NWCN E-bulletin 10 April 2019

1 Upcoming with NWCN

Homeless Event

NWCN is working in partnership with Neo Martin Maboee (Global Mission Fellow from South Africa) who is the Educational and Awareness Officer at North West Methodist Mission.

We would like to invite you to a homeless event on April 11, 2019.

Date                                         April 11, 2019 (Thursday)
Venue                                      Holywell Trust 
                                                 10-14 Bishop St,
                                                 Derry~Londonderry BT48 6PW
Time                                        10:00am - 12:30pm
 
The aim of the event is to raise awareness within the community about available services for homeless individuals and those who face the risk of homelessness. 

Through this event, I am hoping that those in the community who have necessary resources to help fight homelessness, will have the opportunity to alleviate the preconceptions and stereotypes surrounding homelessness and provide some evidenced based research, thus providing some facts to our audience. 

For aesthetics, the various organizations will be seated at different tables forming a chain which will represent the network of support, which will illustrate the range of services provided to a homeless person or their family, from the start of their journey throughout their resettlement stage. 

For further information or to register contact Neo on: NMaboee@umcmission.org

Pizza & Politics - Hustings event

North West Community Network in partnership with Youth Action are organising a Hustings Event on 18th April 2019.  

When: Thursday 18th April at 7.30pm - 9pm

Where: Holywell Building, Bishop Street

This event is for young people and adults. The event is in two parts.  The first part focuses on the importance of using your vote from 6pm - 7.30pm and then we have asked political representatives to attend the second part from 7.30pm - 9pm.  Political representatives will give a 5-minute pitch and then participants will have the opportunity to ask questions.

To register email info@nwcn.org or call 028 7126 1941

Western Trust - How the Health Service Works

NWCN are working with the Local Commissioning Group (LCG) in the Western Trust area to let people have the chance to give feedback on their experiences as a service user of the Health Service and to find out everything you need to know about how the Health Service works.   The workshop will last about an hour with a presentation followed by discussions.  

A summary of the main aims of the workshop are:

• Increase awareness of HSC services and how they work
• Increase awareness of responsibilities and challenges within HSC
• Increase awareness on what we can each do to choose well and seek the most appropriate support when needed

We want to hear from as many people as possible so that we can gather feedback from the north west area. 

Let NWCN know if this is something that you think your group would be interested in taking part in and we can agree a suitable date.

roisin@nwcn.org / 028 7126 1941

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2 Join the Unicef Advisory Group

Fantastic opportunity for the 14-18 age group. Unicef Youth Advisory Group: travel to London, share your experiences and help other young people across the UK.

Be a voice – on behalf of Unicef UK and other children and young people about children’s rights
Provide insight – about what children and young people like and care about, to help Unicef UK develop new ideas

Raise awareness – use your networks to help other young people understand our work

Deadline for applications: 5pm on 11 April 2019.

If the application is successful candidates must be available to attend the first meeting on Saturday 18^th May 2019. Travel costs will be covered including a parent/ carer’s travel costs.

Full details at: Unicef Youth Advisory Group Application

Stay up to date through the Youth 19 social media channels and website www.youth19.com for future opportunities to take part in the Unicef Child Friendly Cities and Communities (CFCs) Steering Group and more.

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3  Good Morning Park

Good Morning Park is a free telephone alert service provided by Learmount Community Group and Drink Wise, Age Well for older and vulnerable people living in rural areas.

The ‘Good Morning Park’ project will operate five mornings per week. We will contact our members by telephone for a social chat and to check on their well-being. Our team of callers will telephone members at a pre-arranged time, so our calls fit in around their daily routine. During the call we update members on services and activities available in their area that may be of benefit to them.

Similarly, if there are issues concerning the member, we can signpost them to where to get advice and support.

Peace of Mind
The service acts as an alert if a member does not answer their telephone when we call. The caller will contact the members nominated contact,
who then checks on the person and informs us on their condition.

If you or someone you know would like to avail of the service please contact Learmount Community Centre on 028 7778 1881 or e.mail learmountgroup@gmail.com

The service is available throughout Derry and surrounding area, that is, it’s not confined to the Park area.

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4 Free Disability Awareness Training – Introductory Courses

Disability Equality Group – NI is a Registered Charity and a Registered Training Organisation based in the North West.  Disability Equality Group – NI are now able to deliver FREE introductory courses in Disability Awareness. 

These courses can last for @1 hour in length.  They can be tailored made to suit individuals, organisations and schools.  Courses can be delivered within organisations.

Disability Equality Group can also deliver non accredited training and accredited OCN Level 1 training to specific organisations and individuals.

For all enquires please contact Teresa McDonagh at teresamcdonough@live.com or Telephone:  07801296131.

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5 Fertility Network NI –Spring/ Summer Programme 2019

All the events are free but we welcome voluntary charity donations.

Contact details for booking Living Life to the Full CBT course or any queries:

Hilary Knight: hilary@fertiltiynetworkuk.org

Rachel Ross: rachel@fertilitynetworkuk.org

For further information on Fertility Network: 

www.fertilitynetworkuk.org      FB https://www.facebook.com/FNUKNI

Twitter @FertilityNUK      Instagram  @fertilitynetworkuk

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6 IT Sligo students offer high praise for blended-learning Social Care & Social Justice Master's Prog

A new IT Sligo blended-learning Social Care and Social Justice Master’s programme is receiving high praise from students gaining valuable post-graduate accreditation in a rapidly growing field while at the same time living and working in their own villages, towns, and cities all over Ireland.

The two-year programme consists of interactive online lectures that students attend once a week in their own time plus two two-day residentials per semester during which they participate in stimulating guest lectures and group discussions at IT Sligo.

Subject matter that is immensely pertinent to life in the modern world, teaching by highly qualified academics and practitioners in the field, and convenient access to lectures and IT Sligo resources at all hours of the day are just some aspects of the programme that students have commended.

They include second-year MA student Caitríona Hanmore, a speech and language therapist who lives in Sligo.

“I’ve really enjoyed the topics of advocacy, activism, and encouraging social participation…for me that’s been very relevant,” Caitríona said. “And with the course being delivered via blended learning, you can study from the comfort of your own home and then come in to access the vibrancy of the IT, which makes balancing studying and working life easier. What’s also really appealing is the scope and experience of the lecturers, and the students that attend this Master’s programme bring their own wealth of experience. It’s been a really positive experience in IT Sligo and I highly recommend it to others.”

The eight modules in the programme include Introduction to Social Justice Theory; Social Transformation; Human Rights Policy and Law; Management and Leadership in Social Care; Care Work and Social Justice; Social Locations – An Intersectional Approach; Social Inclusion and Diversity; and Research Design and Development.

“The programme provides the theoretical background and practical techniques needed to promote social care and social justice in meaningful, effective, and transformative ways,” said Dr. Karin White, a social anthropologist at IT Sligo who lectures in the programme. “Students learn about current issues in social care, gaining new understanding and insights into how best to advance the interests and well-being of the individuals and groups they work with. They also gain the tools to develop and implement socially just and inclusive policies, projects, and procedures that are effective in a wide range of settings, including businesses, non-profit organisations, schools, and communities.”

Dr. White added that the academic excellence which IT Sligo is known for and the department’s standing as a leader in the field of blended learning contribute to the value of both the Social Care and Social Justice Master’s degree and an 18-month diploma which is also available from the programme.

“Lecturers in the interdisciplinary programme include academics with top-notch qualifications and expertise in their fields, including the Social Sciences, Communications, and the Arts,” Dr. White said. “The programme is also proud to provide students with access to guest lecturers who have developed outstanding social care and social justice initiatives in response to a variety of situations throughout the world.”

The richness afforded to the programme by the guest lecturers was highlighted by first-year MA student Billy Banda, a community worker who lives in Donegal.

“I really enjoyed hearing textile artist Deborah Stockdale talk about creating a quilt with a group of women from different ethnic backgrounds and hearing Palestinian Fadl Mustapha and Israeli Idan Meir discuss the awareness-raising they’ve done together through drama,” Billy said. “Those are lived experiences that I really liked and learned a lot from. What drew me initially to the programme was the justice part of it, due to my own background growing up in apartheid South Africa and seeing some of the things that happened then happening in reverse there now. As someone who would like to promote human rights through social work, looking at the specific ways that social care and social justice can connect through policies and practise has been an especially valuable aspect of the programme for me.”   

More information about the Master’s in Social Care and Social Justice and other blended-learning opportunities at IT Sligo is available on the IT Sligo website at itsligo.ie.

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 7 Latest offers from Salto Youth

University Study Visit: Youth Work and Intercultural Competence
19 - 21 June 2019 | Dublin and Belfast, Ireland
The main aim of the Study Visit is to promote international Youth Work and intercultural competence within Higher Education institutions and other establishments involved in Youth and Community Work programmes in the two countries.
Organizer: UK and Irish National Agencies (National Agency)
This activity is for participants from: Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, United Kingdom
Application deadline (24h CET): 21 April 2019

See details

 
Seminar Mountain spirit - Volunteering for Nature Conservation
24 - 30 May 2019 | Blagoevgrad region, Bulgaria
Seminar aimed to get together volunteer coordinators, ex and future volunteers and organizations working in nature protection to work on improving volunteer management and involvement of international volunteers in nature conservation activities.
Organizer: Vlahi Nature School (Youth NGO)
This activity is for participants from: Erasmus+: Youth in Action Programme countries, Western Balkan countries
Application deadline (24h CET): 21 April 2019

See details

 
Contact Making Seminar on Human Rights Education
4 - 7 July 2019 | Vienna, Austria
A Contact Making Seminar for youthworkers on how to work on Human Rights Education (HRE) in international youth projects. Participants will have the opportunity to get to know new partners to create HRE projects in Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps
Organizer: NA Austria; IZ-Diversity, Dialogue and Education (National Agency)
This activity is for participants from: Erasmus+: Youth in Action Programme countries
Application deadline (24h CET): 24 April 2019

See details

 
War Games
22 - 30 June 2019 | Sermugnano, Castiglione in Teverina, Italy
Woud you like to explore games and discover the possibilities offered by Game-Based learning to develop brand new original educational games to foster political participation, leadershp, inclusion and non-violent communication? Then, the game is on!
Organizer: Cooperativa Sociale Muovimente (Youth NGO)
This activity is for participants from: Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom
Application deadline (24h CET): 30 April 2019

See details

 
 
Call for Trainers
 
“Using Social Entrepreneurship in Erasmus+ - USEE+”
Youth and Lifelong Learning Foundation (INEDIVIM) - Hellenic National Agency of Erasmus+/Youth is looking for 2 trainers
Application deadline: 17/4/2019

Online version

 
Abstracts to the YOUTH IN EUROPE TALKS #2
JUGEND für Europa, German NA is looking for 3-5 experts.
Application deadline: 17.5.2019
 

Online version

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8 Volunteering Opportunities at Childline Foyle

We are currently recruiting volunteers at ChildLine Foyle to keep up with the demand of calls and online chats from children and young people.  We are looking for Volunteer Counsellors, Volunteer Email Counsellors and Volunteer Switchboarders.

We are holding our next Volunteer Information Meeting on Friday 12^th April from 3-4pm at our local ChildLine Foyle base, Exchange House, Queen’s Quay. 

During this meeting we will talk about our volunteer roles, training and the application process.  Staff and volunteers will be in the base to talk about the valuable work we do here at Childline.  We look forward to meeting new faces and sharing with  you what it is really like here to be in our counselling  room

For further  information contact Amanda on: Amanda.Doherty@NSPCC.org.uk

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9  Holywell Trust – Volunteer at Our New Honesty Cafe!
 
Would you like to be part of an exciting new initiative in the city? Do you have 4 hours per week to spare? Would you like to support community activity in the city centre?

If you have answered ‘yes’ to these questions we’d love you to volunteer with us. Holywell Trust is recruiting a team of volunteers who will help us to run the city’s first Honesty Café ‘The Tea Room’.

If you would like to support the café, engage with users of the Holywell building and the general public then we’d love to hear from you. The café will also make best use of the Garden of Reflection to the rear of our building. All volunteers will be part of the Holywell team and will receive training and support. Our building is a genuine shared space, a positive environment to be connected with.

If you are interested give us a call on (028) 7126 1941 or email hello@holywelltrust.com - we’d love to hear from you.

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10 Volunteering Opportunity - HURT Needs Your Help!

Can you spare an hour to help our charity?

HURT will hold a bag-packing day on Easter Saturday 20th April in Tesco, Strand Road, Derry.

This will help raise funds for our centre to help individuals with suicide prevention, drug & alcohol addictions, mental health issues and also to support families.

If you can spare an hour or two please call on us 028 7136 9696 or email hurttraining@outlook.com

Thank-you.

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11  Can you conquer the Hot Coals for Headway - The Brain Injury Association?

Dare to join us for our exciting sponsored FIRE WALK to raise vital funds to support those affected by Brain Injury?

Headway – the brain injury association are passionate about improving life after brain injury.  But we can only do this with YOUR help!!  We are encouraging people to raise funds in sponsorship for their bravery, with all proceeds being used to fund local services for local people living with brain injury.      Every pound raised and every minute of your time will help to make a massive difference to the lives of brain injury survivors, their families and carers.  Your support powers our services!

There are approximately 954 ABI admissions per day to hospitals across the UK – or one every 90 seconds. It is estimated that approximately 2000 people a year in Northern Ireland sustain a brain injury; many more are living with the long-term effects.

The aftermath of a brain injury can turn lives upside down.  Brain injury is often complex and varies from mild, moderate, to severe.  Survivors are likely to face uncertain and challenging problems. The more severe the brain injury, the more pronounced the long term effects will be.  Brain Injury survivors may experience varying degrees of physical disability, as well as the less visually obvious problems such as memory loss, concentration problems, and headaches, problems with balance and speech difficulties.   Further complex problems may develop for a brain injury survivor that affects personality and behaviour, their relationships, financial status and their ability to lead an independent life.  These problems not only have a profound life-changing effect on the person with the brain injury but also on their families and friends.

Fearless fundraisers are being offered the ultimate challenge walking 15-20 feet over smouldering hot coals.  Sounds tough but we guarantee you it is safe!!   This event not only gives you the opportunity to do good by raising funds for a deserving cause but serves as a unique tool for personal development through a challenging act of mindfulness and the discovery of just how much you are capable of!   We would be delighted to have you join!

ARE YOU UP FOR THE CHALLENGE?

The FIREWALK will take place Friday 17th May 2019, 7.30pm at North Star Health & Well-being Centre (Unit 3A1 Benbow Industrial Estate, Eglinton, Derry/Londonderry, BT47 3DW).

Participants are asked to arrive for the essential training at 6:00pm.  Registration cost is £30 per person with an advised minimum sponsorship of £100.  Spectators are welcome! Refreshments will be served.

To register please contact:  joanne.aiken@headway.org.uk   Tel:  07557 732 726

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12 Youth Worker in Charge - NCS Coleraine Team Leader 

St. Columb’s Park House have a freelance Youth Work opportunity available, based in Coleraine. This is a freelance position for a fixed term (20 days between May and August, including 2 residential periods from 2-6 July and 14-18 July). Payment is up to £3000 for Team Leader duties.

The Team Leader will effectively deliver the Coleraine NCS Summer programme with a team of 15 participants.

NI NCS is a once in a lifetime opportunity for 15-17 year olds in Northern Ireland. Your role will be to train participants to identify and address social issues in their community through a process of personal development, skills development, and social action.

Essential Criteria:

• A relevant qualification related to informal education/community work/youth work.
• A minimum of 5 years experience working with young people.
• Experience in designing and delivering training programmes.
• Awareness and experience of Safeguarding.

If you would like a copy of the Job Description or Personnel Specification, email Sharon@StColumbsParkHouse.org. Applications can be found on Job Centre online.

Closing date for applications is midnight on 23/04/2019

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13 Job Opportunity at St Columb's Park House

Common Ground Programme Co-ordinator (maternity cover)

St Columbs Park House (SCPH) opened in 1994 as a peace building centre offering a safe shared space for dialogue and community development. We host a range of outreach projects that animate communities and individuals to work together towards a fair, peaceful society where every individual feels valued and can make a positive difference.  This project is funded by the PEACE IV INTERFACE INVESTMENT PROGRAMME and is a partnership project between St Columbs Park House  and the Belfast Interface Project. St Columbs Park House are the lead partner.

We wish to appoint a Project Co-ordinator on a fixed term 9 months maternity cover contract starting May 2019.  Gross salary £16,500 per annum, 30 hours per week over 5 days as determined by the needs of the project.

Purpose and function of post: 

Employed by St Columb’s Park House, the Programme Coordinator will work closely with the Tullyally Community Partnership and Currynierin Community Association to design and deliver the full PEACE IV Interface Investment Programme in the Tullyally and Currynierin areas.

Essential criteria include but are not limited to:

• 5 years experience of working in a relevant field within community development/education/empowerment programmes.  
• Or a relevant 3^rd level qualification related to community education/ peace & reconciliation/social enterprise and a  minimum of 3 years’ experience working in a relevant field

 Shortlisting criteria may be enhanced in the instance of large numbers of applications.

Further information and application packs are available from Sharon Doherty St Columb’s Park House, 4 Limavady Road, Derry/Londonderry, Northern Ireland, BT47 6JY.  Telephone: 028 71 343080. Packs can also be requested using email; sharon@stcolumbsparkhouse.org

Completed Applications must be returned to the Operations Manager in an envelope clearly marked “JOB APPLICATION” no later than 12noon on 12^th April 2019. We will only accept completed and signed application forms issued with the job information. We do not accept CVs. Applications received after the closing date / time will not be considered. Interviews for short-listed applicants will be held on the week beginning 12^th April 2019

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14 Job Opportunity with HURT

HURT is a leading community bases substance misuse treatment centre and wish to recruit a part time receptionist to cover maternity leave. (22.5 hours per week)

This position involves day to day running of a busy office including meeting and greeting family members, clients and members of the public to provide a safe and welcoming environment.  The receptionist will be based in the HURT centre in Clarendon Street.

Applicants should have two years receptionist experience and knowledge of social media presence and website maintenance.

Salary £18,720 pro rata.

For application form and job description contact Dessie at HURT on 028 7136 9696 or email for an application pack to dessie@hurtni.org.uk  

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15 The "Polish Wings" Project - We have an excellent opportunity for a Project Coordinator

Recently the National Lottery Heritage Fund accepted our project proposal and now we are in a position to appoint an associate who will be responsible for managing the “Polish Wings” project on a part-time basis.

The idea behind the “Polish Wings” project is very simple. We will conduct research on the presence of the Polish Air Force in Northern Ireland during the Second World War. All the findings and stories will be turned into a permanent exhibition and will also serve as the main source of information for our shared history educational campaign. We will be looking to recruit up to 10 people who will be involved in the research delivery, as well as, receiving a professional facilitation skills training allowing them to to join our team of facilitators in the future.

The "Polish Wings" Project Coordinator:
This is a part-time role and the Project Coordinator will support the For Your Freedom & Ours CIC to ensure the “Polish Wings” project will run efficiently with in relation to planning, logistics and administration.

The successful candidate must have experience of supporting the delivery of projects and are able to handle project deadlines and responsibilities. Excellent listening, written and spoken communication skills. Finance Admin experience. Have an interest in the Second World War history and understand the meaning of the shared history. Excellent bilingual Polish/English skills would be an asset.

Some of the main duties include:

• To work with the project partners and participants on the running of the “Polish Wings” project
• To assist with the running of the “Polish Wings” project (including planning, logistics and support of the participants)
• To ensure monitoring and evaluation data in all our activity is collected and collated – to ensure we have evidence of impact
• Communication – to promote the “Polish Wings” project to potential participants and support the For Your Freedom & Ours CIC on the development and promotion of the project in social media and beyond.
• Finance: administering project expenditure

If you are interested and feel you are suitable for the role, please apply by sending your CV to maciek@foryourfreedomandours.com before 16 April 2019. We aim to hold interviews for this role the week commencing 22 April 2019.

For more information, please contact Maciek Bator at maciek@foryourfreedomandours.com

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16  Public appointments opportunity - Stranmillis University College Members Competition

Public Appointment Vacancy – Appointment of 4 Members to the Governing Body of Stranmillis University College – Closing date 8 May 2019
 
DFE will be advertising an open competition to recruit 4 new Members to the Stranmillis University College Governing Body on 11 & 12 April 2019 in the three main local papers. The process involves an application form and interview process.  Appointments are made on merit and applications are welcome from all sections of society.
 
The appointments will begin in August 2019.  Members serve in a voluntary capacity receiving no remuneration other than reimbursement of reasonable expenses. The time commitment is a minimum of 6 meetings per annum.
 
It is important that people from a wide range of backgrounds take up public appointments so that the Boards of public bodies reflect the rich diversity of our society and better understand the needs of the communities they serve.
                                                                                   
We would particularly welcome applications from women, people with a disability and those from an ethnic minority as they are currently under-represented on the Governing Body of Stranmillis University College.
 
An application pack with full details and guidance may be obtained from

https://www.economy-ni.gov.uk/department-economy-public-appointments or:
 
DFE’s Public Appointments Unit, Netherleigh, Massey Avenue, Belfast BT4 2JP
Email: pau@economy-ni.gov.uk Telephone: (Janet McCrum) 028 9052 9492 or Text Relay: 18001 028 9052 9492 from Thursday 11^th April 2019.
 
Application packs can be made available in other formats upon request. 
 
The closing date for applications is 5.00pm on Wednesday 8th May 2019. Late applications will not be accepted.
 
Equality of Opportunity: The Department is committed to the principles of public appointments based on merit with independent assessment, openness and transparency of process. The Department is also committed to equality of opportunity and welcomes application forms from all suitably qualified applicants irrespective of religious belief, gender, race, political opinion, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or whether or not they have dependants.
 
The Department is operating the Guaranteed Interview Scheme in this competition for applicants with a disability. Applicants with a disability who meet all of the criteria at the sift stage will automatically be guaranteed an interview.                                                                 

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17  You are invited to the FWIN Easter Craft Event!

Date: Thursday 18th April 2019

Time: 10.30AM-12.30PM
Location: Holywell Trust, Bishop Street, Derry/Londonderry

Reserve your place today by emailing info@fwin.org.uk or telephone 028 7126 6291.

Lunch is included on this egg-citing day!