The 21/22 Access and Inclusion Programme has been launched by Department For Communities and aims to make premises and facilities more accessible for people with disabilities.
For the first time, 'active recreation' venues are eligible to make an application which may be of interest to some sports clubs throughout the district. Applicants can apply for up to £30,000 in capital funding to help make their premises more inclusive, however applicant clubs must also provide 10% match funding towards the overall project.
The key objectives of the Department for Communities' Access and Inclusion Programme are to:
Improve access to arts, culture and active recreation venues across NI for people with disabilities;
Make arts, cultural and active recreation venues more inclusive across society; and
Increase participation in arts, culture and active recreation activities by people with disabilities.
Derry City and Strabane District Council are looking to establish a priority list of community based projects who are seeking funding to develop their sports facilities to make them more inclusive to people with disabilities.
Any sports club or community organisation from within the district that wishes to be considered for the funding on offer must complete the attached application form and return it no later than 3.00pm on Wednesday 16th June 2021 toaiden.lynch@derrystrabane.com Council in partnership with the Department for Communities will consider all proposals before identifying which projects are to go forward for full assessment.
Please note, this is a competitive process and there is no guarantee of funding and any costs incurred by clubs in preparation for a full submission is done so at their own risk.
If you have any queries or would like to discuss the programme further, please do not hesitate to contact Aiden Lynch (Sports Development Manager) on tel 02871 253253 ext 4395
2Launch of third call for applications to the NI European Social Fund (ESF) Programme
The Department for the Economy is launching a new Call for funding for an initial 12 month period from April 2022. This will be the 3rd and final call for funding under the programme.
Applications for the funding will open at 10am on 14 June 2021 and will close at 12 noon on 9 July 2021.
Application forms and Application guidance notes will be available on the Department's website from the beginning of the call at 10am on Monday 14 June 2021.
Applications are welcomed from any organisations that can develop and deliver projects that represent value for money and through innovative targeted interventions.
Information Event
To provide all stakeholders with the opportunity to hear more about the call and understand the costs and targets associated with the programme an Information Event has been organised from 10am to 12 noon on 8 June 2021 via Webex.
The event is open to any organisation which can meet the Call requirements and develop and deliver projects that represent value for money and through innovative targeted interventions.
Please note that admission to the stakeholder information event will be restricted to TWO people per organisation, and only delegates who have registered in advance will be able to attend.
Organisations are able to register interest for this event using the following url: http://bit.ly/esfcall3
Queries regarding Call 3 can be sent by e-mail to esfcall3@economy-ni.gov.uk. Queries will not be responded to individually. An FAQ document will be uploaded to this webpage shortly after the Call 3 information event on 8 June 2021.
£11.25 million to be made available for charities working with disadvantaged women and girls
Threshold for applications reduced to £350,000
Charities can now apply for funding to support projects helping thousands of women and girls across the UK, as part of the latest and final round of the Government’s Tampon Tax Fund.
A pot of £11.25 million has been made available to charitable organisations to bid for, with priority given to those working to end violence against women and girls, as well as organisations that support a network of charities.
For this round of funding, the grant threshold has been reduced from £1 million to £350,000. This means that more organisations will be able to apply, increasing accessibility to organisations that support this vital work.
The Tampon Tax Fund was introduced in response to VAT being imposed on sanitary products by the European Union, and following this round will have provided more than £90 million of funding supporting women and girls charities.
As per the government's manifesto commitment, the Chancellor announced at the Budget in March 2020 that the tax would end on 1 January 2021 following the UK’s exit from the EU, as per the government’s manifesto and wider government strategy to make sanitary products affordable and available for all women.
The government is particularly encouraging applications from specialist women’s networks whose projects include making onward grants to other women’s’ charitable organisations. This will make use of the expertise in the charitable sector, ensure this round of funding reaches as many disadvantaged women and girls as possible and help the country to build back better following the pandemic.
Grants may be for 12 or 18-month projects, and all activities must be concluded and funds spent by 31 March 2023.
The deadline for applications is Sunday 4th July 2021.
Charities can find out more here.
The Rural Halls Refurbishment Scheme is a pilot Scheme which will provide a grant to rural community and voluntary organisations to deliver capital refurbishment works to rural halls, with the intended aim of keeping community facilities viable and to support existing rural organisations to remain sustainable and identify new volunteers.
A mandatory accredited ‘Managing your Space’ training programme will be an integral part of the Rural Halls Refurbishment Scheme.The Scheme will target rural halls which have had limited previous investment, are under-utilised and restricted in usage. Your project must be located in a rural area. The Scheme will close at 3.00pm on Friday 11th June 2021.
Definition of a Rural Area For the purposes of this Scheme rural is defined as all those areas outside the statutory development limits of those towns with a population in excess of 5,000 inhabitants. Settlements with populations in excess of 5,000 inhabitants are listed in the Scheme Information document.
There are 2 stages to the process;
Stage 1 You must submit a Stage 1 Application form. We will use the information you provide on the Stage 1 Application form to check that both the organisation and proposed refurbishment project are eligible.
Stage 2 The Stage 2 Application process will offer the opportunity to those organisations, committed to the training element, to apply for the capital refurbishment costs.
Full information on who can apply, what is eligible for assistance, and how to apply is detailed in the Scheme Information Document
If, after having read the information and guidance, you feel you are eligible to apply then you should complete the application form.
Completed Stage 1 Applications must be e-mailed to the following email address: rhrs@daera-ni.gov.uk
If you have any difficulty accessing any of the above links please contact us at: rhrs@daera-ni.gov.uk
Stage 1 Application Forms must be with DAERA by 3pm on Friday 11th June.
5 Launch of public trust and confidence in charities research
New research into public trust and confidence in Northern Ireland’s charities will be launched by the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland next month.
The research, conducted by an independent agency on behalf of the Commission, gathered the views on charities of 1,500 adults. The findings will be unveiled for the first time at a live, online event on Friday morning, 25 June 2021.
Nicole Lappin, Chief Charity Commissioner, commented: “I firmly believe that public trust and confidence is a key part of the success of each and every charity in Northern Ireland, as well as the charity sector as a whole.
“Many charities depend on the goodwill and awareness of their supporters, their funders and the wider public. This research will not only show the levels of public trust and confidence in charities in 2021, but also what influences those levels and how they can be improved.”
The research will be launched via a live, online event on Friday morning 25 June 2021, with further details to be announced soon. Anyone interested in attending the launch is asked to send their name and email address to admin@charitycommissionni.org.uk to be added to the booking list.
6DfC Housing Supply Strategy - Call for Evidence launch
The Department for Communities is developing a new Housing Supply Strategy, as part of the Minister’s comprehensive and ambitious programme of work to increase housing supply and address housing stress.
The strategy is intended to provide a long term framework for the development of policy, interventions and action plans to deliver the right homes in the right locations, to help meet current and foreseeable housing needs and demands. As such, it is anticipated that the strategy will make a major contribution to the achievement of strategic outcomes as described in the draft Programme for Government outcomes framework, New Decade New Approach and the Department’s strategic plan, ‘Building Inclusive Communities’.
7Open Local Government - Greater Derry/L'derry workshop
Join NI Open Government Network for a special virtual workshop in Greater Derry/Londonderry, to help identify open government issues important to citizens in your area and ultimately improve local democracy and public services. Please prepare by considering at least one barrier to open local government that you or your organisation has experienced, as these will form the main discussion for the session.
The Assembly Committee for Education is currently examining how the COVID-19 lockdown, school closures and restarts has impacted the emotional wellbeing and mental health of young people. While the Committee has heard from a range of education and health professionals in recent months about the impact of lockdown on children and young people, we are keen that you are provided with the opportunity to tell your own story and have your voice heard.
We would like to invite you to take part in one or both of the following activities:
‘MY LIFE AND LEARNING IN LOCKDOWN’ (16+) COVID-19 lockdown and school restarts -
Impact on emotional wellbeing and mental health Zoom, 6pm-8pm, Thursday 3 June 2021
Are you aged 16 or over and in full or part-time education during lockdown?
Would you like the opportunity to share how the COVID-19 lockdown, school closures and restarts have impacted the emotional wellbeing and mental health of you or those around you?
The Northern Ireland Assembly Committee for Education is currently examining this important issue and we want to hear from you. While the Committee has heard from a range of education and health professionals in recent months about the impact of lockdown on children and young people, we are keen that young people are provided with the opportunity to tell their own story and have their voice heard.
The Committee would therefore like to invite young people, aged16 or over, who were in full or part-time education during lockdown to attend an informal focus group on Zoom on Thursday 3rd June 2021 from 6pm to 8pm.
If you would like to attend the event, please Register Now. For further information on the event Click Here
‘My Life and Learning in Lockdown’ (ALL AGES)
Give your views to the Committee, through a piece of artwork, photograph, poem or short story
You also have an option to showcase, through the arts, how you feel COVID-19 has impacted on your life. The Committee would like you to share some personal reflections through art, photography, poetry or a short story.
For further information on this arts project for children and young people and how to make a submission click here.
If you have any questions on the young person’s stakeholder event or the arts project do not hesitate to contact us on engagement@NIAssembly.gov.uk.
Child Sexual Exploitation training (Level 1).
This course is free to attend and will be delivered online.
Two dates for this course are available on 23rd June 2021 or 30th June 2021 from 10am - 1pm.
This course is aimed at Health and Social Care professionals such as social workers (including students), residential care workers, CAMHS, relevant professionals who work with children and YP (Safeguarding Nurses, School Nurses, Specialist Looked After Nurses, Lead Nurses in Sexual Health Services and AHP’s).
PARENT/TEEN COMMUNICATION: Accredited remote training Level 2 5/6/7 July 2021 9.30 am – 12 noon
These FREE ZOOM workshops are for anyone who works/volunteers with teens, parents or families.
Live remote learning: Session 1: Mon 5th July Session 2: Tues 6th July Session 3: Wed 7th July
All at 9.30 – 12 noon
Topics include:
*Practical ways to improve communication between adults and teens.
*Information on Puberty and Sexual Health issues.
*Where to find help and support for Parents and Teens.
Accreditation
This course has been accredited by the Open College Network Northern Ireland at Level 2. It has the value of 2 credits.
Who should apply?
Anyone who works or volunteers with families. / youth / parents in the
Northern Ireland Health Trust areas
Training Costs
This training is free of charge to successful participants. Funded by the Public Health Agency
For more information or an application form: Contact: LINDA ALLEN linda@acet-ni.comor tel: 07971 065641.
11Columba Ambassadors- A Project for 11-13 years olds (post-primary)
The Churches Trust are delivering an exciting new programme from May to September 2021.
This programme aims to empower young people to play a role in ensuring the lessons and legacy of Colmcille/Columba continue through shared learning about the life of Columba, and the design and development of an app of the Columba Heritage Trail.
Young people will have the opportunity to:
Meet new people & build friendships
Progress skills in App Development
Complete an OCN endorsed qualification
Increase knowledge of the life and legacy of St Columba.
The project will consist of a range of interactive, fun workshops and participants will have the opportunity to take part in outdoor activities and museum visits including Gartan (Donegal), the Tower Museum (Derry city) and a tour/scavenger hunt along the Columba Heritage Trail.
The project commences on Thursday 27th May (6pm-8pm) and will run each Thursday until the end of June 2021. Times for delivery throughout the Summer months may change.
This project has been supported though the Colmcille1500 Grant Scheme which is funded by the North West Development Fund and Creative Ireland, in conjunction with and supported by The Executive Office and The Irish Government.
13Greater Shantallow Community Arts - Studio 2 Youth and Community Programme
We are delighted to share with you our new programme for May-September 2021. We have plenty of activities for all ages, including:
Dance, Art, Drama, Singing, Fitness, Summer schemes and much much more!
14A helping hand to take part in The Big Lunch 2021
The Big Lunch is all about celebrating community connections and getting to know each other better. Join in with neighbourly acts of friendship where you live!
There are more reasons than ever to take part as The Big Lunch kicks of a #MonthofCommunity Starting with Volunteers week at the start of June and running through to Thank you day on 4 July, you can join in and recognise, volunteers and key workers who make your community a better place to live and you can do your bit by reaching out to reconnect with neighbours too.
Small acts can have a big impact, however you decide to join in, please register and know that you are helping strengthen community spirit.
Helping hand
Everyone who registers their intentions to take part in #TheBigLunch will be entered into a draw to win one of 50 £25 vouchers which you can use to support your activity.
Taking part can be as simple as using your lunch time for neighbourly acts of friendship in your community and you do not need to be part of a group or organisation to apply.
Step 1. Register your interest www.thebiglunch.com select an immediate download pack or you can order a printed pack while stock lasts. Step 2 Email gmccloskey@edenproject.com your name, area and what you plan to do. Step 3 Visit The Big Lunch NI on Social media and tag saying: I’m taking part in #TheBigLunch 2021 www.thebiglunch.com People who are successful will be contacted on 29 May and sent their voucher by email that day.
The Ulster American Folk Park has commissioned a major piece of public art which will be placed prominently outside our Visitor Centre, on the path to the Mellon Centre for Migration Studies. The sculpture will be part of the International Appalachian Trail, a hiking route being promoted from Donegal to Antrim.
The artwork will reflect the connections between Ulster and the Appalachian Mountains in America; while these connections are based in the underlying geology, the more significant connection is the large migration of people from Ulster to that area between 1700 and 1900. This piece will reflect on that, but crucially will also embrace new communities that have formed in Ulster in the last 100 years. The formation of new communities in Ulster is reflective of what Ulster people built in America over many generations.
The shape of the sculpture is inspired by the collective patterns of birds known as a murmuration. Words will be placed to replicate the individual birds of the murmuration. While the form of the sculpture has been decided upon, the content is not and we are asking a number of stakeholders to help us by suggesting single, standalone words or short phrases reflecting on personal experiences of emigration and the hope of a new life.
We would like your suggestions for words to be included in the art piece. These words would reflect your own understanding of the history of migration in the past and also present contemporaneous migration. We are keen to include as many new Northern Ireland communities as we can and have started to work with groups from the Chinese, Syrian and Hungarian communities.
I would be very happy to set up an online meeting with you / your group where you can learn more about the project and meet the artist who has been commissioned to produce the sculpture. If you are happy to take part, you will be asked to make suggestions of words or very short phrases which we will record on an online whiteboard. There is a list of categories at the end of the attachment for illustration only. Do not feel constrained by them.
The sculpture will contain approximately 600 words and the final decisions regarding word choice will be down to the creative team.
To deepen the narratives of the sculpture, we may ask for a piece of creative writing on why certain words or short phrases were important to you. This is completed in your own time and could be one sentence, a paragraph or a longer piece. While I am encouraging the creative writing it is not compulsory, and your input and suggestions for words will be highly valued.
The creative writing would be put together into a scrapbook, both a physical book and a virtual scrapbook whereby your creative writing would form part of the wider interpretation and narrative of the sculpture.
I attach a document with some more background details, and we are very keen to get as many minority communities involved as possible in what will be a valuable contribution to the story and legacy of migration at the Ulster American Folk Park.
Unfortunately we are working to a very tight deadline due to funding constraints and need to have the words and phrases with the artist by mid-June. The creative writing element doesn’t have a deadline and we hope to update and renew this element of the project every few years, adding to the narrative.
We recognise there may be sensitivities involved in discussing personal experiences and reflections, however this is a great opportunity for groups to have their voice heard, and develop a relationship with the museum which we hope will further help us address issues of representation, identity and narrative within our collections.
Many thanks for your attention, and I sincerely hope you will consider becoming involved, or sharing this information with other groups whom you think would like to contribute. Please do not hesitate to contact me should you have any queries, or if you would like to discuss the project further. Curator of Migration, Liam Corry: 028 8225 6314, or at Liam.Corry@nmni.com If any groups are interested contact Pauline Gardiner directly on Pauline.Gardiner@nmni.com
RNID, the national charity making life fully inclusive for deaf people and those with hearing loss or tinnitus, has launched a new free online hearing check that only takes 3 minutes to make life fully inclusive for millions of people.
The free online hearing check has been designed with audiology experts and takes just three minutes to complete. It measures how well you can hear a voice saying three randomly generated numbers over background noises and will give people instant results. While it’s not designed to replace a full hearing test conducted by an audiologist, it will recommend the next steps to take with a personalised certificate that they can take to their GP to discuss next steps.
If you think you have hearing loss, you can take RNID’s free online hearing check. It takes up to 3 minutes and will suggest whether your hearing is in a normal range or whether you may have hearing loss.
Are you interested in reconnecting safely with friends, family and colleagues? If so, FWIN have a limited number of writing sets available for women to encourage you to write letters to those you have missed during lockdown. The pack includes writing paper, envelopes, a pen and stamps.
If you would like to take part or require further information please Email: info@fwin.org.uk with your name and address. The sets will be posted out to you with further details.
19Global Arts Project Comes to the North West - Participation call out
UV Arts are leading a global, socially engaging Street Art project here in Derry/Londonderry, Strabane and the North West. We have organized an independent action group alongside our local council for the Springtime Inside Out Project.
*we have extended the deadline to open this up to bigger networks across the North West ...
For more info on the global arts, project check out their website: - https://www.insideoutproject.net/en/ Alternatively, there is a fantastic ted talk by the artist, JR here - https://www.ted.com/talks/jr_one_year_of_turning_the_world_inside_out?language=en
The project will welcome images from everyone, all who represent their community, far and wide. We want images of old, young, and everyone in between. The images will be printed as large-scale posters and pasted or glued to hoarding sites across our city and district, see the images and press release attached for a better idea of how this will be installed. We have 3 sites where the artwork will be on display, 2 in Derry (one in the waterside, 1 in the cityside), and 1 in Strabane.
So we are looking for participants. We would love to have the wider youth and community sector connected as part of this global art project which will be showcased across the world on the inside-out website and global network.
How to get involved - we are asking for individuals to submit images/selfies/headshots to be included in the project. We are also organizing "Photo Booths" at various locations in the city but we would be really interested to come to your youth clubs and organization to set up your own photo booth so that your participants can get involved and we can take the photos if you prefer. We do need to have permission slips and release forms signed off by parents and guardians for anyone under 18 but we can provide all the adequate forms necessary.
We would love to have representation from the entire city and district, it's a fun and alternative celebration of the people - the beating heart of our city and district.
For image guidelines and how to take your photos email for more information.
If you have any further questions and want to book us in for a photo booth at your youth club/organizations/ office etc please feel free to call anytime.
20Quotation for Art Installation for Summer Jamm 2021
Derry City & Strabane District Council are inviting quotations from suitably qualified and experienced artists/companies to produce five (art) installations/ displays/ exhibitions that will create an extraordinary and ambitious experience. It is envisaged that as part of the Summer Jamm celebrations in 2021 we will commission a series of art installations that will be developed around the theme the Flower of Sweet Strabane and will be located around the streets of Strabane town centre.
21Job vacancy, City of Derry International Choir Festival
Community & Outreach Co-ordinator
City of Derry International Choir Festival is looking for a skilled, enthusiastic, committed and passionate professional to work with and grow our range of participating community choirs, delivering live and on-line events during the 2021 Festival (October 20-24, 2021). This part-time, fixed-term role represents an exciting opportunity to work with one of the fastest growing music festivals in Northern Ireland by delivering this year's ambitions for the Festival Community Programme.
For more information and an application pack, please visit www.derrychoirfest.comor email matthew@walledcitymusic.com
Deadline for applications: Tuesday 31st May, 4.00pm. Interviews: w/c June 8th
22Public Appointment Recruitment Competition: Commissioner for Public Appointments For NI
The Executive Office is seeking applications for the post of Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland (CPANI).
Applications are welcomed from individuals in the public and private sectors, including charities and the social enterprise sector or community/voluntary organisations, regardless of religious belief, gender, disability, ethnic origin, political opinion, age, marital status, sexual orientation, or whether or not you have dependents. However, it is recognised that women, people with a disability, ethnic minority groups and young people are currently under-represented on public bodies and to encourage applications from people in these categories, the Department is also issuing this notice as widely as possible.
Information about the post, including an application form, can be obtained from HR Connect at www.nicsrecruitment.org.uk or by contacting HRConnect, 27 Clarendon Rd, Belfast, BT1 3BG. Telephone: 0800 1 300 330. Email: recruitment@hrconnect.nigov.net. The material will be made available, on request, in alternative formats such as Braille, large print, audio etc. All reasonable adjustments will be made to accommodate the needs of applicants/candidates with a disability and a Guaranteed Interview Scheme is in place for such applicants.
The closing date for receipt of completed applications is 12.00 noon GMT 11 June 2021.
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