eNews 6 February 2006

NICVA

Free

NICVA eNews: 6 February 2006
Compiled by John McCormick, Information Officer

Content
(1) All you wanted to know about ... human resources and finance
(2) Can't 'SCOPE' with the wait?
(3) Tell us what you think about NICVA and win a laptop
(4) Dust off your publications
(5) Training from Council for the Homeless
(6) Boards made easy
(7) Stop elder abuse
(8) Where would you get a tutor for..?
(9) Last chance for access grants
(10) Indebted to OFMDFM research
(11) Sustainable development and alternative land use
(12) Getting the most from external evaluation
(13) Interchange with the Lyric
Pick of the Websites
Make Your Move - new jobs this week on communityni.org
Community NI Diary
Membership
Subscribe to eNews
Feedback
Submit an Article

(1) All you wanted to know about ... human resources and finance

NICVA has organised its latest Members' Information Day from 10.00am to 4.00pm on Thursday 6 April 2006. In response to members' requests, the day will concentrate on human resources and finance issues such as recruitment and selection, managing staff, budgets, national insurance contributions and basic accounting procedures.

You can attend a whole day of human resource or finance workshops or one of each. Find out the latest information and join in question and answer sessions on the real issues that you deal with every day.

There is no charge to attend for NICVA members (2 places per organisation only). For non members the day costs £50.00. Extra delegate places for members are available at £30.00 per day.

To apply, please download and complete the booking form here and return to NICVA. Alternatively, you may contact Frances McAtamney on tel: 028 9087 7777, email: frances.mcatamney@nicva.org for more information.

(2) Can't 'SCOPE' with the wait?

Unfortunately the postal dispute in Belfast has hit the distribution of the February issue of SCOPE. Our enquiries suggest that organisations outside Belfast and some in East Belfast have received their copies a couple of days late, but the post has not got through at all to the rest of the city. We apologise for the delay.

There is a two-page feature on Help the Aged's elder abuse campaign and another two pages and editorial on Craigavon Borough Council's attempt to grab control of community development support. There is also the full range of news and features on social policy and issues affecting the sector.

As an exceptional step, we will be putting the articles will be available from tomorrow on the NICVA website, www.nicva.org. Anyone who desperately wants a hard copy is welcome to call into the NICVA office to collect one.

(3) Tell us what you think about NICVA and win a laptop

As the issues and challenges the voluntary and community sector faces continue to change, NICVA is very aware that the services provided to its members must reflect this ever changing environment. To enable us to do this, we need you to complete this year's members' survey so we can determine what we do well, what we do not so well and where we can develop new services in the future.

Members should have received the questionnaire by post last week, and it only takes about ten minutes to complete. If you haven't received the form you may download it at www.nicva.org/index.cfm/section/news/key/270106MemSurvey. There is also a very quick online survey to find out your attitudes and opinions to Positive Steps.

Any forms completed and returned by 15 February 2006 will be entered into a prize draw to win a laptop, a year's free subscription to Grant Tracker or a year's free NICVA membership.

If you have any questions relating to the questionnaire or about any aspect of the members' survey, please contact Gordon McCullough on tel: 028 9087 7777, email: gordon.mccullough@nicva.org.

(4) Dust off your publications

It's nearly time for the SCOPE Communication Awards. NICVA will launch the latest SCOPE Awards early in March. They reward good communication by the voluntary and community sector in a range of formats, from well produced annual reports to imaginative promotional concepts for billboards and from catchy leaflets to attractive and informative websites. There is a special section for publications by young people and we will be revisiting the idea of a section for press releases or media campaigns.

Entries will be accepted until the end of April and the awards ceremony will be held in June. We welcome ideas for improving the awards ceremony, so do send us your suggestions.

You can also think of what good publications you produced during 2005 and get ready to send them in. You don't have to be a big-budget organisation to win - the guiding principle is fitness for purpose and if your little home-produced newsletter hits the target, you could be a winner.

Look out for the formal advertisement in the March SCOPE, NICVA News and the websites.

(5) Training from Council for the Homeless

- People Management Skills - 7 March 2006

This workshop will provide delegates with the skills and knowledge to effectively manage people including: leadership, building a winning team, coaching skills, managing performance, involvement and empowerment.

- Working With Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Young People - 28 February 2006

This course will equip participants with information on how to help create safe environments for lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or transgender clients (LGBT). It will also highlight ways of challenging homophobia and bring you up to date with community and statutory services and equality legislation.

For more information on either of these courses contact Lesley Morrison on tel: 028 9024 6440, email: training@chni.org.uk.

(6) Boards made easy

The Belfast Institute is offering Get On Board, an accredited programme designed to break down many of the barriers to public appointments in Northern Ireland. The programme aims to make the public appointments process more accessible to everyone in Northern Ireland and is targeted at individuals who are interested in, or currently hold, public appointments.

If you would like to apply or register your interest, please contact Roisin Shaw on tel: 028 9026 5471, email: rshaw@belfastinstitute.ac.uk. The closing date for completed applications is 3.00pm on Wednesday 22 February 2006.

(7) Stop elder abuse

Half a million older people are believed to be abused at any one time in the UK - yet 39% of the public have never even heard of the term elder abuse. Help the Aged needs your support to increase awareness of the problem and to ensure that the Government takes action to help stop it. It has launched its Stop Elder Abuse Campaign to call for action and can pledge your support online at www.iwill.co.uk.

(8) Where would you get a tutor for..?

Community halls and centres across the country are buzzing with activity as groups organise educational and recreational activity. Women are at the forefront of lifelong learning in Fermanagh and, with 28 women's groups in the county, if you want to learn about computers, community development, cookery, crafts, dance, drama, sign language, or almost anything,you can be sure that there is a women's group in Fermanagh who can offer this opportunity, or can recommend a good tutor to you.

Fermanagh Women's Network is updating its database of tutors who work with women's groups and wants to hear from skilled people who could be included in this list. Please contact Kathleen for a registration form on tel: 028 6632 8998, email fwn@care4free.net or call or write to: 32 Paget Lane, Enniskillen, BT93 3FY.

(9) Last chance for access grants

ADAPT NI in association with the Arts Council of Northern Ireland has operated a highly successful project to promote universal accessibility and raise awareness of disability equality. Since the implementation of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA), all arts providers have a responsibility to carry out adjustments to improve accessibility to their facilities. With practical support from the ADAPT scheme, a number of arts organisations have responded positively to legislation by planning and implementing accessible adjustments. During the current financial year ADAPT has awarded grants totalling £89,376 to 15 successful applicants, enabling them to carry out a variety of physical modifications to improve accessibility. However, the end of the financial year is fast approaching, and with the current climate of uncertainty around funding, this is likely to be the last opportunity for arts organisations to secure an incentive grant for adaptations (with access guidance and awareness training offered to staff and volunteers).

The next cut off date for applications will be 17 February 2006.

Contact ADAPT NI for more information on tel: 028 9023 1211, email: project@adaptni.org.

(10) Indebted to OFMDFM research

The Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister (OFMDFM) has published research relating to over-indebtedness in Northern Ireland.

Key findings:

In Northern Ireland, seven out of ten individuals surveyed had access to at least one type of credit facility.

The average amount owed by individuals with access to any credit facility (excluding mortgages) was £1,673.

9% of individuals were classified as over-indebted as they spent more than 25% of their gross monthly income on unsecured credit repayments and 11% of individuals were classified as over-indebted as they spent more than 50% of their gross monthly income on secured and unsecured credit repayments.

The risk of over-indebtedness is highest for: persons with an annual income of less than £5,000; persons with dependants; persons aged 25-49; professional and managerial groups; people living in the Belfast area; and those with an annual income of between £25,000 and £35,000.

Just over two-thirds of those classified as over-indebted on both measures said that they never had problems with their debts.

Research can be downloaded from www.research.ofmdfmni.gov.uk/.

(11) Sustainable development and alternative land use

The Gibson Institute for Land, Food and Environment presents a seminar entitled Sustainable Development and Alternative Land Uses by John Gilliland, Sustainability Commissioner for Northern Ireland and Chairman of Rural Generation Ltd, on Wednesday 15 February 2006 at 3.30 pm. The seminar takes place in 3 Lennoxvale,
Malone Road, Belfast.

For more information or to register please contact tel: 028 9097 5787.

(12) Getting the most from external evaluation

This one-day course explores issues such as the purpose of external evaluation, what an external evaluation involves and how to go about commissioning an evaluation consultant so as to ensure best value. The course explores planning, managing and using evaluation including exercises on developing terms of reference, recruiting a suitable evaluator and guidelines/criteria for judging the quality of an evaluation report.

This one-day introductory course is targeted at staff, managers and volunteers within the voluntary and community sector. It also has relevance to funding agency staff seeking to provide evaluation support to their funded projects. The course is approved by the Institute of Leadership and Management and participants may avail of an ILM Development Award, provided at an extra cost of £40.

The course is available on the following dates - 9 February, 6 April and 31 May 2006 and costs £85 (voluntary and community), £150 (statutory/commercial). The venue is Jennymount Business Park, North Derby Street, Belfast.

Contact Joanne Templeton for details on tel: 028 9074 9105, email: joanne.templeton@ceni.org.

(13) Interchange with the Lyric

The Lyric is seeking the assistance of an individual with significant human resources and management experience. There will be an opportunity to take responsibility for developing and implementing best practice systems and procedures and to assist with a major strategic planning exercise which will map in detail the organisation's transition into a new venue.

This secondment will last from 20 March to 19 September 2006. Contact Jim Magee on tel: 028 9025 4240, email: jim.magee@dcalni.gov.uk or visit www.interchangeni.org.uk/opportunities/viewOpp.asp?OppId=93.

Pick of the Websites

Community NI

A little respect. Visit the purpose built pavilion at Belfast City Hall to see a new exhibition entitled RESPECT. The exhibit is the idea of community arts innovators, Wheelworks, and aims to challenge the negative stereotypes attributed to children and young people.
http://www.communityni.org/index.cfm/section/news/key/010206Respect

Help stop elder abuse. A Help the Aged survey shows that child abuse, cancer and poverty are the public's top concerns, with only 2% saying that combating the abuse of older people is a priority.
http://www.communityni.org/index.cfm/section/news/key/010206IWill

Join the blogosphere. A great way to publicise your organisation's activities is to keep an online diary or blog. You could use it to record a week in the life of a staff member, your preparations for an upcoming conference, or the ups and down of applying for funding. Find out more on the Community NI blogs page.
http://www.communityni.org/index.cfm/section/General/key/Blogs

NICVA

Dust off your publications - news of this year's SCOPE Awards
http://www.nicva.org/index.cfm/section/article/page/SCOPEawards

New outreach section. NICVA fundraising and governance staff will be touring NI with outreach training and events. Find out when they will be in your area.
http://www.nicva.org/index.cfm/section/article/page/NICVAOutreachService

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.

Office Administrator at Arts for All.
http://www.communityni.org/index.cfm/section/jobs/key/3ECCF5A6-1143-D8AC-6B0C35E3762F860C

Volunteer Support Worker at the Corrymeela Community.
http://www.communityni.org/index.cfm/section/jobs/key/1FD3B423-1143-D8AC-6B43325C5B86EBEA

Senior Project Worker (Substance Misuse) at NI Association for Mental Health
http://www.communityni.org/index.cfm/section/jobs/key/2FD45087-1143-D8AC-6BAD407D15FF2B6C

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.

Membership

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

To find out more contact Frances McAtamney on tel: 028 9087 7777, email: frances.mcatamney@nicva.org or visit the website www.nicva.org/index.cfm/section/article/page/NICVAmembership.

Subscribe to eNews

Use this link to subscribe to eNews. Alternatively, send an email to nicvalist@nicva.org , with subscribe in the subject field. eNews is sent to its subscribers weekly. Please feel free to circulate the information within your organisation as appropriate.

Submit an Article

Use this link to submit an article for inclusion in eNews.

The information in eNews 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.

Please do not reply directly to this email – use one of the links above to subscribe, send feedback or to submit an article. For general enquiries, email john.mccormick@nicva.org.