E-bulletin: 10 December 2025
- kevin7809
- 1 day ago
- 9 min read
In this edition
NWCN AGM
You are invited to attend our AGM at 10:30 on Friday 12th December 2025, at the Gasyard Centre where we will outline our achievements of the past year and set out our priorities for the year ahead.
We will launch our new Website and our Strategic Framework for 2026-2029. Following the AGM we will have the pleasure of hearing insights from Gary Rutherford, ARC Fitness and Cynthia Karanja, African Caribbean Community Network.
Refreshments provided, for catering purposes, let us know if you are planning to attend on info@nwcn.org
The Randal Foundation Small Grants
The Randal Foundation works to deliver the vision of Founders, Dr Nik and Moni Kotecha – saving and significantly improving the lives of 1 million people, across the UK and globally. We work in partnership with inspirational organisations, bringing support and essential funding to both create opportunity and foster hope, for those in greatest need.
In partnership with the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland we will offer grants to support grassroots activity that directly save or significantly improve lives, in line with the Randal Foundation’s mission.
Projects must address the following priority areas:
Poverty alleviation
Support for women and children at risk of immediate harm
Grants available
Small grants of up to £3,000 will be available through an open call.
Funding is for project costs only, and not to support core organisational overheads or capital campaigns.
This strand will focus on supporting projects addressing violence against women & girls and projects supporting refugees & asylum seekers and include proposals more broadly focused on alleviating poverty in general.
Ongoing - No Deadline
Further information available here
The Dormant Assets for All programme
The Dormant Assets for All programme offers up to £20,000 to help VCSE organisations in Northern Ireland build resilience, improve systems, and invest in their future.
This isn’t about delivering services - it’s about strengthening your foundations.
Think of it as an investment in your people, systems and sustainability.
Read our latest blog post for guidance on:
What the funding covers
Who can apply
How to prepare a strong application
Read it here: https://ow.ly/ItZq50XzWtS
We are also hosting a virtual support session on 11 December. If you would like to come along, book your place online.
The Inspiring Growth Fund
The aim of the Inspiring Growth Fund is to help organisations in the community sector to take that time and space and increase their digital capacity, with a particular focus on building on and availing of the opportunities that AI (Artificial Intelligence) may bring to better support communities, as well as to ensure that the sector is not left behind.
We want to fund activity or projects that will enable significant change to occur in the digital capability of the voluntary or community sector. This change must result in demonstrated benefits being delivered by organisations (directly or indirectly) to the individuals or communities they support.
Grant size: Between £5,000 to £10,000 for up to two years.
Ongoing - No Deadline
Further information available here
Support While Waiting Grant Scheme 2025/2026
The purpose of the Support While Waiting Grant Scheme is to provide meaningful, community-based support to individuals while they await treatment on Health and Social Care (HSC) waiting lists.
It is intended that it will help to maintain or improve people’s health and wellbeing during extended waiting periods by funding projects that offer practical assistance, mental health support, and which encourage self-management.
Voluntary and community sector organisations will be eligible to apply for grants between £5,000 and £30,000 to deliver programmes that support individuals on HSC waiting lists.
The Grant Scheme will close at noon on 30 January 2026.
Further information available here
Macmillan CARE Grants
The CARE Grants Programme supports community organisations across the UK to tackle unfairness in cancer care. We want to fund projects that challenge the current system and create lasting change for people facing the greatest barriers to care.
We will fund projects under three themes:
Cultural Responsiveness in Cancer Care
Shared Decision-Making
Dementia-Friendly Cancer Care
Grant value: £50,000 to £150,000
The closing date for applications is 23 January 2026
Further information available here
The Creative Ireland Programme
The Creative Ireland Programme is delighted to announce three new funding calls to a combined value of €4.6 million supporting creativity, connection and wellbeing across the island of Ireland.
Creative Health & Wellbeing in the Community – local authority partnerships with creative/community orgs (Shared Island dimension)
Creative Communities on a Shared Island – local authority + community/creative partnerships
Creative Youth Nurture Fund – supporting young people’s creative potential (Shared Island dimension)
Closing Date: 27 February 2026, 1pm
Grant info sessions:
Jan 14 – MAC Belfast
Jan 22 – Radisson Blue Dublin
Dec 15 – Online (Creative Youth grant)
Further information and registration for info sessions available here
Candlelit Vigil - 16 Days Of Activism
The Advocacy Project and Dove House Meenan has arranged a candlelit vigil to remember, reflect, and stand in solidarity with all those affected by domestic abuse.
This will be a simple and meaningful gathering, bringing our community together in support and quiet reflection.
Please feel welcome to say a few words, a prayer, or a poem if you’d like to contribute on the day.
Date: Wednesday 10th December
Time: 4:30pm
Location: Dove House Community Trust, Meenan Square
NI Human Rights Festival 2025
NI Human Rights Festival is now underway this week (1-13 Dec) and the remaining events can be viewed at the festival website including:
Have a look at the full programme here
PEACEPLUS Project- 'Inspire Enthuse Equip' Fully funded
The OCN NI Level 2 award in Diversity and Good Relations is a fully funded course available via NWRC's 'Inspire, Enthuse, Equip' project.
Course description- OCN Level 2 award in Diversity and Good Relations will enable learners to:
know what is meant by the term diversity and be aware of diverse groups
understand the importance of and the contributions of diverse groups to society
understand what is meant by the terms prejudice and discrimination
understand stereotypical attitudes, their consequences and origin in relation to prejudice and discrimination and the consequences
understand the importance of Equal Opportunities legislation
Course details- Total qualification time 30 hours and can be delivered over 10 weeks at 3 hours per week (this can be altered slightly to meet some groups availability)
If you have a cohort in mind who would benefit from this course they must be 16+ by July 2025 to be eligible to apply. We are looking for community hosts and we would be providing the facilitator.
Please feel free to contact Denise on 02871276392 to discuss further.
ACET OCN Level 2 Course
ACET will be running their next online HIV STIs and Contraception OCN L2 Training course on:
Monday 12th, Tuesday 13th, Monday 19th and Tuesday 20th January 2026 from 10.00-11.30am each day
The course will be delivered entirely online via 4 live Zoom sessions.
We will cover:
Sexually Transmitted Infections
Blood-borne viruses : HIV and Hepatitis C
Contraception
Prevention
Condom Use
Local Sexual Health Services
It will be suitable for anyone working or volunteering with either young people or adults in Northern Ireland who would like to improve their understanding of sexual health. The course is funded by the Public Health Agency so free of charge to participants, and is accredited with OCNNI at Level 2. Places are limited to 15 per course, and allocated on a first-come-first served basis.
Free OCN Level 1 - Community Development Practice
Start Date: 13th January 2026 Time: 10-12 noon (fortnightly) Duration: 8 weeks (4 sessions) Location: The Churches Trust Office, Limavady Road
For more information or to register, please email margaretbonner@thechurchestrust.org.uk
Free parent/carer support courses available
Autism NI has released new parent/carer support courses, with topics including:
Sleep
Supporting your young child with a learning disability
School-related anxiety
These courses are supported by the Public Heath Agency through the CLEAR project. There are dates available in each Health Trust area across NI - please select the course date that matches your location.
Courses are delivered online via Zoom in the evenings. Sessions include the ability to interact and ask questions, so you can get the support that you need.
We also have our on-demand ‘Understanding Autism’ webinar that is available for you to access whenever suits your schedule!
You can find out more about the sessions and dates available, and book your place here.
Free Games Development Academy for 16-19 year olds now recruiting
See below for great opportunity for young people aged 16-19, currently on offer, brought to you by the Northern Ireland Screen Academies - which will be of interest to any of your young people who may have a desire to learn more about careers in the creative industries.
Our free Games Development Academy 2026 is open for Applications now for young people 16-19.
No Coding experience is necessary!
Besides Coders we also welcome those too with an interest in Art, Music, Storytelling or simply those hoping to learn more about the Games development process.
The Academy runs on Saturdays 10-4pm from 10th January through to an in person showcase in Derry/Londonderry in late March
The majority of the Academy content delivery is conducted via in person sessions - 4 of these in person events are based in Belfast, 4 in person events in Derry/Londonderry and four conducted fully online.
A short case study video is available below that sets out the nature of the Games Academy experience:https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wmxMhTrPUBP7WLgz201m19zNg1E2XH-B/view?usp=sharing
Click on the link below to access more details about, and the Application form for, this year's Games Development Academy. https://nervecentre.org/whats-on/games-development-academy-2
Applications for the Games Development Academy close on Wednesday 7th January 2025
Latest Offers from Salto Youth
Please see attached document for the latest offers from Salto Youth, including:
Upgrade your NGO & Unlock cross sectoral cooperation
Global Peace Starts from within
Connecting for Neurodivergent Youth
Call for Trainers
Places Available for Energy Train 2026
Our next Energy Train Course starting January 2026 – Learn how to DJ at the Millennium Forum. You will learn new skills from our DJ’s Oliver Brown and DJ Silver Fox. You will also be offered a guest slot at our monthly Energy of Light Disco’s.
Book early to secure your place.
Please find attached application forms. If you are interested in being part of the course, please fill in attached forms and return to lisah@millenniumforum.co.uk stating the class time that suits you best.
Class time will be 10am – 11.30am or 11.30am – 1pm Course dates are:-
Wednesday, 21 January 2026
Wednesday, 4 February 2026
Wednesday, 18 February 2026
Wednesday, 4 March 2026
Wednesday, 18 March 2026
Wednesday, 1 April 2026
Wednesday, 15 April 2026
Wednesday, 29 April 2026
Wednesday, 13 May 2026
The Junction's AGM
Annual General Meeting - Friday 12th December - Holywell Building, Bishop Street 10:45 - 11:30: Projects in Motion 11:30 - 12:30: AGM Business Followed by refreshments
To register email mel@thejunction-ni.org
Words That Change the Weather
Words That Change the Weather with ECO-UNESCO on Tuesday 16 Dec, 12–2pm at The Playhouse, Derry.
Explore creativity in inspiring young people across the island of Ireland to advocate around environmental justice.
Free lunch
Book your place here
Personalised Christmas E-cards - Designed by our young people!
In lieu of Christmas cards, make a donation to Autism NI and help us provide vital services to local families across Northern Ireland.
Instead of sending physical Christmas cards, we can provide you a personalised Christmas e-card that you can send to your friends and family online.
We have three new designs to choose from, and they are all designed from our young people who are part of our 'Mental Health and Autism Project'.
Submit an article - Email info@nwcn.org.
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