NWCN Ebulletin 15 June 2022

1 Community Ownership Fund Opens for Round 2

The UK Government's £150 million Community Ownership Fund, which will run until 2024/25, is currently accepting Expressions of Interest.

Applications will be accepted from voluntary and community organisations from all parts of the UK who have a viable plan for taking ownership of a community asset at risk and running it sustainably for community benefit.

Groups can bid for up to £250,000 match funding or in exceptional cases up to £1 million for larger sporting assets at risk of loss.

To be eligible for investment from the Fund, the terms of community ownership must be either the ownership of the freehold or a long-term leasehold of at least 15 years with reasonable break clauses. Assets with leaseholds of 25 years and no early break clauses are preferred as applicants will find it easier to demonstrate the long-term sustainability of the asset in community hands.

The fund has moved to a two-stage application process with an initial Expression of Interest stage to determine eligibility and bid readiness followed by a detailed application stage which can be made to any of the three bidding that will be available this year. The first application window is expected to close on 19 August 2022. There will be two more application windows before March 2023.

Expressions of Interest are currently being accepted.

Full details available here

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2 Brighter Communities Fund

Power NI's Brighter Communities fund is receiving applications for June!

Small or large community, sporting, charity and youth groups from across Northern Ireland are eligible to apply for support from the Brighter Communities fund.

Find out more and apply now at powerni.co.uk/community/brighter-communities

3  Growth Impact Fund & UnLtd Awards

Growth Impact Fund
The Growth Impact Fund is a social investment fund, helping fast growth early-stage social businesses to grow their impact. It is offering between £50,000 and £1,500,000 of social investment and supporting grants up to £20,000. Find out more about eligibility & how to apply here: www.growthimpactfund.org.uk  

UnLtd Awards (up to £15,000)
UnLtd finds, funds and supports social entrepreneurs - enterprising people with solutions that change our society for the better. We do this by providing practical and financial support up to £15,000. Next deadline date is 30^th June 2022. Find out more about eligibility and how to apply here: UnLtd - What We Do | Mission, Vision & Values | UnLtd |  

For Further information on either fund, contact Nuala at nualasmyth@unltd.org.uk

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4 Ours to Share Grant Programme

The ‘Ours to Share’ grant programme is for rural community groups / organisations who are interested in developing heritage projects in rural areas. In Round 1 12 projects have been funded and we are now pleased to announce Round 2. Grants up to £3,500 are available and we expect to support around 8 projects.

This grant programme has been created to help support rural communities in developing and delivering heritage projects that will bring people together to celebrate our diverse heritage.

If you are interested in applying, please read the guidance notes to check your eligibility.

The closing date is 5pm on Thursday 30 June 2022.

If you have any questions please contact Nigel McKinney on nigel@ruralcommunitynetwork.org

Completed applications plus all supporting documents must be e-mailed to ours2share@ruralcommunitynetwork.org 

The application form is available here

5 Arts Council NI – Rural Engagement Arts Programme 

This programme aims to provide an integrated, cohesive approach to the needs of local rural communities as they emerge from the global Covid pandemic, recognising the specific issues they face as a result.

The overarching theme is combatting isolation and loneliness, and promoting social inclusion. The pandemic and the resulting lockdowns across the UK have taken a toll on individual lives, with mental health and well-being adversely affected as families and friends were separated for sustained periods of time. Intergenerational family relationships being particularly affected. This has been compounded in rural communities which are characterised by smaller and more dispersed populations.

Groups can apply for one-off projects or for a programme of events to a value of between £500 and £10,000. Projects do not have to be new: existing programmes which are successful and meet the strategic themes of REAP are eligible.
While engagement must be targeted at rural communities, Local Authorities and other groups based in urban areas may apply for programmes to be delivered in rural communities.
 
Organisations based in Republic of Ireland border communities are eligible to apply, however, any proposed project must benefit people living in rural communities in Northern Ireland. 

Applications from single organisations are permissible, but should demonstrate partnership working. Consortium applications demonstrating partnership working will be prioritised. For partnership/consortium applications, a single organisation must be the lead applicant.

For full information about this programme including Guidance Notes and the Project Budget template , see: http://artscouncil-ni.org/funding/scheme/rural-engagement-arts-programme
 
Deadline: THURSDAY 28 JULY 2022 at 12 NOON

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 7 Trade Union Rally - Stormont

Northern Ireland Committee Irish Congress of Trade Unions
Trade Union Rally – 25 June 12 noon, main gates Stormont, assemble 12 noon

Owen Reidy Assistant General Secretary of the ICTU said:
Workers and their families can no longer endure inaction on the cost of living crisis. Inflation is now at 9% and predicted by some to increase to 11%.

Workers make no apologies for seeking to protect their living standards. Many of these workers who are hard pressed and struggling with in work poverty are the very same workers who guided society through the pandemic.

We are calling on all workers and unions to join us at this rally at Stormont on 25th June to add their voice to the call for Westminster to provide the necessary supports to working families and for a return of a NI Executive to roll out the necessary policies and actions to seek to address this cost of living crisis now.

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8 Climate Change Awareness Talks – Free Online Sessions Available 

Interested in becoming more climate smart in your home, business, local interest group or workplace? Wondering where to start? Why not join one of our free online Climate Change Awareness talks, available across Northern Ireland. 

We can offer this in repeatable sessions virtually for groups of up to 50 attendees at a time.  This stand-alone training, delivered virtually in under two hours, offers valuable insight into climate change, and an awareness of the impacts and risks for Northern Ireland.  Attendees can then choose to extend the training if they wish to gain certification.

Please contact Scott Howes at scott.howes@keepnorthernirelandbeautiful.org  to organise this for your staff/group at no cost. 
 
Additional information on the accredited training is available on the Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful website.

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9  What is Natural Health and how can you apply the answers to this in your daily life?

**Please note there has been a change of date for this event**
Organised by Far and Wild (in partnership with North West Community Network)
 
Where: DiverseCity Community Partnership Building, Bishop Street,
When: Wednesday 29^th June at 11:00am
Refreshments will be served
Please RSVP to info@nwcn.org 
 
We invite you to an open discussion at this important time of health recovery, welcoming your contribution and perspective on this topic.  This event is for everyone interested, particularly anyone who may feel they haven't been heard on this issue or who simply wish to know more.
 
Far and Wild believes that debate around how to maintain a healthy life-style- both physically and mentally- particularly during the past 2 years of health-related restrictions, should be supported and allowed to flourish. Please come along and join in the discussion- your opinion is valued and welcome.
 
For further information contact Lawrence on +447775911198 via Whatsapp 
 
Supported by funding from the Community Foundation of NI

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10 International Leadership Course

International Leadership Course 2022
A) Social Action
B) Young Entrepreneurs
20th to 29th June 2022, London, UK

The Centre for International Learning and Leadership (CILL) and Momentum World have been running international leadership courses since 2010. These courses have become recognised as some of the best personal and professional development programmes for young people anywhere. They offer a potentially life-changing experience for participants.

On this course you will get a deep understanding of your own leadership style, skills, ambitions and motivations. You will work in mixed groups with people from different countries and cultures, giving you new perspectives on the world, new ideas and networks for your future. This is an interactive and non-formal learning process, so you will have fun as you learn. Activities include teambuilding exercises, discussions, an in-depth personality profiling exercise, coaching masterclasses, visits to businesses and social organisations in London, meetings with inspiring people, and our famous "London Challenge". There will also be a vibrant social programme including a welcome party in central London, an intercultural evening, and a final celebration night.

To apply fill out the attached form and return ASAP, states on form that it is already closed but the organisation is willing to accept some more applications this week!

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11 Training Programmes at Derry Youth and Community Workshop

Please find attached information on our DFE Skills for Life and Work programme, aimed towards 16-18 year old's who are interested in Vocational training including having the opportunity to gain qualifications in Essential Skills (English, Maths and ICT), Employability Skills and Personal and Social Skills.
 
Work Placement opportunities and allowances / cash bonuses are available as part of our Skills for Life and Work programme.
 
Further current programmes on offer are:

• Engage: The purpose of this programme is to support clients with Autism, Asperger Syndrome, Dyspraxia & Dyslexia.  This is a voluntary programme eligible for clients aged 16-60
• Lemis North West, Learning North West and
• S.E.E.D.s. 

We would be happy to arrange a visit for those who would be interested to call at DYCW for a walk around our premises and to have a chat with some of our staff or we can arrange a meeting to discuss our training programmes and what we can offer.
 
If you require any additional information, please contact Andrea at 028 7126 8891 or by e-mail at andreamontgomery@dycw.co.uk

12 Latest Offers from Salto Youth

Please see attached document for the latest training opportunities from Salto, including:

- Online Course on Digital Youth Work
- Activist Summer School
- Live Sustainably Training Course

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