1The Good Friday Agreement - Have your views heard
The Belfast/Good Friday Agreement will be 25 years old in 2023. To mark this event, Community Dialogue are facilitating a series of consultative dialogues with a wide range of individuals and groups. The purpose of these sessions is to explore people’s views of how the Peace Process has developed over the last 25 years.
We will be asking participants:
Where are we in terms of the Peace Process?
What are the difficulties we face?
What do we need to do to overcome those difficulties?
What needs to be done now in order to achieve a better future over the next 25 years?
Would you be willing to participate to have your voice heard?
In conjunction with North West Community Network we will be facilitating a dialogue session on:
Wednesday 1st February at 10.30am Venue: Holywell DiverseCity Community Partnership, 10-14 Bishop Street Refreshments will be served
If you wish to take part please email info@nwcn.org or call 028 7126 1941
The National Lottery Community Fund continues to support communities across Northern Ireland.
Their popular small grants programme, National Lottery Awards for All, is open and accepting applications for community led projects that will bring people together and build strong relationships in and across communities.
Groups can also apply for two grants under Awards for All in a 12-month period. This could help organisations who want to support those who are struggling as a result of the cost-of-living crisis or who want to bring people together to mark moments of local and national significance such as His Majesty the King’s Coronation in May.
Decisions can take up to 12 weeks on an application so bear this in mind when you are planning your project start date.
The National Lottery Community Fund recently announced awards that have been made through their funding programmes in Northern Ireland and this will give groups an idea of the type of projects that they can support.
The fund is aimed at addressing digital poverty by awarding grants of up to £2,000 to enable local groups and organisations in particular areas, to provide access to digital technology for the most vulnerable in that community, with a particular focus on older people and young people aged 18 and under.
We want the fund to support community organisations who are supporting young people or older people to address the digital divide.
We will offer grants of up to £2,000 for projects to address any gaps that younger and older people might face in their communities, which may include provision of access to technological devices.
The aim of the Annual Funding Programme (AFP) is to support Northern Ireland’s arts infrastructure through grants to organisations in all artforms and practices for their core and programming costs. AFP organisations will be key to helping us achieve the objectives set out in our 5-year strategic framework for developing the arts, Inspire / Connect / Lead, and we expect all awardees to support us in delivering these objectives.
You can apply for core costs and programming costs, an amount of up to £3,000 each year is available within the grant.
Deadline for applications: Friday 17th February 2023 at 12pm
Projects that have a strongly justified need based on research;
Projects or programmes of work that are innovative and strategic;
Projects or programmes that are centred around prevention and early intervention;
Projects that directly respond to the cost-of-living crisis and increase in refugees from Ukraine and elsewhere in the world;
Projects that respond to the climate and biodiversity crisis through research, education, awareness and practical response;
Projects that have an impact on the wider community or sector through collaboration, evaluation and sharing learnings;
Projects that have the potential to be sustained beyond the life of this grant;
Projects that will include the voice and feedback of beneficiaries in its development.
Impact Grants Strand 1: Addressing Essential Needs
Impact Grants Strand 2: Improving Wellbeing
Impact Grants Strand 3: Creativity and Play
Under eachStrand, grants of £25,000 to £50,000 are available to eligible organisations for strategic and impactful projects that help improve outcomes for children at a national and/or local level.
6Building the Community-Pharmacy Partnership Programme The Building the Community-Pharmacy Partnership (BCPP) Programme is led by CDHN and funded by the Health and Social Care Board (HSCB), with strategic direction provided by a multi-agency Steering Group. BCPP supports communities and community pharmacists to work in partnership to address locally defined needs so that people make connections, listen to and understand each other better and work together to address the social determinants of health and health inequalities.
We recognise that health is impacted by much more than the everyday lifestyle decisions that we make, important as they are. Research shows that social isolation can be as damaging for your health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. With this in mind, our projects aim to address these wider issues and tackle the root causes of poor health. These vary greatly for different groups of people and may include mental health issues, housing issues, low educational attainment, poverty or debt. Group work and relationship building is at the core of all our projects. By sharing our assets, our lived experiences and supporting each other we can achieve great things.
For information on the Programme or for some support with your application, please contact a member of the BCPP team on 028 3026 4606.
Closing date for next funding rounds:
Level 1 - 16/2/23
Level 2 - 23/3/23
7Foyle Friends of Ukraine - Homes for Ukraine Online Information Session
Are you interested in finding out how you can offer shelter to a Ukrainian person or family either within your own home or in a premises you own? Have you considered Homes for Ukraine Scheme but need more Information?
Our team are holding an online information session on Wednesday 25th January at 6.30pm, to talk you through the process, share success stories and invite applications.
8FWIN's Free Getting Together Club - Every Tuesday & Thursday!
Foyle Women’s Information Network is starting up a new Getting Together Club, funded by the Tampon Tax.
This club will run every Tuesday and Thursday until further notice, from 10am - 12 noon in the cafe area of Holywell Trust.
This initiative has began to help ease pressure on our community members as their living costs increase. It will provide you with a hotspot to heat up, grab something to eat and make friends.
Please come along on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Feel free to share with anyone who you think could benefit from this initiative.
Date: 7th February 2023
Venue: St Columb's Park House, L'Derry
Time: 6:30pm - 9:30pm
safeTALK is a 3-hour training workshop, which raises general awareness on how to prevent suicide in our community. Learn four basic steps to recognise persons with thoughts of suicide and help connect them with suicide intervention resources.
Please Note: This workshop is not suitable for anyone within bereaved by suicide within the last 12 months
Why come to safeTALK?
Most people with thoughts of suicide invite help. Often these opportunities are missed, dismissed or avoided – leaving people more alone and at greater risk.
safeTALK training prepares you to help by using TALK (Tell, Ask, Listen and Keepsafe) to identify and engage people with thoughts of suicide and to connect them with further help and care.
Public Health Northern Ireland has partnered with the Solihull Approach to sponsor FREE online courses developed by psychologists and professionals.
These courses are designed to help you understand your child’s feelings, as well as focus on your own feelings as you go through life as a family. You will also learn to understand the changes in your child’s development and how to make the most out of each relationship.
We wholeheartedly recommend these courses – they are for everyone, for everyday parenting. They don’t tell you how to parent, that’s up to you. Instead, they give you a framework for understanding what might be going on and space to think about how you want to respond.
For ALL parents, carers and grandparents, we all need a bit of headspace and thinking time occasionally.
From bump to 19+ years. Including adult relationships.
Sport NI are excited to revisit and establish the Young People’s Sport Panel, creating a platform to give young people who are passionate about youth representation and sport a voice. Sport NI welcome the views and opinions of young people to help influence how sport and the sports sector delivers the best sporting opportunities creating positive experiences for everyone.
The Sport NI Young People’s Sport Panel is not just for those who participate in or who are involved in sport. Sport NI would like some panel members to have an experience of sport and equally welcome members from outside of the sporting system. The panel will represent and provide a voice for young people from across Northern Ireland and ensure a diverse representation, perspective and experience of young people is communicated.
If you would like to suggest or know of any young people aged 16-23 years of age, who live in Northern Ireland and who would be interested to learn more about the panel and becoming a member, please feel free to email Marie-Therese marietheresehiggins@sportni.net or call 028 9038 3800 . I am more than happy to answer any queries or questions which you or interested individuals and or their parents/guardians might have.
I would kindly ask that a response is returned to me by email before Friday 3rd February 2023 as an expression of interest to joining the panel to which I will follow up.
14Koram Centre - Board of Trustees - Expression of Interest
The Koram Centre are currently recruiting for individuals to join the Board of Trustees.
The Koram Centre is a community/voluntary organisation offering services to support those experiencing mental health & emotional wellbeing issues, living in the Strabane and District area. Services include professional counselling/psychotherapy, community based workshops as well as a community garden and allotment scheme.
Becoming a Board member is a great way to give back and to support an organisation providing much needed services to the local community.
Board members will be responsible for effective goverance of the organisation and delivery of services.
We are looking for committed individuals to meet the following criteria:
1. Good knowledge and understanding of the needs of local communities in the Strabane and District Area, including those related to emotional health & wellbeing.
2. Good knowledge and understanding of the health & social care sector, including counselling/psychotherapy
3. Be committed to attending and actively participating in full Koram Centre Board of Trustees meetings and willing to contribute to other areas of the Koram Centre annual work programme
The Commissioner for Older People is supporting the Patient and Client Council in their work to develop of a Bereavement Charter for NI as part of the NI Bereavement Network.
A Bereavement Charter sets out pledges to bereaved individuals and loved ones about the standards of service and care they should expect to receive following the death of a loved one.
To help the Patient and Client Council to begin the wider societal conversation needed for the development of a Bereavement Charter for NI, the PCC are running the following survey to understand what matters most to the people of Northern Ireland when considering death, bereavement and grief.
This survey encompasses all experiences and is not limited to life-limiting conditions or expected deaths.
If you are interested in completing this short, anonymous survey, we encourage you to be as open and honest as possible in your responses.
Your input will ensure that charter development is more representative of our society and the communities within it.
Below is an overview of the current surveys that are being carried out. Members are asked to complete the one most relevant to their area of interest/work.
In addition if any member would like to discuss the survey or the ongoing needs assessment we invite them to contact Figure 8 Consultancy directly (details below)
As part of the Needs Assessment study, there are a number of online surveys now available for ALL staff from across ALL relevant services , Service Users, those with Lived/Living Experience and Families/Carers. to enable everyone to have their say on the needs and assets for those who experience problems with alcohol and/or drugs across the Western HSCT area.
The plan is to pull together as complete a picture as possible of the real needs of this population. All views will be welcome.
If you have any questions about the surveys please do not hesitate to contact me at: andyperkins@f8c.co.uk. We have piloted all these surveys but if you notice any issues/glitches when completing, please do let us know and we’ll rectify immediately.
17 Echo Echo Festival of Dance and Movement - 27th January - 5th February
Echo Echo's internationally acclaimed festival returns for its ninth edition! This year we focus on treasuring the skills and creativity of the members of the locally based Echo Echo Ensemble as well as other dance artists close to the company. There is a rich programme of performances, workshops and exhibitions to be enjoyed by all the family - featuring work by Kelly Quigley and the Body Wisdom Group; Zoe Ramsey’s Ensemble; Emily Welther & Daniel Brandl; Maria Svensson; Nic Gareiss & Ultan O’Brien; Cindy Cummings & Sighile Hennessy. Check out the full programme here and get along! https://www.echoechodance.com/Festival Echo Echo Festival of Dance and Movement presents Painting the Canvas Saturday 28th January Shows at 12noon and 4pm
An interactive show for family audiences (recommended 5 years and up)
Echo Echo Studios, Magazine Street.
Have you ever considered the essence you bring when you enter a room? What is left when you leave? Does it have colour, does it have sound? Does it make you move? Painting the Canvas explores listening and moving with and without crayons. It includes projection and atmospheric sounds that ignite moments of colourful and playful imagination. Tickets £5 Adults and £3 Child.
The piece features Echo Echo Ensemble artist Tonya Sheina with her daughters Dara Sheina-Batts (11years) and Mira Sheina-Batts (8years) and Echo Echo Ensemble artist Ayesha Mailey with her daughter Naya Duffy (7years).
It also features multi-instrumentalists Amanda Koser and Stephanie Pawula. With lights by Barry Davis.
Created in collaboration with Maria Svensson.
18Derry Choir Festival celebrating its 10th anniversary
Preparations are underway at the City of Derry International Choir Festival for an extra special edition to mark its tenth anniversary, taking place on 18-22 October 2023. The Festival is now accepting entries for its full selection of events, so get your applications in as soon as possible in order to avoid any disappointment – you won’t want to miss this year’s very exciting programme.
In 2023, Derry Choir Festival will bring together singing groups of all sorts, from across the UK and Ireland, including local community singers from the region’s thriving choral scene, as well as a new crop of international choirs who will compete for the Oak Tree of Derry trophy.
School, local, national and international choirs are invited to join us for a 5-day feast of singing, which will include concerts, pop-up performances and educational workshops, all taking place in the Millenium Forum, the Guildhall and in a varied selection of venues across Derry, Strabane and Donegal.
Participating groups and local audiences will also be treated to a programme of concerts by world class guest artists. The long list of outstanding groups who have appeared at previous festivals includes The Sixteen, Tenebrae, Voces8, The King’s Singers and The Real Group, as well as a series of truly memorable gala concerts from the Festival Chorus and the Ulster Orchestra. Full details of the programme will be announced over the course of the coming months, so keep an eye on the Festival’s website and the usual social media channels.
Join us as we clelebrate IMBOLC at Eden Place Arts Centre by weaving a Crosóg Bride or St Briget's Cross with weaver Brendan Farren on Tuesday 31st January from 12-2pm.
If interested please contact Judi at ; info@edenplaceartscentre.com so that I can give you an allocated time to come along.
20 Mayor uses flower power to brighten up local gardens
Mayor of Derry and Strabane, Councillor Sandra Duffy is already looking ahead to spring, with the launch of a new scheme to brighten up gardens and green areas throughout the City and District.
Cllr Duffy is looking forward to brighter days ahead and encouraging everyone to join her in creating some beautiful wildflower meadows - or Mayor’s Meadows - as they can now be known. A limited amount of local wildflower seeds have been sourced, which the Mayor would like to donate to local groups or individuals keen to enhance their local areas.
The initiative follows on from the success of Council’s ‘Don’t mow let it grow’ campaign which has transformed green spaces across Derry and Strabane in previous years. Wildflowers are vitally important in creating healthy ecosystems and providing fertile ground for our native honey bees to thrive.
A limited amount of local wildflower seeds are available, and can be requested by emailing mayor@derrystrabane.com
Please find below the twentieth edition of the Energy Strategy E-Bulletin which aims to keep stakeholders informed about progress on the new Energy Strategy for Northern Ireland.
In this edition:
ENERGY ONE STOP SHOP CONSULTATION CLOSING ON 31ST JANUARY
RT @FoyleHospice: Do you have a few hours to spare?
We are in urgent need of Volunteers to help out at the Summer Raffle Stalls in… https://t.co/BBKZ2RmOyZ —
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RT @YouthActionNI: We are delighted to invite you to our art exhibition and critical youth research hub and hear stories from young pe… https://t.co/QjcN2U5cr1 —
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RT @YouthActionNI: As part of empathy day, we have an art exhibition at Waterside Library this week and school workshops in Newry and… https://t.co/zoGEkjiBPe —
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RT @ApexHousingAssn: 📣 Join our team! We're looking for a manager who will be responsible for the daily running of our sheltered housing… https://t.co/5U1eOQZNiR —
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RT @SuppCommunities: Join us for this popular session online 7 June at 10 am.
Learners will gain an understanding of the key processes… https://t.co/W4bfd0E2CK —
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RT @ConsumerCouncil: Our latest free newsletter is now out. This month we have information on:
📺Save money on household appliances
🍳 5… https://t.co/6Wz1wBT6X9 —
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RT @NIAntiPov: @NWCN01
Hearing from local elected reps in Derry about the cuts to the community and voluntary sector. A lot of un… https://t.co/mrNL7fwGdD —
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RT @CRJDerry: This morning we attended a meeting organised by @NWCN01 with our local elected reps to discuss the potential impact… https://t.co/1u8zOTaRZY —
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A huge thanks to all who came along to our meeting about the funding crisis in the sector, good conversations were… https://t.co/UGzifowO2O —
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