it down on paper (briefly) and email it to seamus.mcaleavey@nicva.orgor frances.mccandless@nicva.orgor contact Catherine Bloomfield at Concordia, c/o Countryside Services Ltd, 97 Moy Road, Dungannon, Co Tyrone BT71 7DX, tel: 028 8778 9770, email: catherine.bloomfield@countrysideservices.com.

4. eEurope4all – Best Practice Conference

City Hotel, Londonderry 15 to 16 June 2004. Northern Ireland is set to become Europe’s leading broadband region. By the end of 2005 every citizen and organisation will have access to broadband. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment is supporting this event which is vital to ensuring that every individual and organisation is ready to grasp the opportunities presented by the broadband initiative.

The conference is targeted particularly at those involved in government, education, health, business and the voluntary and community sector. It will demonstrate cutting edge technology from across the world within these categories and provide you with an opportunity to network with similar organisations. For further information and registration/cost details visit: http://www.e-europe4all.net/.

5. 'Come on Board' for Film Magic!

Cinemagic is looking for 10 young people aged 10-18 to help select the films for this year’s Cinemagic World Screen Festival for Young People in association with Laganside. The festival runs from 25 November to 9 December 2004. These young people will steer Cinemagic’s choice of films for the festival, as well as gaining invaluable experience working on an ongoing basis with festival organisers and industry professionals.

If you are aged 10-18, this is your chance to advance your understanding of moving image and watch films from around the world. You will help to decide the content of the largest film festival for young people in the UK and Ireland.

Be a part of the excitement and fun at Cinemagic! You will get to see films chosen by you watched by young people from across Northern Ireland and get to meet directors, actors, producers, animators and a host of film and television professionals during this high profile, annual event.

If you are aged 10-18 with a keen interest in film and the enthusiasm to commit to Cinemagic’s young consultants, please apply for your place by telling Cinemagic why you would like to be a young consultant, the name of your favourite film and what you like about the film. Send this information along with your name, address, age, telephone number and email address (if applicable) to Cinemagic, 49 Botanic Avenue, Belfast BT71 JL or email michaelstaley@cinemagic.org.uk. All applications must be received by Monday 7 June 2004.

6. Joint Committee on Draft Charities Bill Established

Alan Milburn MP has been chosen as chairman of the new Joint Committee on the draft Charities Bill. The former Health Secretary was elected at the Joint Committee’s first meeting on Wednesday 12 May 2004.

The Joint Committee comprises six MPs and six peers. It will take oral and written evidence on the draft Charities Bill which is expected to be published at the end of May – and make its recommendations in a report by 30 September 2004.

The Committee expects to start taking oral evidence in early June. The programme of such evidence sessions will be announced soon. It will be available, together with the written and oral evidence received on the website www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_committees/jcdchb.cfm.

7. Call for a A Big Lottery Foundation

A Big Lottery Foundation would curb meddling ministers, says charity leader of ACEVO. The Big Lottery Fund must protect its independence, Stephen Bubb, Head of the Association of Chief Executives Voluntary Organisations, warned at a debate to mark the ten year anniversary of the lottery on 19 May 2004.

He stated, “The National Lottery has been a force for immense positive change over the past ten years, and is an institution we should support and protect. I look forward to working with Stephen Dunmore, Head of the Big Lottery Fund, to determine priorities over the coming years.

“But the lottery must not betray its aims. It shouldn’t focus on flashy projects or government priorities at the expense of controversial causes and support for community groups. The Olympic Fund sets a dangerous precedent. There is a danger that setting the new fund up as a quango will encourage ministers to meddle further.

“We need a step change in the way the lottery funds the third sector. Short term grants that fail to cover costs and involve excessive monitoring do not promote successful projects. The merger should be seized as an opportunity to turn the lottery into a ‘best practice’ funder.

“That is why I am calling for the Big Lottery Fund to become the Big Lottery Foundation. It should be firmly at arm’s length from government. It must fund projects that make a big difference to people, regardless of the politics involved.”

ACEVO is the professional body representing over 1,700 third sector chief executives in England and Wales.

8. Citizenship in Northern Ireland: Implications for Citizenship Education

UNESCO Centre, University of Ulster, is holding a Let's Talk style public debate on 'Citizenship in Northern Ireland: Implications for Citizenship Education.' Citizenship education is currently being introduced into schools in Northern Ireland and this event will be of interest to parents, educators, NGOs and those with an interest in local, national and international politics.

The event will be chaired by BBC Northern Ireland's Mark Carruthers and we hope to have some lively and informative debate on the issue. As part of the audience they will be pleased to welcome a group of researchers from The Research Group on Ethnicity and Adaptation to Pluralism in Education (GREAPE), University of Montreal as well as local researchers of international standing.

In order to promote a broad ranging discussion the UNESCO Centre would welcome attendance from all walks of life. If you have strong views on issues such as multi-cultural education, citizenship, the relationship between politics and education, current educational issues, the role of education in peace building, parental choice in education and other related topics, you will have the opportunity to question the panel on this. The panel will provide the Centre with a range of different perspectives, and panel members will provide their personal perspective on what citizenship in Northern Ireland means and what form of citizenship should be taught in schools.

The debate will take place at Flowerfield Arts Centre, Coleraine Road, Portstewart on Tuesday 25 May 2004 from 7.00pm to 9.00pm. On the panel will be:

Arlene Foster, DUP
Malachi O'Doherty, Editor, Fortnight
Paul Smyth, Public Achievement
Charo Lanau Madden, Latinoamercia Unida.

If you would like to attend this event, please contact the UNESCO Centre on 028 7032 4699 or by email to unesco@ulster.ac.uk to reserve your place in the audience. A limited number of places may be available on the night to those who have not reserved in advance.

9. Education and Learning from a Rural Perspective Workshop

At the request of rural community groups in the Lisburn area, 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.

At our last workshop the theme chosen by community groups in attendance to discuss at this workshop was Education and Learning from a rural perspective. This workshop is an opportunity for communities and community groups in rural Lisburn to collectively voice their educational and training needs and look at ways of addressing barriers to learning. Training providers will also be invited to this workshop to provide information on current training provision and explore future training provision and training venues within rural areas of Lisburn.

The date for this monthly workshop will be Tuesday 25 May 2004 at 7.30pm in Aghalee Village Hall.

These monthly workshops are an opportunity for you and rural communities living in the Lisburn area to discuss issues and concerns facing rural communities, and to promote networking among community groups, share experiences and ideas and support one another. These workshops will also be used to provide advice and information for community groups.

For further information about this workshop or about the project, please contact Jude or Amanda on 028 3882 0006, 079 6639 5114 or by email to tadarlop@utvinternet.com.

10. Russell Commission on a National Youth Volunteering Strategy

On 17 March 2004 the Government announced its intention to establish a Commission headed by Ian Russell of Scottish Power. This Commission has been asked to report back to the Government by the end of the year on the way forward for a National Youth Volunteering Strategy, building on existing expertise and experience.

An Information Note is available in Adobe Acrobat format which provides a very brief outline of the importance of youth volunteering and the Russell Commission.

Website: www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/spending_review/spend_ccr/spend_ccr_voluntary/spend_crr_russell.cfm

11. GRUNDTVIG - A Funding Opportunity for Voluntary and Community Sector Groups

GRUNDTVIG is the Lifelong Learning action of the SOCRATES 2 European Union Programme. Named after the founder of the Nordic tradition of lifelong learning, Grundtvig promotes the European dimension in adult education and lifelong learning and targets both the formal and non-formal sector of adult education. Funding is available for a range of activities.

To find out more you are welcome to attend the information briefings in your area. Contact Ted Hartley to reserve a place. Two places per organisation are perfectly acceptable. The emphasis will be on the Learning Partnerships theme. The briefing is free and refreshments will be available. All the briefings will start at 10.30am and finish by 12.00 midday.

Monday 21 June 2004 at NICVA, 61 Duncairn Gardens, Belfast BT15 2GB
Tuesday 22 June 2004 at the Canal Court Hotel, 29 Merchants’ Quay, Newry BT35 8HF

Register by email thartley@wea.org.uk if possible or telephone 017 0983 7001, fax 017 0937 2121. WEA, 20 Corporation Street, Rotherham, South Yorkshire S60 1NG.

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