To all our members and groups within the community sector in the north west, we want to try and support you as best we can over the next few months. If you need to put a call-out for support e.g. if you need volunteers to help you to continue to provide vital services within the community or have a support initiative that we can help you inform others about, please send on the information to us and we can post this in our weekly e-bulletin, Twitter or on our Facebook page.
Challenging times for us all but we want to work with you and work together so that we can support those in our community who will need it most in the coming weeks. Email any information to roisin@nwcn.org
Membership Survey:
As a member of NWCN we are asking you to complete this brief survey, it will literally take a few minutes ... we want to check in with you to see how we can best support you over the next few months. Click the link below to complete the survey
Updated guidance from Volunteer Now on Volunteering Risk Assessments, Volunteering on Furlough, Volunteer Expenses, Keeping Children Safe from Online Sexual Abuse, Safe Communication Online with Children and Young People, Spotting the signs of Financial Abuse and more
We hope you continue to find these updates useful – don't forget to check our website and nidirect regularly for the latest information on the impact of COVID-19 on our services.
This section includes information on the impact of current funding and fundraising, and has some useful sources of financial help. Read the most recent advice and information from funders:
AWARE the depression charity in Northern Ireland launched its first ever virtual fundraising campaign #HomeAndAWARE in celebration of Mental Health Awareness Week which falls later in the month. AWARE recognises the challenges that COVID-19 has brought to each of us. You may be feeling more anxious and stressed than usual, you may be feeling worried about your own health and the health of your loved ones, you may be experiencing financial stress and/or feeling worried about the future.
The important thing to remember is you are not alone and we are very much in this together.
The current social distancing measure are putting a strain on the mental health of many in Northern Ireland. AWARE will strive to continue to be a source of support for those who need it, but we need your help. With AWARE's fundraising events being put on hold due to Covid-19, we need support from people like you so we can continue to support those who are struggling with their mental health.
#HomeAndAWARE is about making a positive difference to your mental health and that of others. It's an opportunity to focus your energy on something positive, try new things and embrace this new 'normal'. By choosing to support AWARE you will be helping those in Northern Ireland who are living with depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder.
AWARE is encouraging everyone to get involved and take part by either taking in one of the #HomeAndAWARE virtual fundraising ideas, coming up with your own idea or directly donating to AWARE. Funds raised will make a huge difference to those in Northern Ireland who are struggling with their mental health, particularly at this difficult time.
There's something for everyone! You can get active, take part in an AWARE wellness challenge, host an AWARE bake-off, host your own virtual quiz or bingo night, shave your hair (or grow it!), and you can even get the little ones involved by taking part in the AWARE 'What Matters Most Challenge'. Click here for more information on how to get involved. Don't forget, you can also come up with your own #HomeAndAWARE fundraising challenge!
If taking on a virtual fundraising challenge isn't for you, that's okay! You can gather up your spare change and donate to the AWARE JustGiving page by clicking here, we really appreciate any amount you can give.
Check out AWARE ambassador Cate Conway telling us all about #HomeAndAware, why it's so important and what she'll be doing to support AWARE, click here to check it out.
Let us know what you're up to by tagging us on social media with the hashtag #HomeAndAWARE.
6Plunkett Foundation Help for Rural Community Businesses
A dedicated programme of support has been launched by the Plunkett Foundation to help rural community businesses across the UK as they battle the unprecedented challenge of the coronavirus lockdown.
Thanks to funding from the Co-op, Plunkett will offer a dedicated package of free Covid-19 support for open and trading community businesses, as well as those developing groups that have been affected by the pandemic.
The new scheme will focus on getting one-to-one support to groups that need it the most. This will include free practical support from Plunkett's national network of specialist community businesses advisers. All forms of community business – including woodlands, farms, bakeries, pubs and shops – will be able to get support, advice and guidance on a range of issues such as; developing short – medium term cash flow, reviewing business plans, applying for funding, upholding good practice governance, utilising community shares and accessing government support.
Those developing groups that were working towards opening their business will also be able to access adviser support to help these projects navigate this challenge.
As a core part of all Plunkett operations, peer learning will be proactively encouraged and community businesses will be linked up with each other to share experiences and stories of what they are doing, how they are responding to Covid-19 and what innovative practises have been introduced.
For more information on Plunkett's Covid-19 Support contact us directly via info@plunkett.co.uk / 01993 810 730. Plunkett has a dedicated Covid-19 live page, which is regularly updated with the latest advice and guidance for community businesses. Pub and shop groups can also share information in the Community Shop and Community Pub networks on Facebook.
7In This Together Project – rural communities, rural connections
We all know the impact Coronavirus has had on our communities and every single individual and family throughout the country. This project has been developed to try and showcase that even though we are all facing adversity and times that are unprecedented, community practitioners, community workers, volunteers and individuals are continuing to play a positive role through very tough times. This shows true resilience and determination to help others.
Therefore, we aim to showcase how relationships have developed during this pandemic. We want to explore areas and communities where relations have potentially developed for the better, during lockdown and how adversity has brought communities together even in a small way. We also want to showcase the best of rural communities and how individual and collection action has helped others, using storytelling as a method for collecting stories at this time.
Over the next few months, whilst this pandemic continues, we will be posting videos and short stories from individuals working in the community either, paid or voluntary and hear from them first-hand about how we are "In this Together". These videos will also be available on all social media outlets so watch this space....
Don't miss this opportunity to showcase what you or your group has done for your community. If you would like to be involved, please contact Charmain on email charmain@ruralcommunitynetwork.org
8FWIN Call for Your Stories of Life in the Time of Covid-19
Your Voices, Your Stories
Folklore is oral history that is preserved by the people of the culture, consisting of traditions belonging to a specific culture. Ladies, most of us are at home during these difficult days and FWIN have an idea for a new project when we get to the other side.
We hope to compile a book capturing all our stories of this time, to be used in a publication at a later date with your approval. Memories and stories can be anonymous.
If we all try and write down how we are feeling – even if it is just a few lines, we can create as a written record of these difficult times.
For those who aren't keen writers, please consider taking some photos of your children being home-schooled, your home baking tips, recipes, knitting or crocheting projects something to remember these times.
This is a time in history that we hope won't ever be repeated and we want to capture some of the things that made us cope, what books we read what films we watched, board games we played how technology helped.
We would like to hear stories about how you coped, your day-to-day life, your fears and positive thoughts.
Please send any pieces to info@fwin.org.uk or post to: Foyle Women's Information Network, 8-14 Bishop Street, Derry-Londonderry.
9Fertility Network NI –Spring Online Support Programme 2020
Thousands of fertility treatments have been paused due to Covid19. Thousands of people need our support to get through this. Sadly, due to the cancellation of fundraising events, we need a little help too. Help us help others – join our online events.
All our events are FREE to attend but we welcome voluntary donations and suggest a £3 donation per event. THANK YOU xx
'Mild and Natural IVF, Low Ovarian Reserve and Optimising Fertility' with Geeta Nargund. The science behind "No or Low drug approaches in IVF" and who can benefit. Optimising your natural fertility and. treatment options with low egg reserve.
Time on your hands? Spring clean and raise funds for us at the same time! Simply scan your old books, CDs, DVDs and games and then arrange for them to be collected.
Week 5- 8 Join Yoga teacher Annie Perry for an hour of relaxation and stress reduction. There will be a focus on breathing techniques and yoga postures suitable for all and a meditation specifically for fertility.
Pub Quiz at the Ovary Arms!! Four rounds of feel-good quizzing for a little uplifting fun. Get dressed up or down, grab yourself a cuppa or your fave tipple.
Writing for Wellbeing with Words That Heart. Exploring the benefits of using creativity as an outlet for the myriad of emotions that childlessness brings.
Tuesday 12th May 7.30pm
Fertility Chat Night-In via Zoom
For login details email Hilary or Rachel.
Guest Nutritionist Sarah Trimble answers your questions about optimum nutrition for fertility and also weight loss for PCOS.
Mon 18th May 7.30pm
More to Life Support group Chat via Zoom for those childless not by choice.
For login details email Hilary.
Chatting about Grief and loss with Counsellor Patricia Gilbert. Join us for an informal chat with MTL members about the ongoing pain of involuntary childlessness.
Tues 26th May 7.30pm
Fertility Chat Night-In via Zoom
For login details email Hilary or Rachel.
10Flexible eLearning training academy from Global Horizon Skills
As a leading training provider, we are proud to have partnered with thousands of individuals and companies over the years in meeting their training needs. We are now further extending this learning and training support via our flexible eLearning training academy.
As we all react, pivot and adapt to the impact of the COVID-19 shutdown which has been profound and transformational, we'd like to keep you up to date with just some of the changes we have made at Global Horizon Skills to ensure that now more than ever, we are supporting you flexibly in meeting your training needs, ensuring you can access programmes, any time... any place... any course!
AWARE is delighted to announce that we are launching a series of free online 'Introduction to Mindfulness' sessions for adults 18+ in partnership with the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland and Bank of Ireland.
If you are feeling stressed or anxious at the minute, mindfulness can be a really good way to make yourself feel better.
The sessions begin on Monday 11th May 2020 and there will be two daily zoom sessions running Monday – Friday for 12 weeks. These sessions are delivered by professional mindfulness practitioners and you can attend as many or as little as you want.
To register to attend and to find our further details in relation to the benefits of mindfulness and the dates/times of sessions view the AWARE website https://www.aware-ni.org/intro-to-mindfulness
If you have any questions or have difficulty in registering for sessions email stephanie@aware-ni.org
13Trusted to Develop Us - FREE live webinar plus Q&A with Pat Kane
DTNI are delighted to announce that, in lieu of his appearance as keynote speaker at last month's cancelled DTNI conference, Pat Kane will join us for a free live webinar and Q&A on Wednesday 13th May, 11am BST
Pat is a political commentator, writer, musician and activist. He is the author of The Play Ethic and his forthcoming book is Radical Animal. He is also the co-initiator of the new political platform The Alternative UK, and one half of the 80s pop duo Hue And Cry.
One of Pat's current preoccupations is that of system change; a fundamental change that has an economic and political reset at its core. But what will that look like in an NI context?
How can those in the community sector be repositioned as the prime movers in a shift towards an economy that benefits the many not the few?
Can community ownership be the catalyst for a more participative democracy?
These are questions that have a new urgency to them as we start to plan for a post-COVID-19 world.
14 Job Opportunity @ Culmore Community Partnership Ltd
Culmore Community Partnership wish to appoint a Project Manager
37.5 HOURS PER WEEK
Salary - £32029.00 per year (NJC PO1 Point 29)
(4 year fixed term contract)
For job description, job specification and application form please contact:
Chairperson of CCP, 15 Belvoir Park, Culmore, Derry, BT48 8PQ,
OR
Email: accounts@waferltd.co.uk
Applications sent elsewhere will not be considered.
Selection criteria may be enhanced to facilitate short listing
Closing date for application requests is: 17.00 hrs, Friday, 15 May, 2020
This position is funded by National Lottery Community Fund
15Volunteer Opportunities with the Human Rights Consortium
We are currently seeking volunteers to work on our Human Rights News Roundup.
Human Rights News Roundup – 2 x Volunteers (May – September 2020)
The Consortium are seeking two volunteers to work remotely on its Human Rights News Round Up project.
The Roundup is a collection of the latest human rights related news stories from Northern Ireland that is distributed to Consortium members and supporters on a regular basis.
This six month volunteer position is based from home/remote working and is an excellent opportunity gain a broad range of skills and experience.
A full project brief and details of how to apply is available for download here.
The Northern Ireland Veterans Commissioner will be a visible leader and exemplar, establishing a strong network and creating a vision of future service provision for veterans in Northern Ireland which supports the realisation of the ambition shared across the United Kingdom to be the best place in the world to be a veteran. The Commissioner must balance this strategic vision with managing short and long-term priorities, while remaining sensitive to the unique political and historical context in Northern Ireland.
The Northern Ireland Veterans Commissioner is a challenging and rewarding opportunity. It calls for someone who can work effectively with a wide range of individuals and who has good judgment, resilience, sensitivity and vision of a high order. He or she will be expected to engage with, listen to, and act upon the real-life experiences of service users; promote rigorous and supportive challenge, while being sensitive to the views of others; foster and maintain good relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, and liaise effectively with the UK and Northern Ireland Governments, Health Boards, local councils and other local and national partners.
Unfortunately, in the current circumstances, we are unable to accept hard copy applications by post for this competition. Applications must therefore be sent by email to: NIVC2020@nio.gov.uk.
The closing date for applications is Friday 22 May 2020.
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