£2.1 million funding programme launches its second year

Una McKernan from NICVA commented:

 “This is now the second year of this very successful programme. The first 27 groups have almost completed their training and learning and are showing lots of evidence of improved leadership skills”.

 This Programme, delivered by NICVA, was launched in January 2009 and continues to offer exciting and innovative training and learning opportunities which strengthen the leadership capacity of community groups.  Year two of the Programme kicks off with a series of three roundtable events, one of which was held in the Cavan Crystal Hotel in Cavan town on Thursday 11 March.  The groups who have been accepted onto the programme include:

• Cavan Community Forum - Cavan, Co Cavan
• Corcrain & Redmanville Community Association - Portadown, Co Armagh
• Crossfire Trust - Keady, Co Armagh
• Dochas for Women - Monaghan, Co Monaghan
• Drumavaddy Social and Development Association - Drumavaddy, Co Cavan
• Dundalk Media Centre - Dundalk, Co Louth
• Eivers Lane Childcare Ltd - Mohill, Co Leitrim
• Greater Cloughreagh Community Association - Bessbrook, Co Armagh
• Laurelvale and District Development Group - Tandragee, Co Armagh
• West End Partnership – Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh

Each of these groups will have the opportunity to tailor a training programme to meet their specific needs and also receive a bursary of £2,500 or 2,750 euro to undertake a small project.

PJ Harte, from Doohamlet District Community Association, and a participant on year one of the Community Leadership Programme told year two groups: 

"The programme has helped us to be better organised and capable of changing our communities.  It was the key to knowledge we never knew we had."

Recruitment for year three of the Programme will commence this summer so please contact NICVA if your community group is interested in participating.

For more information or comment, please contact Caroline Magee, Information and Communication Manager, 0044 (0)28 9087 7777 / 07721746805; email caroline.magee@nicva.org or visit www.communityleadershipprogramme.org  

About NICVA

NICVA (Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action) is the representative and umbrella body for the entire voluntary and community sector of Northern Ireland. Its catchment area however extends beyond Northern Ireland due to strong working relationships with its sister organisations in the rest of the UK, and the umbrella body in the Republic of Ireland.

Since its inception in 1938 NICVA has been committed to social change and community development, acting as a catalyst to promote innovation and new approaches to targeting need.  NICVA works for justice, equality and dignity throughout society by promoting opportunities for community participation in the essential decisions that affect the lives of people in Northern Ireland.

About the International Fund for Ireland 

The International Fund for Ireland is an international organisation established by the Irish and British Governments in 1986. The Fund’s main objectives are to promote economic and social advance and encourage contact, dialogue and reconciliation between unionists and nationalists throughout Ireland.

Contributors to the Fund are the United States of America, the European Union, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Since its inception, the Fund has committed more than £648m/€811m to a wide variety of projects in Northern Ireland and the southern border counties. Developing and funding initiatives that tackle segregation and promote integration to build a lasting peace in Northern Ireland and the southern border counties is a key priority for the Fund.