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Community Planning Event

A workshop for Community and Voluntary sector groups, 10.30-1.30, Wednesday 25 June 2008, St Columb’s Park House.

North-West Community Network has joined with Community Places’ Community Planning Project to organise this workshop for Community & Voluntary groups in the North-West area.

Community Planning is a term/concept that has become part of many conversations in the last couple of years, most usually in the context of the Review of Public Administration.  More specifically it is referred to in relation to the devolution of a wider range of powers to the new “Super Councils” and their role in bringing together a range of public service authorities and providers towards the generation of a needs-led Community Planning approach.

The role of the Community & Voluntary sector as equal partners in this process and as key agents in determining and describing local needs will be key, as will the structures that will support the sector’s ability to carry out this role.

With the new Councils not scheduled to begin functioning until 2011, although work on new partnerships at council level has already begun, it is expected that a number of pilot projects will be initiated in the very near future from which learning can be taken into the full implementation of Community Planning.

This workshop will support the Community & Voluntary sector by developing the understanding of Community Planning as a developmental process and not just the generation of a plan; it will provide useful information on devising locally-based models of Community Planning and it will share information on the Scottish model of Community Planning, towards which the NI version will pay greatest reference.

Places are limited for the workshop to 25 and interest is building fast – register now by contacting the Network. (Lunch Provided)

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Rural Development Programme – Strategy Formation workshops

Derry, Omagh and Limavady Councils wish to invite all interested stakeholders to attend a Strategy Formation Workshop in preparation for the rural strategy and action plan.

Consultation is central to the development of the strategy and a wide range of consultations are planned to ensure that rural stakeholders, Section 75 representative groups and the wider public have an opportunity to input to the strategy formation.

Workshop dates

The Diamond Centre, Claudy – 17 June 2008, 7 – 9 pm.

The Vale Centre, Greysteel – 18 June 2008, 7 – 9 pm.

The Young Farmers’ Hall, Victoria Bridge – 23 June, 10 am – 12 pm.

The Milestone Centre, Carrickmore – 25 June, 10am – 12 pm.

A further workshop at which the final draft strategy will be presented will be held in the Alley Arts and Conference Centre, Strabane on Friday 4 July 2008 at 2 pm.

If you have any queries please contact Alison McCullagh

Tel: 028 8224 5321

Email: alison.mccullagh@omagh.gov.uk

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The Young Father's Project

VOTE FOR US!

The Young Father's Project is a new project aimed at supporting the needs of young fathers/father figures, aged 14-25, and their families.  The project comprises a planned and structured father's service, aimed at improving and enhancing the relationship between fathers and their children. The project is based in Shepherd's View, Waterside and is available on an outreach basis in Derry, Strabane or Limavady.  If you know a young father who would like to avail of our services please contact either Fiona or Sharon on 028 71 348728 or email youngfathersproject@first-housing.com

The Young Father's Project has reached the semi final of The National Lottery Awards were it will be competing against nine others in the Woman Magazine Award for Best Voluntary/Charity Project category.  It is the only project from Northern Ireland represented in this category.

As well as celebrating and recognising the difference that the project has made to Young Parents, children and services, we will be in with a chance of winning £2000, and we need your vote to help us win!  Please take a minute to vote for us.

Just visit www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/awards.

From there, click on the Woman Magazine Award for Best Charity/Voluntary Project category and then vote for us.  Alternatively you can call 0845 386 1248 to register your phone vote.  Every vote counts so please help us to get as many as we can! 

We'll keep you updated on our progress – thank you for supporting us.

Voting takes place between 9am 16^th June and midday 4^th July.  You can vote online or by telephone.

*calls are charged at the BT lo-call landline rate.  Call charges from mobile phones and other land providers may vary.  The National Lottery Promotions Unit makes NO profit from any calls made to the voting numbers.  Voters will be regularly monitored for irregularities by the Electoral Reform Services (ERS), an independent adjudicator, to ensure a fair and efficient process. 

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Education - The Future - Public Meeting

Main Speaker

Minister for Education, Caitríona Ruane

Date: 25th June 2008

Venue:  St. Cecilia's College, Northland Road

Time: 7.30pm

For further details contact Patricia on 71 377551 

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Civil Rights Commemorative Website Launch

The 1968-2008 40^th anniversary commemorative website will be officially launched here in Doire/Derry on Thursday 19 June at 8 PM at 'Knockavoe', 15 Crawford Square. The local media, including Derry News, Derry Journal and Radio Foyle have expressed an interest in covering the event. At least two photographers from local newspapers are expected to attend.

Early on, from the website, a video on the early struggle for civil rights will be shown. Light refreshments will be served afterwards during an informal 'chin-wag' session.

Of particular interest to those who knew them will be obituaries on figures such as 'Vinny' Coyle [Chief Marshall of 700+ stewards], Mary Ellen O'Doherty ["Mother of the Civil Rights"], Cathy Harkin [founder of first ever Women's Aid Centre in Derry], the radical author John Mc Guffin, and several more besides.

On Thursday evening the website will be linked to archives on the prolonged struggle to be moved from 'temporary' WW II U.S Army huts to proper brick-built and insulated homes as illustrated within www.springtowncamp.com in addition to the massacre of peaceful civil rights marchers on Bloody Sunday, January 1972 as chronicled within www.museumoffreederry.org

The media are expected to be present between 8.30 and 9 PM. The video will be shown after a short address by Fionnbarra O'Dochartaigh a co-founder of the N. Ireland Civil Rights Association in January 1967. Other civil rights veterans have been invited to attend including former Minister for Community Relations [1974] Ivan Cooper and Nobel Peace Prize laureate John Home and his wife Pat.

A Memorial Mass will be celebrated by Fr. Gerard Mongan who officiated at the last Mass of the "Mother of the Civil Rights" at St. Eugene's Cathedral at 7.30 PM this Wednesday, June 18^{th -} the date is the 1^st anniversary of her funeral. The Derry & N-West Civil Rights Network cordially invite as many veterans and supporters as possible to be attend this celebration of her long, fruitful and community orientated life.

Thanking you all for your kind attention to this communication.

ISSUED BY DERRY & N-WEST CIVIL RIGHTS NETWORK

Rights.civil@googlemail.com – Voice-Mail:  +44-028-71-286359

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Improve Your English

English class starts Eglinton Community Hall,

Tuesday 24th June @ 7.30pm.

 All ages and nationalities welcome.

 Tel. 71812303,

 Email eglinton community'tiscali.co.uk

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Views Sought on Play Facilities for Council area

Derry City Council, Ilex and Derry Children's Commission are producing a Play Plan to determine future needs across the Council area.

An audit of existing facilities has already been undertaken to measure the current state of play and this information will form the baseline of the Plan for future provision. Please use the links below to send us your feedback:

Parents and carers:

http://www.strategicleisure.co.uk/derry_parentcarer_survey.htm

Children and young people:

http://www.strategicleisure.co.uk/derry_childrens_survey.htm

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International Women’s Conference Peace by Piece

This three day conference from 24 to 26 June 2008 in the Waterfront Hall, Belfast, will bring women from Northern Ireland, Europe and international arenas together to reflect, share, strengthen and celebrate the positive role of women internationally in times of conflict, stepping into transition and moving towards a future where women participate equally on a political, social, economic and judicial level.

The conference programme has been put together to appeal to grassroots women who’ve grown up in a conflict situation, young women growing up in a post-conflict country, researchers and academics, peace builders and organisations involved in peace building.

Why should you attend?

• To share your experience, expertise and knowledge
• To listen and learn new approaches to peace building
• To celebrate the positive role of women internationally
• To acquire fresh ideas
• To network and develop new contacts

Visit www.peacebypiece.org.uk to find out more or contact Dearbhla McGrath on 028 9072 7975 or info@peacebypiece.org.uk.

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Derry Healthy Cities CLEAR Project – Job Opportunity

Project Manager (Mental Health)

(Salary £25-27k pa)

3 years initially based in Omagh

CLEAR is an innovative regional partnership process that seeks to increase access to appropriate mental health & emotional well-being services by forging strong and sustainable links between community and statutory sector service providers.  The project seeks to create collaboration and networking of all service providers in the West that will contribute to positive emotional well-being.

We are now offering a challenging and rewarding position that will see the post holder responsible for the day-to-day management, co-ordination and delivery of the project.  With direction from the project Steering group and a range of appropriate partners the post holder will network & build co-operation between service providers in mental health to enhance the effective delivery of services.

Candidates must have a 3^rd level qualification & 2 Years experience in a similar paid role or 5 GCSE’s or equivalent & 6 years paid experience of similar work.  There is emphasis on experience in the facilitation and establishment of new initiatives and candidates will be expected to have strong project management skills. Experience in networking, partnerships and strategic planning are essential and an understanding of mental well-being delivery will be advantageous but not essential.  The post will be based in Omagh town centre although the successful candidate will be expected to travel widely across the WHSSB area. Secondment opportunities will be considered. 

To obtain an application form, job description and related materials please send a large stamped addressed envelope to the address below or e-mail info@derryhc.com

Derry Healthy Cities, c/o The Old Nursing Home, Altnagelvin Hospital, 24 Glenshane Road, Derry/Londonderry, BT47 6SB

Closing date for receipt of applications is 3.00pm on Friday 20^th June 2008

Interviews will take place on 3 July 2008 in the Omagh area.

Derry Healthy Cities is an Equal Opportunities Employer and openly encourages

applications from all sections of the community.