NICVA eNews: 26 March 2007

NICVA

0

Quick links:

1. NICVA responds to draft Peace III Operational PlanC
2. Celebrating voluntary and community communications
3. Communicating effectively online
4. Invest in Inspiration
5. No announcement yet on new NJC pay scales
6. What do you think an ICT strategy should look like?
7. Arts groups could benefit from self-evaluation workshop
8. Find out about conservation and countryside management
9. Best Foundation to support the Institute of Fundraising annual convention
10. Northern Ireland Community Builders Programme 2007©
11. Volunteer training
12. Innovation management training
13. Making peace with the past
14. Supported employment – working for all?
15. Queen’s gets the A-Z of community alphabet

(1) NICVA responds to draft Peace III Operational Plan

The closing date for responses to the Operational Plan for the third Peace programme is 4 April 2007. NICVA has produced a draft of the submission it will be making to the SEUPB. Some key points that NICVA will be making are:

• Peace funding should be complementary and additional to mainstream government funding for A Shared Future and not be seen as the money which government will use to fulfil its A Shared Future obligations.
• The cross cutting themes must be implemented throughout the programme. However questions on cross cutting themes should only be included on application forms if they are also an integral part of the monitoring and evaluation process.
• We recommend that SEUPB draws up robust guidelines for the establishment of partnerships, clearly setting out minimum standards for membership and rules of engagement. Partnerships which do not meet the guidelines should not be considered for support.
• The Monitoring Committee, perhaps through a partnership sub-group, should take an active role in monitoring the partnerships.
• SEUPB should draw up guidelines for partnerships considering making an application, which advises them on the thematic groups that should be included in all projects. This would ensure that the inclusion of excluded groups is mainstreamed across the entire programme.
• All social partners should feel able to be involved in every aspect of the programme.
• The principles of distinctiveness, partnership and the cross cutting themes should be applied to Measure II as they are to the rest of the programme.
• Ideally each of the large strategic projects should incorporate a small grants element to widen local participation.
• We also recommend a small grants programme that has a minimum amount of £10,000 and a maximum of £30,000.
• The body or bodies tasked with delivering small grants should explore ways of ensuring that the application, monitoring and other bureaucracy associated with the grants is minimal whilst ensuring financial probity.

For more information, please contact Lisa McElherron at lisa.mcelherron@nicva.org.

(2) Celebrating voluntary and community communications

Voluntary and community organisations need to communicate well to survive. Whether they are trying to reach clients, gain funding, attract volunteers or run a public campaign, they need well produced literature or websites that hit the target. The competition is getting better and groups need to improve continually if they are to keep up.

The SCOPE Communication Awards were launched nine years ago to encourage higher standards in all forms of communication. This year there are nine different categories and you may enter as many categories as you wish.

Application forms are currently being circulated with NICVA mailings and are also available for download at www.nicva.org/index.cfm/section/article/page/SCOPEawards.

Additional printed copies of the form are available from Fiona Veitch on tel: 028 9087 7777, email: fiona.veitch@nicva.org.

The closing date for entry to the Communication Awards is 18 April 2007.

(3) Communicating effectively online

You might think online communication is all about creating expensive websites and hiring experts to sort out all the technology, but it doesn’t have to be like that. Effective online communication is all about building relationships and collaboration and there’s a raft of online tools out there to help us do just that.

The next NICVA Members’ Day will look at how you can make the best use of online communications in your organisation. The training will help demystify the Web and give you some practical skills to help you get to grips with using the new technology and writing effectively for the web.

Two sessions are available, so you can choose to attend one or both as follows:

Session 1 - Get connected – tools, tips and techniques for communicating online

You may have heard of web2.0, social web, blogs, podcasting, flickr or youtube. You might think these things are just for the ‘web-savvy’ or ‘techie’ types, but the technology is surprisingly easy to use. This session will explore some of these easy to use tools and give you an insight into how to set up a website/blog and publish photos and videos online.
Speakers: Stephen Gray, ICT Manager, NICVA, and Feargal O’Kane, Web Developer, NICVA.

Session 2 - Effective writing for the web

No matter how impressive looking your site is users will only return and engage with your message if the content is relevant and professional. Too often the actual content on a website is overlooked, or organisations assume that the same content will work in print and on-screen. This session will explore how to write for the web and manage email lists and groups.
Speaker: John McCormick, Information Officer, NICVA.

The training takes place on 15 May 2007. Please contact Georgie Finlay on 028 9087 7777 or email:georgie.finlay@nicva.org if you would like to attend. Alternatively, you may register online at www.nicva.org.

(4) Invest in Inspiration

Add your support to the campaign for a fair and adequate level of funding for arts in Northern Ireland. The level of arts spend in Northern Ireland lags far behind the rest of the UK and the Republic of Ireland and the region is facing yet more cuts to its arts budget over the next few years.

Arts funding in Northern Ireland has traditionally lagged behind England, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland. Currently Northern Ireland invests £6.13 per head of population in stark comparison to England (£8.39); Wales (£9.17); Scotland (£11.93) and the Republic of Ireland (£12.61). While these other regions have enjoyed substantial increases in their arts spending, Northern Ireland is investing less and less each year on cultural activity.

To find out more about the funding situation or to add your support to the Invest in Inspiration campaign, please visit www.caf.ie/ArtsCampaign.

The website also allows you to contact the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure and your local representatives to call for greater investment in the arts. Visit www.caf.ie/ArtsCampaign/register to register your support.

(5) No announcement yet on new NJC pay scales

NICVA has learned that the NJC scales for 2007/08 are unlikely to be available until early summer.

Organisations needing to know figures for budgeting purposes should estimate an inflation/cost of living increase and then adjust for the actual figure when it is known. From 1 April 2007 organisations will need to continue to pay at 2006/07 rates until the negotiations have been concluded.

Once the new rates are announced salaries should then be paid at the new rates and the agreed increase should be backdated to 1 April 2007.

For details of the current scales and the latest update please visit www.communityni.org/index.cfm/section/General/key/NJC0506.

(6) What do you think an ICT strategy should look like?

The ICTconsortiumNI has released the findings from its survey into the state of ICT within the voluntary sector in Northern Ireland.

The survey has shown that organisations have largely made the effort to get online but are not fully utilising the potential benefits. It is also clear that there is a need for improved access to impartial advice and training on ICT for the majority of organisations within the voluntary and community sector.

We want your help to transform these findings into an effective ICT strategy for the sector.

Developing a strategy

The consortium is committed to developing an ICT strategy that is responsive to the needs of the voluntary and community sector in Northern Ireland. Building on the survey findings, it has produced a draft strategy which is available at www.ictconsortiumni.org/strategy.

This is your chance to discuss what you feel should be in an ICT strategy for your sector and we’d appreciate it if you could take the time to have a look at what we’re developing.

Consultation seminar

We recognise that online consultations have their limitations and we want to get as much feedback from the sector as possible, so a consultation seminar has been arranged at NICVA on 17 April 2006 to find out about the key practical things that you feel need addressed.

Register online at www.ictconsortiumni.org/strategy/ and you will receive more details closer to the event.

(7) Arts groups could benefit from self-evaluation workshop

As part of its commitment to developing the evaluation capacity of the voluntary and community sector, Community Evaluation Northern Ireland is offering an introductory half day training workshop aimed at groups and workers within the arts sector to introduce the methods appropriate for self-evaluation within an arts setting.

Developing Self-Evaluation Tools for the Arts: Creative Ways to Show What You Are Worth is supported by Voluntary Arts Ireland. Participants will be introduced to a range of self-evaluation methods and encouraged to think of creative tools to help them with effective recording of feedback from users.

The course will take place on 25 April 2007 from 2.00pm to 5.30pm at the University of Ulster, Jordanstown.

Please contact Joanne Templeton on 028 9024 8005 or email: joanne.templeton@ceni.org to find out more or to book a place.

(8) Find out about conservation and countryside management

This course from the Ulster Wildlife Trust requires no previous knowledge or experience and provides an initial insight into the world of practical conservation. Running one day a week over six consecutive Thursdays, the course covers basic health and safety, tool maintenance, working as part of a team, and habitat management. The habitat focus of the next course on 12 April 2007 is grassland.

This is a great opportunity to learn practical conservation skills whilst at the same time enjoying the outdoors among some beautiful parts of Belfast.

Please visit www.communityni.org/index.cfm/section/events/key/5666C163-1143-D8AC-6BB4AE2D287193BF to find out more or contact Ian Cardwell on 028 4483 0282.

(9) Best Foundation to support the Institute of Fundraising annual convention

Barbara McNarry of the George Best Foundation will deliver this year’s Institute of Fundraising annual convention’s closing plenary with an interesting insight into the foundation’s fundraising successes. The event takes place in the Ramada Hotel, Belfast on 28 June 2007.

Charlotte Trinder, Chair of the IOF in Northern Ireland, said:

The George Best Foundation was set up to provide charitable funds for research into liver disease and alcoholism as well as supporting the promotion of a healthy lifestyle among young people through participation in soccer.

For further information, please contact Siobhan Hanley on 0779 003 3973, email: northernireland@institute-of-fundraising.org.uk or visit www.institute-of-fundraising.org.

(10) Northern Ireland Community Builders Programme 2007©

The Northern Ireland Community Builders Programme, designed by Frank Costello Associates, is aimed at locally based community organisations and individuals committed to building peace and stability in their communities within Northern Ireland. Recruiting is now under way for the next programme in New York from 11 September to 13 October 2007.

The programme will involve members of community organisations and other relevant partners including the Police Service of Northern Ireland, the Probation Board and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive. It provides a stimulating learning experience that combines a period of specialised study at Columbia University and hands on practice in a relevant placement in New York. This tailor made learning programme will allow for practical exposure to issues at the centre of civil society – ie community development and community relations, gender and ethnic diversity and inter-sectoral co-operation through practical partnership working, with a view to building a greater understanding of the role that each has to play in building a more peaceful society.

Applicants must be able to demonstrate:

• How they can make a difference to building the learning capacity of their community
• How they can follow through in a meaningful way upon their return to Northern Ireland
• A commitment to fully engage in a long term process with previous participants
• The commitment of their respective organisation to support their participation on the programme in the long term and to engage in a subsequent body of work

For a full information package and application form please contact Stafford Reynolds on 0780 294 0407 or email: nicbprogramme@btinternet.com. The deadline is 3.00pm on 19 April 2007.

(11) Volunteer training

The Volunteer Development Agency is running a number of courses in the coming months including:

Volunteers and the Wider Organisation

This course will look at developing an organisational policy on involving volunteers and how to define and measure success in your volunteer project.

The training takes place from 9.30am to 4.30pm on 19 and 26 April 2007 at 129 Ormeau Road, Belfast.

Developing a Youth Mentoring Project

A mentor offers one-to-one support and guidance over a period of time to another person to help them set and achieve goals and realise their full potential. This training will get you to consider a range of areas including the aim of your project, recruitment and selection of mentors and mentees, boundaries, procedures and training required for running a successful and safe youth mentoring project.

The training takes place from 9.30am to 4.30pm on 3 May 2007 at 129 Ormeau Road, Belfast.

To book a place on either course or to find out more please visit www.volunteering-ni.org, call Fiona Nicol on 028 9081 8325 or email: fiona@volunteering-ni.org.

Investing in Volunteers Information Session

This information session has been organised to help you find out more about Investing in Volunteers, the UK quality standard for all organisations which involve volunteers in their work. It offers organisations the opportunity to take their commitment to quality a step further. By being assessed against the standard, an organisation can publicly demonstrate its commitment to quality.

For more information or to download a copy of the Standard, visit www.investinginvolunteers.org.uk.

The event takes place on 24 April 2007. You can book a place at the session online at www.volunteering-ni.orgor by emailing investinginvolunteers@volunteering-ni.org.

(12) Innovation management training

This workshop will demonstrate how to use innovation management techniques to improve organisational performance. It will be especially useful for people who have an interest in creative thinking skills as it provides a practical framework for translating individual creativity into organisational structure and culture.

Participants will assess their organisation’s capacity for innovation, providing a basis for developing an organisational innovation action plan. Participants will also assess their own style as a leader of innovation in their organisation and develop a personal action plan for inspiring and enabling innovation in others.

The event takes place on 25 April 2007 at Play Resource Warehouse, Duncairn Gardens, Belfast from 9.30am to 4.00pm.

To register or to find out more, please call Gerry Cappa on 0778 635 3892 or email: gcappa@ukonline.co.uk.

(13) Making peace with the past

Healing Through Remembering and its Truth Recovery and Acknowledgement Sub Group are hosting a series of open meetings to facilitate a wide and informed discussion on options for truth recovery.

The meetings follow the publication of Making Peace with the Past: Options for truth recovery regarding the conflict in and about Northern Ireland, a report which aims to increase public debate on the issue of truth recovery, and the wider question of dealing with the past, to ensure a better future for all.

The meetings consist of a brief presentation on the report by members of the Truth Recovery and Acknowledgement Sub Group followed by an open discussion. All are welcome to attend and participate in the discussion.

Dates for upcoming meetings are as follows:

• Tuesday 27 March 2007 - Corcaghan Community Centre, Monaghan at 7.00pm
• Tuesday 3 April 2007 - St. Columb’s Park House, Derry at 7.00pm
• Tuesday 17 April 2007 - Island Centre, Lisburn at 7.00pm
• Tuesday 24 April 2007 - Town Hall, Lurgan at 7.00pm
• Monday 30 April 2007 - Liberty Hall, Dublin at 7.00pm

HTR and the Truth Recovery and Acknowledgement Sub-Group encourage and welcome feedback on both the report and the wider issue of truth recovery. Comments and feedback can be sent via post to Healing Through Remembering, Alexander House, 17a Ormeau Avenue, Belfast, BT2 8HD, emailed to truthrecovery@healingthroughremembering.org or posted on the HTR website forum.

(14) Supported employment – working for all?

The Northern Ireland Union of Supported Employment is hosting the eighth European Union of Supported Employment Conference from 13 to 15 June 2007 in the Waterfront Hall, Belfast. The title of the conference is Supported Employment - Working for all? and it will be one of the largest employment and disability conferences to be held in Europe.

The conference organizers have gathered a rich and exciting programme with experts and leaders from Europe, USA, Australia and New Zealand. Sir Gerry Robinson who recently presented the BBC2 programme Can Gerry Robinson Fix the NHS will be delivering a keynote presentation on leadership.

For further information please contact the Conference Secretariat at info@euseconference2007.org or visit www.euseconference2007.org.

(15) Queen’s gets the A-Z of community alphabets

Four Belfast community groups have come together with professional illustrators to create their own unique alphabet, as part of The Naughton Gallery at Queen’s Community Alphabets outreach project.

Supported by The Equality Commission NI as part of Intercultural Week 2007, each letter in the groups’ alphabets illustrates something that is distinctive, peculiar or important to them, identifying local stories, revealing touchstones and talismans in the landscape, exploring shared emotions and illuminating hidden histories.

From xenophobia to hope, noisy nightlife to Frederic Chopin, each group debated and discussed their individual and shared ideas with their artist and came to a consensus on the objects and experiences that best defined their sense of community to themselves and others.

Amongst the Simon Community’s alphabet are Misunderstood, Support and Hope. The Polish Association NI’s words include Beetroot Soup, Waffles and Santa Claus Day. Highlights of the Belfast Holylands Residents picked out Palm House, Jesus Bus and Festivals, while An Munia Tober’s alphabet features includes Fortune Teller, Evictions and Iron Mongers.

Illustrated copies of the four finished alphabets have been reproduced in poster form and will be distributed to all schools in Northern Ireland, giving viewers an insight into what it means to be part of a specific community in Belfast today. It is hoped this celebration of diversity and common experience will inspire others to produce a community alphabet of their own.

The Community Alphabets outreach project exhibition will continue at Queen’s Film Theatre until Friday 30 March 2007.

For further information, please contact Sarah Hughes on 028 9097 1398 or email s.hughes@qub.ac.uk.

Office Giveaways

Got some furniture or equipment to donate (or going cheap) to a voluntary or community group? Use this space to let people know what you’ve got.

Pick of the Websites

Sector's verdict on Budget
Representatives from the voluntary and community sector in Northern Ireland give their views on the Budget.

Children and young people's action plan
Minister for Children and Young People, Maria Eagle, recently launched the first cross government Children and Young People Action Plan.

How 'green' are you and your workplace?
Complete this 'green' office questionnaire to help inform a green office guide specifically for the community and voluntary sector - and win a prize.

Make Your Move – new jobs this week on communityni.org

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

• Web Writer / Editor at Housing Rights Service
• Journeys Reach Out Programme Worker at Ballynafeigh Community Development Association
• Project Officer at NI Council for Ethnic Minorities
• Physical Activity Officer at Phab NI Inclusion Matters

Submit your job - eNews does not carry full job advertisements, but if you would like your job to be one of the featured links, please submit your advertisement to the CommunityNI website using this link.

As the featured link slot is in great demand, to keep things fair, we can only make a random selection of three or four new jobs each week, and cannot guarantee that your job will be selected.

CommunityNI Diary

NICVA’s successful Community Diary now has a new home on the CommunityNI web portal. Submit details of your upcoming events in CommunityNI’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.

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.