The Community Relations Council, with the support of Government, has established a fund to spend each year on community relations projects. This funding is intended to help community/voluntary groups throughout Northern Ireland develop their capacity to engage in community relations work and to enhance the community relations potential of projects they undertake..
If you are planning events for the forthcoming year, please feel free to contact a member of our team to discuss your proposals prior to submitting your application. We can give you advice on how to plan your work and to source additional funding, if required.
The scheme will continue to support a wide range of work and offer support and assistance whether you are a first-time applicant or have been supported in the past.
The Arts Council has designed this programme to encourage you to develop and deliver your ideas, linked to your artistic needs and to your future plans.
The aim of this programme is to assist organisations to deliver arts projects which contribute to the growth of arts in the community for new and existing audiences and which reflect the diversity of Northern Ireland’s society and culture.
We want to support activities which benefit the people of Northern Ireland or that help arts organisations in Northern Ireland carry out their work.
The deadline for applications is Friday 31st March 2023 at 12pm
This fund aims to support community projects and activities that improve lives, provide support for people undergoing life-changing events, and provide benefits for both past and present Card Factory colleagues and communities where Card Factory stores operate.
Grants are typically awarded up to £2,500. Grants of more than £2,500 will be made at the discretion of the Trustees.
Funding is for projects and activities that meet one or more of the following priorities:
• Provide support, financial or otherwise, towards hardship caused by life-changing events.
• Provide support, financial or otherwise, to projects that improve lives.
• Projects that take place for Card Factory colleagues and/or communities where Card Factory stores operate.
There is no deadline. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Funding is available to charities and schools in Northern Ireland for solar panel installation projects which will help reduce their carbon footprint and make a financial impact through generation/cost savings.
The purpose of the programme is to fund projects to install solar electricity panels, also known as photovoltaics (PV), in the charity sector and in schools. The aim of this is to help such organisations reduce their environmental impact and meet their charitable objectives.
To be eligible applicants must:
Have a long-term lease on their building - long-term being defined as 5+ years.
Satisfy a feasibility study with a baseload demand greater than 12kW.
Agree to install a 12kW PV on target property - 3 phase commercial connection.
Where their building is rented or leased, have permission from their landlord for the project, and an agreement in place in the event of the landlord selling the property.
Applications may be made at any time while funding remains available. Installations will be selected on a first-come/first-served basis.
Donegal County Council (DCC) and Derry City & Strabane District Council (DCSDC) are working jointly on an audience development programme. This programme is supported by both Councils in conjunction with and supported by The Executive Office and The Irish Government.
The programme focusses on two specific groups: families, and older people.
One of the initiatives in the older people’s programme is Cultural & Creative Practitioner in Residence in a Care Setting. We all understand the importance of culture and creativity for older people. The TILDA report Creative Activity in the Ageing Population, 2021, states ‘Older adults reporting the highest levels of involvement in creative activities reported the highest quality of life, and scored lowest on loneliness, depression, worry and stress measurements.’
Four residencies (April – May) will take place in Donegal and a further four in the Derry & Strabane Council area. The locations are Convoy, Milford, Fahan, Eglinton and Derry.
Expressions of interest are now sought from Cultural & Creative Practitioners in any discipline that could work in this setting.
Please see attached documents in English and Irish for Expressions of Interest – Culture Practitioner in Care Homes.
6Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service: Information Session
Wednesday 27 April 2022: 11am-12pm
Know some volunteers who deserve recognition?
The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service is the highest Award given to local volunteer groups across the UK to recognise outstanding work done in their own communities. It is the MBE for volunteer groups. It is awarded to exceptional groups of volunteers whose level of initiative and impact are truly exceptional. 169 volunteer groups currently hold the Award in N Ireland and there will be more awardees being announced in June 2022. Do you know an inspirational group that could be nominated?
An online information session to promote the Award and explain the nomination process, is being organised by the NI Representative for the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in partnership with Volunteer Now. The event is aimed at potential nominators and interested groups. It will be an opportunity to hear from those involved in promoting the Award and from others who have been through the scheme.
Nominations can be submitted between April-September each year
via the Award’s website https://qavs.dcms.gov.uk/
For further information and to book a place click on this link: bit.ly/3JWJBY8 You will be sent a link and joining instructions the day before the session.
More information on the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service
QAVS are only awarded to the very best of hundreds of nominations from across the UK each year. This is a badge of excellence and a real achievement for a group. It provides a big boost to the volunteers as well as great publicity for their work. Visit the website https://qavs.dcms.gov.uk/ to read about the eligibility requirements and get more information about this prestigious Award.
Anyone can nominate a group, as long as they are not one of its employees or volunteers. Nominations can be submitted between April-September each year via the Award’s website https://qavs.dcms.gov.uk/ Nominations are particularly encouraged from beneficiaries of a group’s work, or from those who are not involved with the group but have admired the results of their work.
In preparation for The Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 to receive Royal Assent in coming weeks, the Commission has published extensive information on the changes the Act will bring in for charities.
In brief, the Act will effectively reinstate the full register of charities as well as re-instating annual reporting by all registered charities, including those registered prior to May 2019, supporting the public and others in undertaking checks on the charities they support.
You can find detailed information on the changes, in particular updates to annual reporting, on the Commission's online FAQs, which are available here.
A downloadable information pack, with PDFs providing an overview of the key areas which will be impacted by the legislation, is available here.
The Ulster University Social Justice Hub in partnership with the NSPCC are facilitating an online Symposium to discuss Post Pandemic Poverty and its impact on communities in Northern Ireland.
Guest Speakers:
Dr Esther McGuinness - Ulster University, Head of Law School
Dez Holmes - Director at Research in Practice
Goretti Horgan - Ulster University, Senior Lecturer Social Policy
Natalie Whelehan - NSPCC, Policy and Public Affairs Manager
Trása Canavan - Co-chair Anti-Poverty Strategy Co-Design Group
John Dickie - Director of Child Poverty Action Group Scotland
Dr Sinéad Furey - Ulster University, Senior Lecturer Consumer Management and Food Innovation
9Social Justice Hustings Hosted by Alliance for Choice Derry
Alliance for Choice Derry - the largest feminist activist group in the north-west – will host a free online hustings event on the theme of ‘social justice’ on Thursday 14th April 2022 from 7.00pm-8.15pm.
There will be an opportunity for audience members to ask MLA candidates questions related to social justice issues via a question box.
Confirmed candidates include:
Shaun Harkin (PBP)
Sinéad McLaughlin (SDLP)
Ryan McCready (UUP)
Rachael Ferguson (Alliance)
Elizabeth Neely (TUV)
Anne McCloskey (Independent).
This event is fully online and viewable on the Alliance for Choice Derry Facebook page (facebook.com/a4cderry).
AWARE NI the Depression Charity for Northern Ireland currently have many free Living Life to the Fullprogrammes and Mood Matters Adults workshops taking place in late April/early May, and these are now open for registration.
Living Life to the Full – Online Life Skills Programmes (via zoom)
The Living Life to the Full programme is for anyone (over 18) and is delivered over 6 sessions with each session lasting 2hrs.
This is a programme that can make a big difference to your life. It can help you manage your feelings when you are stressed, worried or depressed and learn simple practical skills to help you cope with life’s challenges. It looks more closely at how mental health can be impacted by life events and unhelpful thinking styles which may also then affect our physical health and overall enjoyment of life.
Mood Matters for Adults – Online Mental Health Awareness Sessions (via zoom)
The Mood Matters for Adults workshop is 2hrs long and is suitable for anyone (over 18) who would like to learn more about how to look after your mental health and help manage feelings of stress & anxiety.
11ARC Fitness hosting health fair at Millennium Forum TODAY
Wednesday 6th April, 10am - 2pm, Millennium Forum
Addiction recovery charity ARC Fitness are hosting a public ‘Empower Health Fair’ at the Millennium Forum today. This is a free of charge event.
There will be 26 stalls presenting a variety of different health related community groups. This will be the biggest collaboration of its kind in the city to date.
Those who attend will have access to free health checks including blood pressure and cholesterol, mindfulness and fitness demonstrations as well as free goodies! The fair is part of the organisation’s new ‘Motion Changes Emotion’ campaign through which ARC is aiming to highlight the positive impact physical activity, aka ‘motion’, can have on your day-to-day life, both physically and mentally.
Western Connections can deliver FREE 1-2 hour awareness sessions on various drug and alcohol related topics. If you then want to move to more in-depth information, we can signpost you. All of our sessions include details of local support services and how to access them.
At present we can deliver sessions online via Zoom or Teams.
We can also provide in person delivery in line with safety guidelines.
The 10,000 Voices Initiative is focused on gathering stories from people who receive services in health and social care and staff who deliver these so that we can make timely improvements to the delivery of care. We invite you to share your story/your experience as a relative or close friend of someone who has been involved with a social worker, across all settings and all programmes of care.
7 - 14 June 2022 | Well Road Centre, United Kingdom
Finding Your Voice will explore the benefits of singing both as a youth tool and methodology. Find Your Voice on an educational and fun journey learning new and modern ways to work with young people. All in the Dark Sky town of Moffat.
Organizer: Polbeth Community HUB (Others)
This activity is for participants from: Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom
Application deadline (24h CET): 11 April 2022 See details
Be Your Best Friend - a training course on personal resource management
14 - 22 June 2022 | Mallorca, Spain
We invite dedicated youth workers to re-generation which comes from the body treatment, combined with mindful and intentional movement, voice work, and embodied nonviolent communication.
Organizer: Drama Way Foundation (Others)
This activity is for participants from: Austria, Estonia, France, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, United Kingdom
Application deadline (24h CET): 24 April 2022 See details
North West Methodist Mission have been delivering services to the homeless in Derry/Londonderry for 80 years.
We provide temporary accommodation and support encouraging independent living and progression to permanent accommodation
Immediate employment opportunity open:
COOK
Ref: C/NWMM/0422
£10.60 PER HOUR
Shift pattern on a rota basis/25+ hours
Essential Criteria
A catering qualification
A minimum of 1 years practical experience in food preparation and cooking
An understanding of hygiene and health and safety considerations within a
kitchen environment
GCSE maths and English or equivalent, or be prepared to work towards
Closing date: Tuesday 12 April 2022 at 12 Noon
For a full job profile and details on how to apply please email hr.talent@nwmm.co.uk or click here
North West Methodist Mission is an Equal Opportunities Employer
17 Would you like to volunteer in Holywell Trust's Roof Garden?
Holywell Trust are seeking 4 interested people of all ages over 16yrs to volunteer for 2-3 hours one morning, or afternoon session during week days who will be trained to support the work on the Roof Garden, and to be able to guide visitors up there very soon.
Training will be provided by experienced gardener and food grower as well as being a long term community activist Gemma Harkin on either a Tuesday or Wednesday morning between 10am and 12noon. This training will be on what we grow on the Holywell Roof Garden i.e. seasonal vegetables and some fruit crops as well as wildflowers to support pollination particularly wild bees. There is an important link between pollinators and our food production. The Roof Garden is fully accessible and a safe and beautiful space to be in. Health & Safety training will also be provided to volunteers.
Anyone wishing to volunteer can ring Holywell on 028 7126 1941 and leave their name and contact details and Gemma will contact you later. Alternatively you can email Gemma directly on gemma@holywelltrust.com and she will contact you.
The COVID-19 spring booster vaccination programme is now under way in Northern Ireland, so the Public Health Agency (PHA) is urging those eligible to get boosted.
As you know food prices are rising fast and that is due to continue. There is also predicted to be food shortages. In order to help ourselves as individuals, and communities we can grow so much of our own food right here in our gardens or community spaces. Now is definitely the time to start. It’s seed sowing season.
Please find attached document providing a host of growing tips and advice.
Gemma can offer advice for community groups either by emailing gemma@holywelltrust.com or by ringing 02871261941 and leave your contact details.
The most important thing is to start now. Seasons, like the tide, do not wait for anyone.
Eden Place Art Centre's Easter Students Exhibition will be on display at Eden Place Arts Centre From Monday 11th-Wednesday 13th April from 10am-7pm.
Call in and view the spectacular work created throughout this term.
Enrolments for next term will be available on our website on MONDAY 25th APRIL from 10am via our 'Upcoming Courses' page. www.edenplaceartscentre.com
Exciting new Courses and Workshops are as follows:
Woodsculpture, Spinning and Weaving, Ceramics, Painting for Beginners, Landscape Painting, Recreational Art, Mosaic Art, Inner Landscapes Abstract Art, Beginners Lino Printmaking, Marquetry, Palette Knife Painting, Leather bag making, Plein Air Painting.
Places are limited so book early to avoid disappointment.
You're invited to the preview of BLACK MED SECCO, an exhibition by Invernomuto at Void Gallery.
9.4.22 - 4.6.22 Preview: Saturday 9 April, 6-8pm Register here
Void Gallery is delighted to invite you to the preview of BLACK MED SECCO, a solo exhibition by Invernomuto, the name of the artistic personality created in 2003 by Simone Bertuzzi and Simone Trabucchi.
RT @FoyleHospice: Do you have a few hours to spare?
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