eNews 19 December 2011

By Seana McAuley - last updated on Mon, 19/12/2011 - 17:26

Merry Christmas from NICVA!
Kick off your New Year with a NICVA training course
Sector Matters - support when you need it
Exploring collaboration
PfG consultation events - coming to a venue near you
Maintaining Vital Links
Winding up and dissolving an organisation
Conference catch up
Bedroom tax beaten - for now
Advice NI launches new training calendar
EGSA training for the New Year
Promoting health across all sectors - better decision-making for better health
NICEM equality and diversity training
CO3 leadership conference 2012 - dealers in hope
Fuel Poverty Coalition launches petition
Delivering community planning in Belfast
Interchange opportunity with the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister

NICVA Out and About
Pick of the Websites
Make Your Move - new jobs from CommunityNI

1 Merry Christmas from NICVA!

As this is the last eNews before Christmas we would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very merry Christmas and all best wishes for the New Year.

NICVA will close for the Christmas period on Thursday 22 December 2011 and will reopen on Tuesday 3 January 2012.

The next issue of eNews will be published on Monday 9 January 2012. If you would like to submit an article please send it to info@nicva.org by lunchtime on Friday 6 January.

2 Kick off your New Year with a NICVA training course

If you're looking for ideas for a resolution to make this New Year then why not book a place on one of NICVA's training courses. With plenty to choose from you can update or even learn a new skill and the added bonus is it's an easy resolution to keep! Upcoming courses include:

Train the trainer - 24 January, 7 February, and 8 March 2012 from 10.00am-4.00pm at NICVA
Cost: £225 members/£330 non-members plus £30 additional cost for one to one feedback on the practical training session to include a DVD copy of the trainee's performance.

Train the Trainers is an Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) endorsed three day course that helps trainers to develop their skills. The aim of the course is to help anyone involved in training to see ways in which they could become better, more effective trainers. The programme is interactive, builds confidence, shares best practice and makes sure there is plenty of opportunity to discuss and practice how to handle a range of training challenges.

Effective team building - 31 January 2012, 10.00am-4.00pm at NICVA
Cost: £75 members/£110 non-members

Building a good team is the single most important thing a manager can do to achieve a successful project. With the right attitude, a team will overcome almost any difficulty to succeed in its goals. Participants will be provided with tools and techniques to help them facilitate team problem solving. We will discuss the various levels of team involvement when making decisions, and how your leadership style can have an impact on your team’s success.

To find out more about the structure of these courses or to book a place please click on the links above or contact Roisin Kelly at roisin.kelly@nicva.org or call 028 9087 7777. To view all of NICVA's upcoming training visit www.nicva.org/training

3 Sector Matters - support when you need it

Happy Christmas from all at Sector Matters and remember if your organisation needs HR, finance or planning support be sure to give us a call in the New Year.

So whether you are planning your next recruitment exercise for that essential role, wanting peace of mind from a completely refreshed staff handbook and contract of employment, or need to talk to us confidentially about setting up a cost-effective retainer service, consider Sector Matters for your first-stop-shop for HR needs.

Or if you need support on bookkeeping or reporting to your management committee or funders we can help with that too. We can also support you in the development of your strategic plan to guide your organisation through the next few years or help produce a clear operational plan to ensure you deliver on all your targets and commitments.

You can check out what our customers have been saying about us on our website www.sectormatters.com. Or call us on 028 9087 5018 or email in confidence to paula.reynolds@sectormatters.com

4 Exploring collaboration

CollaborationNI has several training courses on offer in January and February exploring various elements of the collaboration process.

Exploring culture, values and behaviours in effective collaboration, 19 January, 16 February and 8 March 2012 at CO3, 34 Shaftesbury Square, Belfast BT2 7DB, 9.30am-4.30pm
Cost: £75

This three day workshop, aimed at leaders within voluntary and community organisations, explores the links between culture, values and behaviours in effective collaboration. The workshop will consider what collaboration means, its benefits and challenges in practice. It will also look at the kinds of thinking and attitudes leaders often have that can make collaboration difficult and consider how to address them. The frameworks and practical tools presented will support planning for effective collaboration and help you translate thinking into action.

Leading Change – collaboration and the law, 22 February 2012 at NICVA, 61, Duncairn Garden, Belfast, BT15 2GB, 9.30am- 4.00pm
Cost £25

This course is aimed at senior managers and board members in the voluntary and community sector. It explores the main legal structures which are commonly used when working collaboratively and the key legal issues which should be considered. The course will highlight practical examples of collaborative working and case studies will be presented for each of the three models.

Leading beyond authority: using influence to make collaboration work, 7 February, 6 March and 3 April 2012 at City East, Belfast BT4 1GW, 9.30am- 4.00pm.
Cost: £75

This new programme will take board members and senior managers through a journey of learning that aims to develop specific aspects of leadership that are considered necessary for collaborative working across separately constituted organisations. The three-day, high-powered development programme is based on research and experience and is delivered by Stellar Leadership’s professional team of leadership specialists as part of CollaborationNI.

To find out more about these courses or to book a place please click on the links above or visit http://www.collaborationni.org/training-events. For more information on the support available under the CollaborationNI programme, please contact Leeann Kelly (Programme Co-ordinator) by email at leeann.kelly@nicva.org or call 028 9087 7777.

5 PfG consultation events - coming to a venue near you

As part of its engagement in the Programme for Government (PfG) and Economic Strategy consultations, NICVA will be co-hosting a series of events for its members. The events will be in round table format to facilitate discussion and debate and will be attended by a department official, subject to their availability. Additional dates and revised times have now been added to the series, please see below *

Belfast - 11 January 2012, 10.00am – 1.00pm, at NICVA 61 Duncairn Gardens

North West - 19 January 2012, 10.00am – 1.00pm, at WaterFoot Hotel, Caw Roundabout, Waterside, Derry/Londonderry BT47 6TB. NICVA is holding this event in conjunction with North West Community Network.

*Enniskillen – 25 January 2012, 10.00am – 1.00pm at Fermanagh House, Broadmeadow Place Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh BT74 7HR. NICVA is holding this event in conjunction with the Rural Community Network.

Newry - 31 January 2012, 10.00am – 1.00pm at Confederation of Community Groups, Ballybot House 28 Cornmarket, Newry Co Down BT35 8GB. NICVA is holding this event in conjunction with the Confederation of Community Groups Newry.

Dungannon - 2 February 2012, 10.00am – 1.00pm at Willowbank Community Resource Centre, Carland Road, Dungannon BT71 4AA. NICVA is holding this event in conjunction with the Rural Community Network.

*Strabane – 7 February 2012, 10.30am – 1.00pm at Strabane District Council, 47 Derry Road, Strabane BT82 8DY. NICVA is holding this event in conjunction with Strabane District Council.

NICVA will also be facilitating discussion around the Department's Economic Strategy similar to the programme for government format on 23 January 2012, 10.00am – 1.00pm at NICVA 61 Duncairn Gardens, Belfast

More details and the full agenda for all sessions can be found on www.nicva.org. To request a booking, please click on the individual links above or email cathy.breslin@nicva.org. The PfG events will be held as part of Vital Links, a project supported by the PEACE III Programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body.

6 Maintaining Vital Links

Assembly Monitor
The Northern Ireland Assembly is on Christmas recess. The next plenary session will be on Monday 16 January 2012. If you would like to keep up to date with what is happing in the Assembly check out NICVA’s Assembly Monitor www.nicva.org/newsletters/assembly-monitor/assembly-monitor-19-december-2011. This newsletter is published every week that the Assembly is sitting, summarises all plenary business and looks at what will be debated in the following week. To sign up visit www.nicva.org/policy/assembly-monitor

Get to know the Assembly in 2012
NICVA’s Vital Links 'Get to know how Northern Ireland is governed' series of events is back for 2012. We will be holding the first session 'Get to know the Assembly' in Parliament Buildings on Thursday 12 January 2012, this in conjunction with the Northern Ireland Assembly Engagement Team.

To book a place visit www.nicva.org/events/get-know-assembly-5. The Vital Links project is supported by the PEACE III Programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body.

7 Winding up and dissolving an organisation

NICVA's governance and charity advice unit has published advice on winding up and dissolving an organisation. This advice note will help committee/board members to plan for the closure of their organisation. It will also help others, not currently facing closure, to be aware of the various issues that need to be considered, should closure be something they have to deal with in the future.

The advice note sets out a basic guide to various steps which need to be followed to ensure that the organisation deals with all its obligations. It also signposts to more detailed information where relevant and stresses the importance of taking specialist advice in certain circumstances.

Download a copy of Advice Note 15 'Winding up and dissolving an organisation' from our website.

8 Conference catch up

As a Christmas treat, and for those who missed NICVA’s ‘Creating the good economy’ conference, you can now watch all the highlights from the event on NICVA’s website: www.nicva.org/news/new-video-highlights-creating-good-economy

The video not only summarises the day and some of the debate, but also has some exclusive interviews by BBC’s William Crawley with the keynote speakers, David McWilliams and Will Hutton.

9 Bedroom tax beaten – for now

Northern Ireland Federation of Housing Associations (NIFHA) is delighted Lord Best’s ‘under-occupancy’ amendments were supported when the House of Lords debated the Welfare Reform Bill on 14 December. The House of Commons will decide in the New Year whether to accept the amendment.

Cross-bench Peer, Lord Richard Best, tabled amendments which more accurately reflect the reality of people’s everyday lives. Peers voted 258 to 190 in favour of limiting the penalties to tenants with more than one ‘spare’ room. At present the coalition Government plans to introduce new rules on ‘under-occupation’ in social housing. Across the UK some 670,000 tenants on housing benefit could see a cut in their support of around £670 a year from April 2013 onwards if they have a room above the minimum currently proposed by the coalition Government. If Lord Best’s amendments are agreed back in the Commons the number affected would drop to about 150,000.

NIFHA’s Chief Executive, Chris Williamson, commented:

“If these proposals are agreed they will push thousands of people in Northern Ireland living in social housing into financial hardship or out of their homes - causing considerable disruption to families and communities. This is why we will be urging all Northern Ireland MPs to vote in favour of Lord Best’s more reasonable definition of ‘under-occupation’ when the draft legislation is reconsidered by the House of Commons in January.”

To find out more about this issue read NIFHA's article on www.communityni.org

10 Advice NI launches new training calendar

Training Calendar January – June 2012

Advice NI has launched its latest training brochure packed with lots of new and exciting courses and training programmes.

Training is offered in the following areas:

Debt/money advice
Case recording
Age awareness
Age issues (eg health, care and housing)
Start to sign
Tendering and commissioning
Benefits and tax credits
Equality and discrimination issues
Advice and guidance (NVQ’s)
Customer service (NVQ’s)
Assessment and quality assurance (TAQA)

Training includes accredited and non-accredited courses delivered via face-to-face, blended learning and e-learning methods.

Click here for a full copy of the Advice NI training brochure, which will outline all training programmes, costs, accreditation options and dates For further information on these courses or to discuss in-house or bespoke training Michelle McGreevy on 028 9064 5919 or email training@adviceni.net

11 EGSA training for the New Year

New Year, New You?
Considering a new job, career change or promotion in 2012? Need to upgrade your skills but don’t know where to start? Why not make an early New Year resolution to contact EGSA and book a Career Health Check? Visit http://egsa.org.uk/career-health-check/, call 028 9024 4274 or email info@egsa.org.uk to find out more.

Keep It Clear with EGSA
Finding it hard to get to the point? Fed up with gobbledegook? Don’t know where to put that apostrophe? Book your place on EGSA’s Keep It Clear training - Tuesday 24 January 2012, 10.00am – 1.00pm, EGSA, 40 Linenhall Street, Belfast (£35 per person). Find out more at http://egsa.org.uk/learning-promotion/keep-it-clear-with-egsa/ or contact Anne Welsh on 028 9024 4274 or email anne.welsh@egsa.org.uk

12 Promoting health across all sectors – better decision-making for better health

Health is determined by a range of social, economic and environmental factors. Health Impact Assessment (HIA) is a practical, systematic approach which assesses the health impacts of policies, programmes and projects developed by a range of organisations. It supports people in the health sector as well as those who do not have health as their primary objective. HIA ensures these impacts are identified and allows decision-makers to make choices about alternatives and improvements that actively promote health and well-being.

A three day training course from the Institute of Public Health in Ireland (IPH) gives participants knowledge and skills so they can plan for and conduct HIA across a range of settings. It will be of use to those working in local government, healthcare, education, public health, health promotion, planning, socio-economic development, neighbourhood renewal, environmental health, the community and voluntary sector. Applications close on Friday 20 January 2012.

Further information and an application form is available from www.publichealth.ie/ireland/hiatraining/comprehensivehiatrainingcourse

13 NICEM equality and diversity training

NICEM Equality and Diversity training - 6 and 13 February 2012 from 10:00am to 4.00pm at Belfast Migrant Centre, 2^nd Floor, Ascot House, 24-31 Shaftesbury Square Belfast BT2 7DB.
Cost: OCN accredited £75, non-OCN accredited £50

NICEM Equality and Diversity training is a two-day course, accredited at OCN Level 2, that aims to explore the dynamics of racism and equality on an individual and organisational level.

By the end of the course the participants should have a better understanding of the value of equality and diversity, how to identify discrimination and oppression and be equipped with the tools to challenge racism. The training will give the participants an opportunity to examine how they interact with others from a diverse background and the opportunity to examine the organisations they are involved with and how to better ensure equality in policy and practice.

For more information please contact Sophie Romantzoff on 028 9023 8645 or by email sophie@nicem.org.uk

14 CO3 leadership conference 2012 – dealers in hope

CO3 Leadership Conference 2012 – Dealers in Hope
The biannual leadership conference for Charity Chief Executives, Directors, Trustees and Funders in Northern Ireland takes place 23 - 24 February 2012 at City Hotel, Derry, Co Londonderry.

International keynote speakers include Dr. John E. Brothers (author, adjunct professor and Senior Fellow, Support Centre for Non Profit Managers) and Rick Moyer (Director, Non Profit Sector Fund
Meyer Foundation, USA).

This conference will focus on leadership and provide some challenge to current thinking and perspectives impacting the sector. The conference includes contributions from two international keynote speakers bringing expertise in non profit leadership, the life cycle of organisations and how to make the most from moments of change in leadership. The conference also includes three masterclasses on hot topics identified by CO3 members, a lively question time panel and an active workshop exploring the development and impact of Derry’s Peace Bridge. The conference will be incorporating the Voyager Awards for Third Sector Leadership, to celebrate great leadership in our sector and acknowledging those making a contribution as chairpersons and partners to the sector.
Book online today www.conference.co3.bz

15 Fuel Poverty Coalition launches petition

The Fuel Poverty Coalition launched a petition on 15 December calling on the Northern Ireland Executive to use the final Programme for Government 2011-2015 to tackle fuel poverty in a comprehensive and sustained way.

Antoinette McKeown, joint Chair of the Fuel Poverty Coalition said:

“Northern Ireland suffers the worst levels of fuel poverty anywhere in the UK with 44 per cent of all households experiencing fuel poverty and spiralling energy costs. The seriousness of this problem and the impact it has on the health and wellbeing of local families deserves a comprehensive and coordinated response from the NI Executive. The Fuel Poverty Coalition is now seeking public support for our petition calling on the NI Executive to make tackling fuel poverty a key priority in the final Programme for Government 2011-2015, by committing to develop a detailed and costed action-plan setting out how and when fuel poverty will be eradicated in Northern Ireland."

The public and interested organisations and groups can sign the Fuel Poverty Coalition’s petition and tell them about their experiences or views by visiting www.fuelpovertycoalition.org.uk. Fuel Poverty Coalition members will also make available freepost petition postcards for anyone without internet access. People can call to get a copy on 0800 121 6022.

16 Delivering community planning in Belfast

Delivering community planning in Belfast - Thursday, 19 January 2012, 9.30am to 1.30pm in Belfast City Hall
Launch of a major report by the Belfast Community Planning Consortium on proposals for the delivery of community planning in the city. Alex Attwood, the Minister for the Department of the Environment which is developing new community planning legislation for Northern Ireland, will also address the conference.

Bringing together key representatives of the statutory, voluntary and community sectors, the Consortium will present a model for community planning which has been developed over the past eighteen months as part of a pilot project funded by the BIG Lottery. If you are interested in the future development and implementation of community planning in Belfast then book a place now.

The event is free of charge and lunch will be provided, however, places are limited so please book early. Book online at http://morrowevents.com/event_details.asp?eventid=388 or alternatively contact Katy on 028 9039 3837 or events.admin@morrowcommunications.com

18 Interchange opportunity with the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister

The Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister is seeking to appoint an Office Manager/Communications Officer for a secondment of 2 years, with the possibility of an extension of up to a further year, subject to the agreement of all parties. The secondment opportunity, aimed at individuals at a middle management level who have the relevant skills and experience to undertake the duties outlined. The secondment will begin in January 2012 or as soon as a suitable candidate has been identified and a release date is agreed.

Interested candidates should complete a candidate proforma, available at www.interchangeni.org.uk and return it through the Interchange Manager to interchangesecretariat@dfpni.gov.uk by 2.00pm on Tuesday 10 January 2012. For further information about the post, please contact Janet Cooper in OFMDFM on 028 9052 8468, or by email to janet.cooper@ofmdfmni.gov.uk

NICVA Out and About

If you are interested in NICVA's activities, events and training and would like to know what goes on in your area then take a look at the brand new Out and About feature on our website. This feature contains a map enabling you to see where activities are taking place across Northern Ireland and the types of activities delivered by NICVA staff. To find out more about what's going on just click on the activity to find out more about that project.

This week NICVA staff will be seen out and about in Enniskillen and Newtownards.

Pick of the Websites

Spirit of Enniskillen Trust wins Guardian Charity of the Year Award 2011 - on Thursday 15 December the Spirit of Enniskillen Trust received the Guardian Charity of the Year Award 2011. You can find out more and watch the video on the Guardian's website. Many congratulations to all at Spirit of Enniskillen Trust.

Consumer Council issues guidance for air passengers with disabilities or reduced mobility. The Council is distributing copies of its ‘Access to Air Travel’ guide to various organisations throughout Northern Ireland, including doctors’ surgeries and disability specialist groups. Copies are available from the website and by calling 0800 121 6022.

Patient and Client Council has issued its corporate strategy 'Our Plan 2012-2015' for consultation. The document sets the role, direction and priorities for the Patient and Client Council over the next three years. Responses should be returned by 12 noon on Thursday 16 February 2012.

Stamp Out Suicide - positive steps forward in suicide prevention. The Stamp Out Suicide! website is packed with information. There are pages concerned with suicide awareness and suicide prevention and pages intended to be helpful to the people of Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales.

Make Your Move - new jobs from CommunityNI

A random selection of jobs posted on communityni. For full listings visit www.communityni.org

Skills Development Officer (Re-advertisement) at NICVA

Call for artists: MAC freelance artist team at the MAC

Outreach Family Support Worker at Barnardo's

Support Worker at L'Arche Belfast

Outreach Worker at Parenting NI

A Sense of the Past Researcher at RNIB

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