NWCN E-bulletin 16 February 2017

1  Fundraising Advice Clinics - Wed 1 March & Thur 9 March 2017

Are you looking for expert funding advice?
 
NWCN is offering expert free fundraising clinics to members – your organisation can avail of one hour of support and advice. 

You must be a member of NWCN to avail of this opportunity – you can download the membership form at  www.nwcn.org for 2017-2018.

You can come along and discuss any fundraising plans your organisation may have or simply generate new ideas; you can also get suggestions on how to diversify your income and search for suitable grants.

The fundraising clinics last for one hour each, taking place on two dates: Wednesday 01st March & Thursday 09 March 2017 both running from 10am - 5pm.

There are only 10 slots available so if interested please contact the Network ASAP. You can attend on your own or bring others with you from your staff or Committee.

The following slots are now available:

If you would like to book a slot please contact NWCN on 028 7127 9090 or email info@nwcn.org quoting which time suits you best.

Venue: DiverseCity Community Partnership, Ronan Downey Room, 8-14 Bishop Street.

Top

2  Unscheduled Care in Western Trust area - Your experience, views and suggestions

Can you spare 15 minutes of your valuable time to answer eight straightforward questions about Unscheduled Care in this part of the Western Health & Social Care Trust area?

If so please click here to begin this anonymous survey.

North West Community Network has been commissioned by the Western Local Commissioning Group (LCG) to conduct Community Engagement around the area of Unscheduled Care.  

Unscheduled Care basically refers to when someone accesses health and social care services unexpectedly.  This can occur at any time and crosses the traditional boundaries between general practitioner (GP), community and hospital services and means there must be a 24 hour service available.

Across the Western Trust area, over 1000 surveys will be completed by the end of March 2017 and then analysed to determine what changes or priorities need to be considered in the shaping and commissioning of future services.

You can decide to complete the survey yourself, share it with friends and family, colleagues and service users.  The value and analysis of responses will be greatly improved if you can include answers on Age, Gender and Post Code so you are kindly asked to record these.

Your can complete this survey electronically here or, if more convenient, print and complete by hand.  It is also available on the Network's website -  www.nwcn.org   

Unscheduled Care Survey 

 Top

3   2017 Grants Workshop and Clinic - The Playhouse - 16th March 2017

The Ireland Funds is a philanthropic foundation supporting non-profit organisations across the island of Ireland. Each year, we run competitive funding programmes that allocate in excess of $1 million in funding to community and voluntary groups.

We are running a workshop in Derry~Londonderry (details below) 

Date: 16^th March 2017

Time:  12pm-1pm General Information Session
1pm-5pm One-to-one Grants ‘Clinic’ (limited bookings available through link below)

Content: The General Information Session will provide overview of guidelines and process and will include a Q&A session.
One-to-one appointments are for 15 minutes and can cover specific application or programme questions.

Online Registration: https://ajhc.typeform.com/to/XjeMVO

This workshop is free to attend but booking is essential.

Top

4 Together: Building a United Community - (TBUC)

The Central Good Relations Fund programme 2017/18 is now open for applications.

The application process for small grants remains open throughout the year (https://www.executiveoffice-ni.gov.uk/articles/together-building-united-community)

Successful applicants under the 2017/18 funding programme will be required to deliver projects by 31 March 2018.

How to apply:

The guidance notes, application form and a list of frequently asked questions are available to download via the links below:

• Central Good Relations Funding Programme - Guidance notes
• Central Good Relations Funding Programme - Application form
• Central Good Relations Funding Programme - Frequently Asked Questions

Hard copies of these documents may be obtained from the Central Good Relations Funding Programme.

Seven pre-application workshops will be held to inform potential applicants about the application process, how to complete the application form as well as to provide practical help and advice.

To register for a workshop, please complete the pre application registration form and return to goodrelationsfund@executiveoffice-ni.gov.uk

Deadline for applications - Monday 20 March 2017 at 2pm

  Top

5 Skills and Opportunities Fund - UK and Ireland

The Skills and Opportunities Fund has launched the first of two rounds for 2017.

The Skills and Opportunities Fund was set up in 2015 by the Royal Bank of Scotland in support of organisations that help people in disadvantaged communities develop, create or access the skills and opportunities they need to help themselves, skills that will enable them to get into work or start a business, now or in the future. This is the third year in a row that the RBS Group has committed £2.5 million which will be split between the two funding rounds.

Projects must be able to meet the priorities set for their region and focus:

• On a disadvantaged community within the UK or Republic of Ireland

On one or more of the following themes:

• Enterprise and entrepreneurship.
• Financial capability.

The maximum grant is £35,000 or 20% of the applicant’s previous year’s turnover. The upper limit of turnover is £10 million. There is no turnover restriction for schools or colleges. No more than 25% can be spend on capital costs, which are fixed one-time expense incurred on the purchase of land, building, construction and equipment.

Applications will be considered from not-for-profit organisations, such as a charity, social enterprise, or community group as well as from state-funded schools and colleges.

To be eligible, applicants must:

• Be based in either the UK or Republic of Ireland.
• Be able to demonstrate experience of working in and or with disadvantaged communities.
• Be able to demonstrate experience in measuring impact of the projects.
• Have a turnover of less than £10 million or be a state funded school or college, and have been trading for at least two years.
• Be able to complete the project within 18 months of the award.

The deadline for applications is 24 February 2017 (midday).

http://skillsandopportunitiesfund.rbs.co.uk/  

Top

6 Social Justice Small Grants Programme

Context:
The programme is funded by Atlantic Philanthropies as part of its Human Rights legacy fund in Northern Ireland.  Under this round of grants we have up to £30k available to allocate.  The fund will open again in May and November.

Aims:
To support local community groups with projects and initiatives that contribute to peacebuilding, tackle the impact of poverty and austerity measures and/or give voice to excluded groups.

Objectives:
Applications must demonstrate that their proposal will contribute to at least one of the following objectives:

• Increase awareness of and contribute to building a culture of rights within and between communities, particularly those most marginalized from decision making
• Support communities and marginalized groups to find solutions to contentious issues
• Strengthen local capacity to advocate by building relationships/connections between communities, policy makers, politicians and funders

Target Group: Community Sector
Locally based community groups and locally based ‘communities of interest’ with an interest in promoting or embedding human rights and social justice in their day to day work for and with their chosen communities.

Size of Grant:  Up to a max of £5,000 per annum.  An additional £1k to £1.5k Mentor support will also be provided. It will be a condition of the award that you work with a Mentor in the development of your project and issue(s).

Eligibility:
To be eligible for consideration for grant, the applicant groups must:

• be constituted and based in Northern Ireland or working towards being constituted
• have an active committee and bank account
• maintain financial records and present accounts to your AGM
• provide minutes of committee meetings
• have at least three cheque signatories who are unrelated
• have an income of £250k or less

What We Will Not Fund

• Activities that duplicate existing services
• Retrospective funding
• Capital build projects or large equipment purchases
• Promotion of religion
• Dinners, fund-raising promotions or other ticketed events
• Party political activity
• Individuals
• Substitution for statutory funding
• Projects where the Foundation’s contribution is a minor part of a larger funded initiative
• Initiatives that involve redistributing the funding as small grants
• Organisations that did not comply with reporting requirements of previous grant aid
• International trips
• Sole Traders or Private Business/Companies

Project Ideas:

• Developing Community Charter
• Rights/Culture/Identity Projects
• “Benefit Take Up” Campaigns
• Anti-Poverty Initiatives
• Projects which contribute to Peace Building

Closing date: 16 March 2017 at 1pm. Please note that late applications will not be accepted.

For more information, please contact the Grants Team on 028 9024 5927 at the Community Foundation.

To apply, please click the 'Apply Now' button below:

GRANT FAQS

Apply Now

Top

 7  Hustings with REACH Across 

REACH Across Election Forum - Tue 21st Feb - 4pm - 5.30pm- Holywell, Bishop St.

REACH Across are hosting an Election Forum and wish to invite local youth groups and schools to send interested members and students, as well as teachers and community workers.

At present, Eamonn Mc Cann, Colm Cavanagh, Elisha Mc Callion and Mark H Durkan have agreed to attend, all other parties have been invited. The event will open with short statements from panellists followed by a Q & A session..

Please reply if interested in attending to reach_across@hotmail.com  

 Top

8 City Centre Forum - DCCP Hustings Event

Friday 24th Feb 11:00 - 13:00
HOLYWELL - DiverseCity Community Partnership, 10-12 Bishop Street, Derry/Londonderry, BT48 6PW

The DiverseCity Community Partnership (DCCP) is holding a hustings event to encourage local community organisations and their clients to engage with candidates in the upcoming Assembly Election on matters of importance to the sector locally.

All candidates from the Foyle constituency have been invited to participate in the event that will take place on Friday 24th February from 11.00am - 1.00pm at the HOLYWELL - DiverseCity Community Partnership building in Bishop Street.

Questions will be tabled from the DCCP partner organisations and other community groups from the city. The event is open for all to attend and will be followed by a light lunch.

Please let us know if you are planning to attend by emailing lisa@holywelltrust.com. If your organisation would like to submit a question of interest to the community sector locally to be put to the candidates please email it through to gerard@holywelltrust.com.

Top

9  Hustings with Enterprise North West

Enterprise North West are hosting the event at North West Business Complex next Thursday 23^rd February at 7pm.

The event will give local businesses and social enterprises an opportunity to voice their concerns and hear first-hand what the candidates will do for local business if elected.

Brexit will be one of the main talking points and businesses will want to know what these candidates will do to mitigate the issues surrounding it, if elected.

To register for the event contact Enterprise North West on 02871 352693 or alternatively email claire@enterprisenw.com. Questions can be also be submitted in advance to this email address, if you cannot make it.

Top

10 Pioneer Communities: Invitation to join Third Sector Advisory Group   

Derry and Strabane Pioneer Communities Project

Third sector organisations are invited to nominate representatives to sit on a Third Sector Advisory Group for this project. Pioneer Communities is a new ground breaking initiative in the North West, and the first of its kind in the UK. Nominations should be sent to thenderson@wavetrust.org by Friday 10th March. The Advisory Group will mainly operate by email and telephone, but may meet once per month.

Derry City and Strabane District Council, Western Health and Social Care Trust, WAVE Trust and other relevant parties have come together to launch a Pioneer Communities project in 5 Neighbourhood Renewal Areas of Derry and Strabane: Outer North, Outer West, Strabane, Triax and Waterside. This project received the backing of the Derry and Strabane councillors at council in November 2016.

The purpose of the project is to support the creation of the best possible outcomes for children born in these NRAs over the next 5 years. If the project meets its objectives – which are to demonstrate both improved child outcomes and savings to the public purse – it is hoped that it will then be rolled out to other Western Trust catchment areas.

Because the most crucial period determining future outcomes for a child are its experiences in the earliest years of life – the period when the future architecture of the brain is determined, and the peak age for child abuse and neglect – the project support families from Conception to age 2. You may like to read the UNICEF-backed report Conception to age 2 – the age of opportunity on WAVE’s web site www.wavetrust.org.

The project will be a mix of universal and targeted support programmes for families. The targeted elements will particularly support families where there are, or is a risk of, factors known as ‘ACEs’ – Adverse Childhood Experiences. These include homes where domestic violence may occur; where one or both parents may be struggling with mental health issues including depression; where there are substance dependency issues; and where one or both parents may themselves have suffered ACEs in their own childhood.

What does the project involve?

The emphasis of the project will be to give babies the best possible chance of happy, successful lives, and families the best chance of happiness and harmony. This means ensuring families are effectively supported from the point of conception, with stronger universal services, strong community networks and more effective targeted services. The project ‘blueprint’ has 3 main components: A) Community Engagement, B) Family Support, and C) Evaluation.

A) Community Engagement
Research shows that parents and carers who have community and family support are more likely to provide safe and healthy homes for their children. By strengthening the power of the community and creating stable, nurturing, environments for families and children, we are constructing a strong foundation to grow loving and caring families.

B) Family Support

The family support activities will form part of a newly designed ‘Primary Prevention’ pathway for children in the Pioneer Community, which will dovetail with work currently undertaken – for example by Family Nurse Partnership and/or local Children’s Centres. The choice of support programmes will be tailored to local need and subject to agreement between local partners. Family support will have 3 main stages: 1) assessment of risk/need, to identify families most in need of support; 2) universal and targeted support; 3) monitoring of outcomes.

C) Evaluation

Research evaluation of the project will probably be undertaken by a team from University and Birkbeck Colleges London, the Universities of Kent and Warwick, and the London School of Economics, supported by local universities.

Top

11  Consensus based Decision Making Workshops 23 February 2017

Venues:  Whitaker Suite, Guildhall.  1.00pm – 2.30pm

               St Columbs Park House    7.00pm – 9.00pm

Consensus based decision making facilitates those taking a decision to be involved in identifying options and, if necessary, taking a consensual vote on preferred outcomes

Workshop 

The aim of the Consensus Based Decision Making workshop is to enable  interested individuals involved in decision making processes  to find out more about the consensus based decision-making concept and process.  It will outline what consensual decision-making is, the various processes that are involved and the contrasting procedures available for taking a vote within a community, partnership, committee or Council.

Agenda

The workshop will last 90 minutes and include:

• Introduction to the concept of consensual decision-making and how it is used elsewhere;
• The consensual decision-making process;
• Voting options and variants;
• A worked Modified Borda Count vote using a fictional but realistic example from local government;
• Questions and answers. 

Who
The workshop will be delivered by St Columb's Park House  and Peter Osborne of Rubicon Consulting.

For more information or to register for either workshop, please contact Nuala on nuala@stcolumbsparkhouse.org or call 028 71343080

Top

12 Job opportunities with Relate

Can you help us Build Better Relationships?

Relate Northern Ireland is a registered charity and the leading organisation providing confidential relationship counselling support to individuals, couples, young people and families throughout Northern Ireland.

Relate NI is now recruiting qualified Sessional Counsellors to work with relationship issues with:
• families
• young people 11-25 years
• children under 10 years

Have you:

• A Diploma/Masters in Systemic Practice, Child Psychotherapy, Therapeutic Counselling with young people, Play Therapy – or equivalent
• Undertaken casework supervised practice (minimum 150 hours in past 2 years)
• Membership of a professional counselling body recognised by Relate NI (or in the process of registering)
• Experience working with relationship/family breakdown, mental health, addiction, trauma, young people, children

Applications would be welcome from qualified counsellors across Northern Ireland especially in rural areas in the Western & Southern Trust. The majority of the work will be in the evening, so please consider this when applying.
Download an application pack from our website www.relateni.org or request in writing from Relate NI, 3 Glengall Street, Belfast, BT12 5AB. (CV’s will not be accepted)

Closing date for completed applications is Friday 24 February 2017 at 12 noon.

Relate NI is committed to diversity and equality of opportunity and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.

Top

13   Job Opportunity with Bright Young Things Drama

At BYT we are so fortunate to attract facilitators who are as bright and dynamic as the young people we teach! BYT is built on the strength of its facilitators and we are passionate about bringing the expertise of those who have trained and worked with the best in the arts and education industries to the young people of NI.

We are not a stage school. Our ambition is not to deliver the stars of tomorrow. No. We want more than the stars!

We are driven to nurture and ignite self belief and tenacity in every young person so that they can put their best foot forward, on any path, today and into the future.

BYT is about CONFIDENCE. COMMUNICATION. CREATIVITY.

Therefore we need the most experienced, talented, knowledgeable, passionate and consistent team to deliver that goal. If that’s you, thank you. You are a bright young thing and we think you are great!

“I cannot speak highly enough of the wee family we have nurtured in the BYT Team. From our volunteers, to trainees, to assistants, to facilitation leader, to me – we all arrive at a workshop with a full can of beans and a determination to make each session better than the last. We get to know each individual child and their needs and are motivated by one thing – to help those children to present their best selves through confidence, communication and creativity. And we have great craic doing it!”

This year we aim to expand our presence across the province and we aim to run lots of summer camps in a town near you! We are therefore seeking to increase our pool of freelance facilitators.

If you would like to be considered, send your CV and a covering letter to lisa@bytdrama.com by Friday 17th Feb at 12 noon stating:

The role(s) you think you best fit and why Your location
Availability
Means of transport

All positions are freelance and likely to form a part of your portfolio of work rather than your sole income. If shortlisted, you will be invited to a BYT Team recruitment day in March.

Here’s to loving going to work every day!

Lisa Duffy
Director of BYT lisa@bytdrama.com

For all employment information please see: http://www.bytdrama.com/jobs/ 

Top

14  Oxfam Event: Would changing our corporate tax system do more harm than good?

The taxing question

Would changing our corporate tax system do more harm than good?

Please join us for a panel discussion hosted by Oxfam Ireland, chaired by Yvette Shapiro, with:

• Philip McDonagh, economist
• Patricia McKeown, regional secretary of UNISON
• Wanjiru Kanyiha, Kenya tax justice activist
• Jim Clarken, Oxfam Ireland CEO

At the MAC, Belfast, 6pm on Monday 27 February 2017

Light refreshments provided                                     
Please RSVP to:  Christine.mccartney@oxfamireland.org

Top

15 Forest for Life Information Seminar 

C.E.R..E.S. Europe are hosting an information seminar; Forest For Life on Wednesday the 22^nd of Feb 2017 at the Drummond Hotel, Ballykelly, 10am -12.noon.

The seminar will discuss the development of Forest Schools in Northern Ireland and is aimed at groups, organisations interested in setting up forest schools. We will discuss the merits of forest schools, how to develop a programme of activity and how to access funding.

C.E.R.E.S. Europe  in conjunction with the charity N.W.L.L.A. deliver Forest Leader Courses and outdoor learning skills. We wish to encourage the setting up of forest school clusters throughout Northern Ireland and offer support opportunities to develop and deliver your project.

Please contact either Mary or Peter on 028777 64429 or email mlynch@nwlla.org to book a place.

Top

16 Upcoming Opportunities with Prince's Trust

Get Started in Fire and Rescue
 
Are you 16-24? Out of employment and education? Not only will you discover new talents and develop new skills, but you’ll also benefit from support from our staff or one of our mentors to help you uncover your next steps.
 
Participants will get; 

• Learn basic firefighter skills including ladder climbing and hose running
• Travel expenses paid on programme
• Doesn't affect your benefits
• Up to three months support 

Monday 6^th to Friday 10^th March
Taster: Wednesday 1^st March
To find out more contact the Prince’s Trust on 07739859692 or email christopher.mcdonagh@princes-trust.org.uk.

Below is a brief overview of what is coming up in this period, with some additional information attached;

If you are interested in any of the above please contact Christopher on: 07739859692 or at christopher.mcdonagh@princes-trust.org.uk. 

Top

17 Latest Offers from Salto Youth

Youth worker - online training course
Are you interested in the YOUTH WORKER world? Then we are here to guide you through the basics of what a Youth Worker can do.  You will be able to explore the content at your own pace: watch short movies, read the content, work in groups or play short games
Organizer: The suitcase, the map and the voyage of a youth worker (NGO/Others)
This activity is for participants from: Erasmus+: Youth in Action Programme countries, Partner Countries Neighbouring the EU
Application deadline: 22 February 2017

› More details

 
International seminar on cross-sectorial cooperation in the field of inclusion “Key to inclusion”
The seminar will gather representatives of different sectors, who have been working cross-sectorally on the topic of inclusion of young people to share their practices, learn from each other and exchange experience and models of cooperation.
Organizer: This seminar is co-organised by CMEPIUS and MOVIT, Slovenian national agencies for the Erasmus+ programme. (National Agency)
This activity is for participants from: Erasmus+: Youth in Action Programme countries
Application deadline: 1 March 2017

› More details

 
With Media Literacy towards Cultural Awareness and Tolerance
Training Course aims through sharing of experiences increase competencies of youth leaders and youth workers in work with multicultural groups of young people and exchange different methods for increasing media literacy of young people.
Organizer: International Educational Center GEMS (NGO/Others)
This activity is for participants from: Czech Republic, Finland, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Macedonia, Former Yugoslav Republic of, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom
Application deadline: 3 March 2017

› More details

 
Lobbying and Advocacy in the Youth field
Empowering youth organizations to be active and sustainable in the process of defending causes and positions. Organizations understand their role in policy making and international youth work for better Europe for youth.
Organizer: Human Resource Development Centre (National Agency)
This activity is for participants from: Erasmus+: Youth in Action Programme countries
Application deadline: 12 March 2017

› More details

 
Set your Story free TC
“Set your Story free”...
Organizer: ERASMUS+ YOUTH NA HUNGARY - Tempus Public Foundation (National Agency)
This activity is for participants from: Erasmus+: Youth in Action Programme countries
Application deadline: 12 March 2017

› More details

 
THE POWER OF WORDS
Facebook, Google, Trump or Beyonce: who influences our mindsets and opinions, telling us how to live our lives? This training focuses on communication skills, to help think critically about information, and develop meaningful communication for youth work.
Organizer: FRSE (National Agency)
This activity is for participants from: Russian Federation, Eastern Partnership countries, Erasmus+: Youth in Action Programme countries
Application deadline: 12 March 2017

› More details

 
iNFLuence+: To make an influence supporting life skills with non-formal learning training course
Do you want to develop yourself further as a youth worker by using new tools & acquire effective methods for empowering youngsters? Let's explore different ways of making a positive influence on young people with non-formal learning tools.
Organizer: Turkish National Agency (National Agency)
This activity is for participants from: Erasmus+: Youth in Action Programme countries
Application deadline: 23 March 2017

› More details

 
EVS GO POLITICAL: exploring political dimensions of the EVS cycle training course
The training course “EVS GO POLITICAL; exploring political dimensions of the EVS cycle” is a chance to explore and implement a political dimension in EVS (European Voluntary Service) activities.
Organizer: Turkish National Agency (National Agency)
This activity is for participants from: Erasmus+: Youth in Action Programme countries
Application deadline: 23 March 2017

› More details

 
TOF – TRAINING OF FACILITATORS of ERASMUS+ YOUTH
Welcome to the II edition of ToF. If you are interested to gain experience in youth work within the non-formal education frame, and how to facilitate activities, this course is for you.
Organizer: Spanish NA (National Agency)
This activity is for participants from: Erasmus+: Youth in Action Programme countries
Application deadline: 26 March 2017

› More details

 
Facilitate inclusion!
Are you working with young people with fewer opportunities and you wish to add a "taste" of E+ to your development? Are you involved in E+ projects and you want to be more inclusive through your activities? Then you are in the right place!
Organizer: A.N.P.C.D.E.F.P.- Erasmus+ Agency from Romania (National Agency)
This activity is for participants from: Erasmus+: Youth in Action Programme countries
Application deadline: 14 April 2017

› More details

 
SALTO South East Europe Resource Centre Trainers Pool - Call for trainers
SALTO SEE has been working with pools of experts for many years: trainers to implement the EVS volunteer training cycle, EVS accreditors and Contact Points in the Erasmus+ Partner countries of the Western Balkans. In order to create a work context that, we hope, will be more beneficial, coherent, effective and reliable for our Centre as well as for the trainers we work with, we aim to create a Pool of trainers working with SALTO SEE to implement is overall offer of support activities.
We are looking for up to approx. 10 trainers coming from Programme countries or Partner countries of the Western Balkans to join our Pool of Trainers.
Do you have experience as a trainer in European or intercultural youth work?
Would you like to join a pool of trainers in the framework of the Erasmus+ programme in the field of youth, with a focus on cooperation with the Western Balkans and capacity- and competence-building in this region?
Then this call might be of interest for you.
 More information

Application deadline: 02.03.2017

Top

18 Upcoming Mindfulness Programmes 

AWARE Mindfulness Programmes
This is Part 1 of the AWARE Mindfulness Programme which cultivates self-compassion, helps you to relax and recharge and means that you are kinder to yourself and others. Frank Liddy (AWARE’s Mindfulness practitioner) will teach you tools to improve your focus, reduce your stress levels and increase your creativity.  As you become aware of your emotions, you learn to become an observer of negative thought patterns.  This reduces anxiety and helps cultivate a stress response rather than stress reactivity which in turn improves your sleep patterns, general wellbeing and will help stabilize your mood. Evidence of course hours can be provided for CPD or PDP purposes. (Please note, it is advised that you complete both Part 1 and Part 2 in order to get maximum impact from Mindfulness).

Part 1

Belfast – Friday 24^th February 2017, 10am – 4pm
AWARE’S Mindfulness Suite, 40-44 Duncairn Gardens, Belfast, BT15 2GG
Price: £70

Derry/Londonderry – Saturday 25^th February 2017, 10am – 4pm
15 Queen Street, Derry/Londonderry, BT48 7EQ  
Price: £70

Part 2

Seamus Heaney Home Place Centre
Saturday 11^th March 2017, 10am – 4pm
Price £80

Mindfulness for Professionals

Belfast – 25 & 26 March 2017, 10am - 4pm 
AWARE's Mindfulness Suite, 40 - 44 Duncairn Gardens, Belfast, BT15 2GG.

This condensed course in Mindfulness will benefit Professionals from any discipline. Mindfulness can be introduced into your work life to increase emotional resilience and job satisfaction. In two days, participants will learn about the scientific theory supporting Mindfulness and its benefits, the core techniques and will be equipped to use Mindfulness as a tool to improve focus, reduce stress, and increase creativity. . This training will be of particular benefit to healthcare professionals Nurses, General Practitioners, Occupational Therapists, Social Workers have gained great benefit on a personal and professional level from attending AWARE’s Mindfulness Programmes.  It is of note that those in the Education sector have also benefited much from AWARE’s Mindfulness Programme including University Lecturers, Secondary and Primary School Teachers. Evidence of course hours will be provided for CPD or PDP purposes. 
Price : £129

If you wish to register for any of these programmes, please click on this link https://www.aware-ni.org/upcoming-mindfulness-courses.html  and click the 'Register here' beside the course you are interested in. If you are experiencing any difficulty, please get in touch with Aisling by email aisling@aware-ni.orgor by calling 02871260602.

Top

19 Learn about drug and alcohol services in the West

The Public Health Agency commissions a range of comprehensive drug and alcohol support services for children, young people, and their families, in the Western Trust area.

These therapeutic services are delivered by Start360 and ASCERT.

Start360 is holding a coffee morning in their Derry/Londonderry office on Friday 24 February – drop in any time between 10.00 and 12.00 to learn more about these services.

DAISY, the ‘Drug and Alcohol Intervention Service for Youth’ operates across the Western Trust area, working with children and young people up to age 25, who are misusing drugs and alcohol and need support to reduce harm.

Our local staff in both Start360 and ASCERT have been providing youth treatment services in the Western Trust for over eight years now, working across the whole Trust area. Between us we have offices in Derry/Londonderry city centre, Omagh town centre and Enniskillen town centre. Working in partnership with a wide range of agencies, we can meet children, young people and families in venues convenient for them.

VOICES (helping children and young people cope with hidden harm) has been in place since July 2015, for children and young people who are impacted by parental or other adult substance misuse.

Both DAISY and VOICES work with the whole family, offering a range of support both individually and in groups.  

Marie Wright from Start360 said, ‘We are delighted that we are able, with the support of the PHA, to continue supporting children and young people with substance misuse issues, whether they are misusing themselves or have been negatively impacted by their parent’s use. These are vital services and we have locally based, highly professional practitioners available to provide these. For a VOICES referral, email voices.west@start360.org’.

Chris McMahon from ASCERT said, ‘It’s very easy to make a referral for a young person into DAISY from anywhere in the Western Trust.  You can call any of our offices and we can guide you through the process. Or just complete our online referral forms and email them to daisy@ascert.biz. Our local staff are always happy to help and feel free to call for guidance on the best way to support any young person’.

Cathy Mullan from the Public Health Agency said, ‘The Public Health Agency recognises that young people and families can be negatively affected by alcohol and drugs. The Agency believes that there are effective services that can really make a difference to young people. The DAISY and VOICES services are a key part of the provision we put in place in the West to provide advice, treatment and support in a safe and friendly environment.  It is our intention that those who seek help will be supported to overcome any challenges caused by alcohol and drugs so they can live full and active lives’.

To find out how to access all services, visit our websites: http://www.start360.org/ / www.ascert.biz

Or drop in to Start360’s office in Derry/Londonderry on Friday 24 February between 10.00 and 12.00 – find us at 2 Castle Street, just off Shipquay Street.

Top

20 Softly Spoken' - a book about the untold stories of women during the Troubles
 
EVENT:      Book Launch & FWIN AGM 
VENUE:     Holywell Building, Bishop Street
DATE:        Wednesday March 1st, 2017
TIME:         11.00am - 12.30pm (including lunch)
 
FWIN are delighted to invite you to launch of 'Softly Spoken' - a book about the untold stories of women during the Troubles.
 
FWIN Co-ordinator, Catherine Cooke, said: "There are so many stories from the Troubles that we are all very familiar with but more often than not we are hearing a very male centred narrative. With this book we wanted to capture what life was like for women during the conflict, many of whom have suffered in silence for years.
 
"This book is the culmination of months of hard work by FWIN, funded throughThe Executive Office, putting together a unique and insightful book that will be a valuable resource to anyone with an interest in our shared history."
 
The book launch will be followed by FWIN's Annual General Meeting.
 There will be a copy of the book (which is free) available for everyone who attends the launch.
 
To register for this event please email: info@fwin.org.uk or tel: 028 71 266 291.

Top

21 “Go Slow” Rally
 
The Derry based campaign group Breaking Down Brexit is planning a “Go Slow” rally at the Bridge End border crossing this Saturday 18^th February 2017 at 10am for an hour to highlight what the reality of Brexit could be like for people crossing the border.
 
Speaking before the rally Dermot O’Hara, spokesperson said “We are holding it on a Saturday morning to lessen any disruption and to keep the issues of Brexit flagged up in the media, particularly before the election. Also this will give people an indication of the reality of Brexit and with all the possible disruption that will bring on the border.”
 
The event will consist of the mock custom post being put in place again and people with large banners and placards highlighting No Brexit - No Border will be on the side of the road. There will be a major rally on the Dundalk border at Carrickarnon as well with other smaller ones in support at Bridge End, Lifford, Aughnacloy, Moybridge, Aghalane and Belcoo.
 
“We are asking people to raise the Brexit issue with candidates in the forthcoming election and ask them how they propose to deal with the negative impact it will have on the economy, on cross border workers, on road transport, the farming community, the human rights of people, the loss of funding into the community sector and the subsequent loss of jobs and services in this most deprived area in the north of Ireland.”
 
The Breaking Down Brexit group are a broad, cross community and non-party-political group and invite anyone who shares their concerns to join with them in building an effective campaign.

They have come together to ensure that the North’s democratically expressed wish by 56% of its people is to remain within the EU is respected.

The group wants to ensure that the views of local communities are heard when big decisions affecting their futures are taken in London, Dublin and Brussels.
 
The prospect of a new EU frontier, stretching from Dundalk to Derry some 300 miles, is not acceptable to those living and working in border areas, North or South and this “Go Slow” is to give voice to people.
 
Everyone is invited to the rally at the old custom post at the border on Saturday morning.
 
Contact: Dermot O’Hara, 07595893757

Top

22 Echo Echo Dance Theatre Company Presents: The Cove

“... told with fable-like simplicity, the dance is a multi-layered meditation on overcoming the constant force of gravity and the fear of falling in order to achieve the joyous freedom of the peak”

Michael Seaver. Irish Theatre Magazine

The Cove is a performance about the natural world, and the place of people in it. It reflects on the experience of the beauty of the wild Irish coast and its embodiment in movement.

The Cove is created around and with a large scale installation made from heavy, strong, shiny blocks. They reflect the light, like the surface of the sea or the shiny rocks. Sometimes they seem steely and sometimes warm. They are manipulated, with effort, and pleasure, into different configurations which provide the dancers with a changing environment with different opportunities and challenges.

Through this environment a woman travels. She climbs, sits, contemplates and is enfolded by the spirit of the place.

The Cove is the result of a creative collaboration between Echo Echo Artistic Director Steve Batts, artist Dan Shipsides and musician Christopher Norby.

www.echoechodance.com

www.danshipsides.com  

www.christophernorby.com

ECHO ECHO STUDIOS

DERRY-LONDONDERRY
Sat 18th / Sun 19th February, 8pm
Sat 25th March, 3pm
Tickets: £8 / £5 Box Office: +44 (0)28 71308883
Book online: www.echoechodance.com 

If you have any questions please don't hesitate to contact us at:

+44 (0) 28 7130 8883

info@echoechodance.com