This is a grants programme which enables groups to develop and try out new ideas that address problems related to mental wellbeing.Derry City & Strabane District Council is one of four areas within the UK who will benefit from the programme.
The scheme will test a new way of funding that connects communities with researchers to access knowledge, research skills and resources. The North West Community Network & Developing Healthy Communities will guide and support potential applicants in the Derry & Strabane area with developing their ideas and facilitate connections between communities and researchers.
There are two levels of funding available:
· grants of up to £25,000 to help develop ideas that are at a very early stage; and
· grants in the region of £90,000 to support, adapt and expand ideas that have already been developed and tested.
The Ideas Fund is for you if:
You have an idea (even at a very early stage) related to mental wellbeing that you want to explore and develop…
Your idea focuses on a problem that your community wants to solve
Your community is based in the Derry/Strabane area
You are keen to collaborate with professional researchers to bring your idea to life
Pre-application workshops will be held as follows and will be recorded. Sign up for a session on this webpage: https://www.theideasfund.org/application
· 18 Feb 2021 at 1400 – Why the Ideas Fund?
· 4 March 2021 at 1400 – What does Mental Wellbeing mean to you?
· 18 March 2021 at 1400 – What does your ideal partnership look like (Building Community-Researcher partnerships).
There will also be a local session for applicants from the Derry and Strabane Council Area on 25 February 2021 at 1400. Contact the local coordinator Roisin McLaughlin
(E-mail: roisin@nwcn.org) to register. Application forms will be available mid-April.
2NLCF Northern Ireland Invites BAME Participation in Pilot Programme
Building on consultations with a number of BAME-led organisations across the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector in Northern Ireland, the National Lottery Community Fund is now developing a dedicated programme to explore means of removing the barriers BAME communities face in accessing grants.
National Lottery Community Fund NI have identified that for many BAME communities and organisations, there are additional challenges around a lack of infrastructure support in the sector, and difficulties with application processes and filling in forms, which can all be further compounded by language barriers.
With this in mind, the Fund are developing a pilot programme and are looking for help from people from BAME communities in Northern Ireland to work with them. The Fund wishes this to be a participative and inclusive process by directly involving people, communities and potential grant recipients in decision making.
The pilot programme represents an opportunity to have a say in how funding decisions are made and will also inform what the Fund does in the future to support BAME communities in Northern Ireland by embedding this as a core part of its funding.
Programme sessions will take place throughout March and April 2021. Participants will be offered remuneration for their time and will also be able to claim expenses in line with National Lottery Community Fund policies.
Thursday, 25 February 2021 - 11am to 12.30pm | Online event
NICVA are hosting this FREE webinar for those who want to learn about how to use digital platforms and methods to fundraise more effectively. Professional fundraisers Matthew Allen from Concern, Rosie Forsythe from Cancer Focus and Nadine Campbell from The Rainbow Project and IOF will share their expertise and give us real examples of what has worked for them.
4How to Write a Funding Application - and an introduction to the fundraising landscape
Voluntary Arts' new online peer-learning series is calling everyone running creative groups across the UK to gain key skills. Our next session will be:
How to Write a Funding Application - and an introduction to the fundraising landscape on Monday 22 March between 2pm - 3.30pm with Duncan Bremner.
Coming next . . .
Becoming a charity or constituted group
Capturing your activity digitally & Publicising your creative group (two-part session)
How to ensure your creative group is accessible and welcoming
Buying your own premises and asset transfer
Environmental sustainability in your creative group
5Repast Policy Workshop on Memories & Politics of Conflict
We would like to invite you to a European comparative policy workshop, examining the outcomes of the RePast project.
Some European societies are still feeling the reverberations of conflicts rooted in the recent past and look for ways to process the difficult historical legacy. RePAST is a research project that addresses this issue; relying on a multi-method interdisciplinary approach, it investigates how eight countries (Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cyprus, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Kosovo, Poland, Spain) deal with their troubled pasts today. Specifically, RePAST examined discourses of past conflict as encountered in oral histories, in media and the arts, and in politics.
We are now towards the end of the project and look to engage with and inform policy makers of our findings and what they may mean for policy in the areas of education, media/arts, and politics.
We are now inviting you to a webinar to discuss the findings for Ireland. The webinar will take place on March 26th, 8.00AM-2.00PM GMT, with the workshop on Ireland scheduled for 9.10 AM.
6The Bill of Rights and PUL Women: Now More Than Ever?
As part of the International Women's Day Festival in Northern Ireland, on Friday 5 March at 7pm, the Human Rights Consortium is hosting a discussion about what the potential of a Bill of Rights means for PUL women.
In addition to historical support for the Bill of Rights, we will be examining whether in the face of a global pandemic, coupled with the constitutional issues of a potential border poll and also Brexit, has the time finally come for the Bill of Rights?
Join us via Zoom for this hour-long discussion.
Speakers include:
Emma Shaw
Julie-Anne Corr-Johnston
Eileen Weir
Anne Carr
Further details and registration can be found here.
8Would your organisation benefit from a FREE Health & Wellbeing Support Service?
Due to a fantastic, funded initiative (supported by the Public Health Agency) your organisation may be able to avail of a free Workplace Health & Wellbeing support.
The aim of the initiative is to mentor and support businesses through a structured four stage process to improve the health, safety and well-being of their employees within the workplace setting.
This is currently year 5 and the programme has been a resounding success with over 950 business in Northern Ireland having availed with huge benefits to employee health being realised. Businesses range from large multinationals to small micro businesses.
Registration is now open for new workplaces, for a limited time only and best of all it is completely funded by the Public Health Agency.
An overview of what is provided:
An opportunity to complete an evidence-based and employee wide health & wellbeing survey to identify areas of priority;
A comprehensive and informative report outlining the health of employees;
Health Champions training for a nominated individuals who will implement and lead the workplace strategy internally;
Provision of resources such as action plan templates, guides, questionnaires and literature;
Assistance with the development and implementation of a 3-year action plan; Delivery of 2 health & wellbeing sessions/initiatives your staff; &
Assistance with the evaluation of all health & wellbeing initiatives implemented
FREE Mental Health First Aid Training
Networking Opportunities
Presentation of certificate on completion of year 1
Complete a Registration of Interest Form and your area provider will be in touch. Alternatively, please contact your area provider via email:
Western Trust area: Sabrina Moore Health@Work NI sabrina@dhcni.com
The 3rd edition of the Fingerpost website is now live. This issue of Fingerpost examines Arts & Community Relations and is guest edited by Elaine Forde from The Playhouse.
The future of the Ubuntu Festival – have your say and enter a £100 prize draw!
The Ubuntu Festival is a multicultural festival that takes place in Derry/Londonderry each year, usually as part of the Spring Festival alongside St Patrick's Day. It celebrates the vibrant diversity of our local community.
This is your chance to share your views and shape what the festival could look like in the future. You could also win a £100 InStrabane or Foyleside shopping centre gift card of your choice.
Please see attached information for the next programme of Parent/ Carer Support Sessions beginning on February 23rd. This programme aims to support parents / carers of teenagers navigate through challenges and it focuses on a range of areas. Sessions will be facilitated via Zoom but those interested are asked to join the Private Facebook group where joining information and other useful resources will be posted:
‘Bursting the Bubble!’
Tuesday 16th March, 2pm (CET) On-line
An opportunity for Non-Formal Education to explore key issues with professionals from outside ‘the sector’ Full details here
Invites Presentations for The Internal Market
The Youth Work and Trainers Bazaar is inviting Youth Work Practitioners and Non-Formal Educators to present Ideas for Change on: Tuesday 16th March 3.30pm (CET) Full details here
Info on links included in posters and pdfs. If anyone wants more information they should go to: Youth Work Bazaar | The Youth Work & Trainers Bazaar (youth-work-bazaar.net) where they will find all the info, can register for Bursting the Bubble and they will find full details of the list of speakers, info on inputs and bios on the speakers.
- Comedy theater
- HOP CRASH COURSE. Smooth start with online learning
- BODY AWARENESS & PUBLIC SPEAKING FOR YOUTH WORKERS
- Ritual Lab
- Youth voice through a European digital radio
- Star of Europe - Online
- Call for Trainers
Please see attached poster in relation to a live online information event to learn about the importance of staying active and keeping safe at home. The session will be delivered by a physiotherapist who will discuss ways to build and maintain strength and balance to help prevent falls.
Other speakers: Age Friendly Officers, Stepping On Co-ordinator, Home Safety Officer & WHSCT Falls Integrated Pathway Co-ordinator who will be available to answer questions on how to stay healthy.
Those attending will receive FREE resources including, an exercise DVD, an information booklet a torch hat and pedometer.
The event for the Derry City and Strabane District Council area is on 16th March at 2PM.
To register for the event, please contact: Davina Coulter, Health Promotion Coordinator, Email: davina.coulter@oakhlc.com Phone/text: 07593 446201
16‘Accessing YOUR Positivity Palette during the Pandemic’ – Online Workshops
Is this Pandemic leaving you feeling ‘fed up’ stressed, anxious, low mood or depressed? Do you want some positivity, fun, laughter and good vibes back in your life?
Denise Devlin’s ‘Accessing YOUR Positivity Palette during a Pandemic’
online workshops are based on research from Positive Psychologist Dr Barbara Fredrickson.
Denise delivers NLP(Neuro Linguistic Programming) and CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) interactive exercises to enhance positivity and optimism during these challenging times.
These sessions are informative, inspiring, interactive and fun. They are delivered in 4 sessions or a one off workshop.
“In the times we are in, we have never needed our personal positivity more and this ‘Accessing YOUR Positivity Palette during the Pandemic’ online workshops, provides the perfect motivator in challenging times.”
Aideen McGinley, OBE, Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh
We had planned the 8th edition of the Echo Echo Festival around a series of new works by artists based on the island of Ireland. We commissioned and programmed work that was as "covid adaptable" as possible but January 2021 brought the understanding that we would have to make major adjustments to our plans to deal with the strict restrictions on gatherings and travel.
We decided that the best idea was to build on what we have learned over the "lock-down" year and create a series of live online events under the heading "Echo Echo Festival Presents".
The programme includes online talks with all the artists who would have shown their work, giving a chance to find out more about them and to whet the appetite for when they are able to come to Derry. There are short, livestreamed, solo dance performances by artists of the Echo Echo Ensemble. There is an online photographic retrospective of the past seven festivals. There are also classes and an opportunity to meet and question the whole Echo Echo team.
We would love for you to join us!
You can find out more at the "Festival" and "What's On" pages at www.echoechodance.com
18Virtual St. Patrick's Celebrations With Destination Derry and Friends
Another St. Patrick's day without local or global celebrations and the Irish community coming together to connect and celebrate as only they know how.
This year Destination Derry and friends want you to Join with them as they celebrate St Patrick's eve virtually, an evening filled with friends, "Home", Irish music, culture and a Derry catch up!
The event Destination Derry - Connecting With Home will take place virtually on zoom on St Patrick's Eve March 16th from 7 - 9.00 pm
With an opportunity to network with others worldwide in the Destination Derry - Connecting With Home breakout zoom rooms this is a great opportunity to celebrate a unique St. Patrick's eve event
Destination Derry (a not for profit collaborative community project powered by Taggart Homes) and partners are hosting a free, virtual, celebration to connect Derry people from all over the world with their local Derry community. A chance to make connections, reminisce and celebrate together while being apart. The event will also offer an opportunity to Foyle Search and Rescue to share their story and how all of us can help them in the great work that they do.
Partnering with Ulster University, Derry City and Strabane District Council, the Millennium Forum, City of Derry Airport, the North West Community Network and Taggart Homes to host a St. Patrick’s Day event that is reflective of the times we are living in.
Learn more about Destination Derry an initiative to promote Derry city and county as a great place to Live Learn Work and Visit delivered by Michael Taggart.
Message from Brian Tierney Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council
Memories from home - nostalgia and local memories to bring you virtually to the heart of Derry.
Entertainment by Ulster University students and a chat with a graduate from the Magee campus, now pursuing a career on the global stage.
Looking Back Moving Forward a nostalgic photo and video exhibition of St. Patrick's event from other years.
What's happening in Derry right now - the growth.
Our business partners discuss "Their Derry" their memories, the future and what's ahead. An intimate conversation with those who chose Derry as the location to set up their business, or place of work and how they reflect on their life in this special part of the world.
Opportunity to network with others worldwide in the Destination Derry Connecting With Home breakout zoom rooms.
20 Extension of Closing Date - Non Executive Members of the Drainage Council NI
Please note that the closing date for receipt of applications for the Non-Executive Members for the Drainage Council Northern Ireland detailed below, has been extended to 12.00 noon on Friday 26 February 2021.
Recruitment competition for the Drainage Council Northern Ireland
The Department for Infrastructure (DfI) has launched a public appointment campaign to appoint six Non- Executive Members to the Drainage Council NI. We are seeking to appoint people who have knowledge or experience in one of the following areas: Tourism (to include hospitality), Industry, Fisheries, Agriculture, Drainage and Conservation.
The Department will recognise less traditional career patterns and experiences, such as community involvement or voluntary work, as well as those found within the employment field. Applicants can use experience from within their working or personal life in their application forms.
No specific academic qualifications are required for the posts. Applicants will be expected to demonstrate their ability, skills and experience across a number of competences. Further details about the competition can be accessed through the link below.
Applications will be welcomed from all sections of the community.
Women, younger people, people with disabilities and people from ethnic minority communities are currently under-represented on DfI Boards. Applications from members of these groups would be particularly welcome.
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