E-bulletin: 28 January 2026
- kevin7809
- 3 days ago
- 10 min read
In this edition
Housing Executive Social Investment Grant applications now open
Victims Support Programme 2026-28 Expression of Interest Process
Upcoming Webinar for VEEP (Voice Equality Experience and Power)
Get Involved - North West Learning City Region Lifelong Learning Festival
Check out the British Science Week 2026 activity packs, live now!
Housing Executive Social Investment Grant applications now open
The Housing Executive’s Social Investment Strategic Plan 2025-2030 People, Place & Prosperity sets out to provide assistance to organisations and social enterprises in Housing Executive communities. Investment in social and community enterprises that are primarily based in or serve Housing Executive communities is an important aspect of the strategic plan.
We are looking to support applications that meet the following:
Social Enterprise activity
Community Wealth Building
Social Value
Employment and apprenticeships
The awards categories are:
Think It – up to £5000
Boost It – up to £10,000
Grow It – up to £35,000
Application deadline is 16:00 on 20th February, no late applications will be accepted.
Full Criteria is contained within the application link: https://nihe.tfaforms.net/43
For more info contact: socialinvestments@nihe.gov.uk
Victims Support Programme 2026-28 Expression of Interest Process
VSS is inviting Expressions of Interest from experienced organisations to deliver Psychological/Talking Therapies (to include Family Therapy) for victims and survivors of the Troubles/conflict* who are aged under 18.
This provision will form part of the Victims Support Programme 2026–2028 and contribute to The Executive Office’s Strategy for Victims and Survivors of the Troubles/Conflict 2024–2034.
Who can apply?
Legally constituted charities based in NI. Minimum 5 years’ experience delivering health and wellbeing support to victims and survivors of the Troubles/conflict
Closing Date- 12 noon 30th January 2026
Further information available here
Saving Our Rural Heritage Grant – Applications Now Open!
Are you a community group in a rural area of Derry City & Strabane District Council?If you're based in DERG, FAUGHAN or SPERRIN DEA, you could be eligible for a grant to support your local heritage project.
Grants available: £1,00 - £5,000 are now available to support local heritage projects.
Deadline to apply: 12 noon Thursday 19th February 2026.
If you're thinking of applying, RAPID are here to support you with guidance or advice.
For more information or an application pack please get in touch.Email Sara at sara@rapidni.com or call 07821646552
KFC Youth Foundation - Community Grants Programme Webinar
This year we’ve made the programme simpler, more accessible, and more closely aligned with our mission - and in this session we’ll walk you through all the key updates.
Thursday, 29 January 2026, 10:00 AM - 10:30 AMOnline event
You’ll learn:
What’s changing for 2026
Who the programme is designed to support
What we fund (and what we don’t)
How to submit a strong application
Common mistakes to avoid
Key dates and next steps
We’ll also share helpful resources and answer your questions live.If you’re planning to apply, this session is the best place to start.
Register your place here
Upcoming Webinar for VEEP (Voice Equality Experience and Power)
3 February 2026 12.00pm to 2.00pm
During this webinar, speaker Sara Boyce from PPR (Participation and Practice of Rights) will share the process of collaboration used in bringing together key voices in the Give 5 Campaign, and how the group went about getting all-party support in Stormont.
The campaign calls for a mental health system shift towards community development and rights-based approaches, close to people, their families and communities.
There will be space for learning, sharing and discussion how communities can work with politicians and citizens to build consensus for collective action on mental health and poverty.
Click here to reserve a place on the webinar.
Get Involved - North West Learning City Region Lifelong Learning Festival
After discussions with UNESCO, we are delighted to relaunch the UNESCO Learning City Initiative and announce that we are expanding our status to the North West Region to become the ‘North West Learning City Region’.
As part of this exciting relaunch, we will be holding a 1-day Lifelong Learning Festival around the North West Region (Derry City & Strabane District Council Area and Donegal County Council Area) on Thursday 5 March 2026. As the UNESCO Learning City Initiative promotes lifelong learning for all, we want the 1-day festival to showcase all forms of learning, both formal and informal, for all ages throughout the region.
To make our inaugural North West Learning City Region Lifelong Learning Festival a success, we would be delighted if you can support us by getting involved in providing an event for the 1-day festival, your event can be anything from workshops, classes, performances, exhibits and much more. You may already have an activity taking place on Thursday 5 March 2026 or have an idea for one, either way, we would love to promote them as part of the Lifelong Learning Festival to all our networks.
The criteria for the festival is that all events must be:
Based in the North West (Derry City & Strabane District Council Area and Donegal County Council Area)
Free to attend
Open to all age groups
A learning type event.
To provide an event as part of the North West Learning City Region Lifelong Learning Festival on the 5 March 2026, please fill out the application below by Friday 6 February 2026 at 5pm.
There may be some funding available to support your event, if you require funding, please outline this in your application.
You can find the application HERE
If you have any queries, please contact Collette Cassidy, Ulster University Development Officer, by email - c.cassidy1@ulster.ac.uk
Free video training workshops for your charity network
The Saltways run free monthly online workshops specifically designed for charities who want to create more effective video content. These sessions are practical, interactive, and regularly attract 200-300 charity professionals live, with many more accessing the recordings afterwards.
Our 2026 workshop topics include how to use video to nurture major donor relationships, getting started with legacy and in-memory programmes, an AI-generated imagery ethics panel discussion, creating effective video content using your phone, content beyond case studies for nurturing regular giver relationships, authenticity in charity storytelling, and TikTok and Reels for non-profits.
All sessions feature industry experts who understand the charity sector, including guest speakers from Royal Free Charity, Octopus Legacy, and Legacy Futures.
View the full schedule and register (free) at www.thesaltways.com/training
Community Studio For organisations wanting deeper, ongoing support, we also offer Community Studio – a twelve-month membership programme where charity teams learn to create professional smartphone videos.
The February cohort includes our 'Getting Started with Legacy and In Memory Campaigns' bundle featuring five expert videos from Octopus Legacy, Legacy Futures, and Prospecting for Gold, plus a free downloadable Q&A video about leaving gifts in wills that members can use in their communications.
Community Studio provides monthly training, live creative brainstorming sessions, templates, and a supportive community of charity professionals. Investment is £250 for twelve months, with only 50 places available.
Registration opens 12th February. Join the waitlist at https://mailchi.mp/thesaltways/community-studio-waitlist
Inclusive Employment Academy
New Inclusive Employment Academy to Support Residents with Disabilities Into Work Across Derry & Strabane
A new Inclusive Employment Academy is launching in the Derry & Strabane District, offering practical, supportive training and a recognised qualification for residents who consider themselves to have a mental or physical disability, with clear progression routes towards interviews, work placements and local employment opportunities, in the I.T., Finance or Creative Industries sectors.
Funded by the Department for Communities, Labour Market Partnerships create targeted employment action plans for council areas, allowing for collaboration at local and regional level to support people towards and into work.
Delivered in partnership with People 1st and supported through the Derry & Strabane Labour Market Partnership (LMP), the academy is designed to help participants build confidence, gain job-ready skills, and take positive steps towards sustainable employment in the local area.
The Inclusive Employment Academy is a short programme providing:
Practical, supportive training in an inclusive environment
A recognised qualification
Progression opportunities including interviews, work placements, and employment with local employers across the Derry & Strabane District
The programme is open to residents who consider themselves to have a mental or physical disability, and aims to remove barriers to employment by providing guidance, structure, and tailored support.
Launch Event: An official launch event will take place on: Date: 4 February 2026 Time: 1.00pm Location: Verbal Arts Centre, Bishops Street, L/Derry Scan the QR code here to register
Feb 2026 - Free Training Opportunities
Free online training from The Clear Project open to staff & volunteers of community & voluntary sector organisations operating within the Western Trust Area
1. Impact of Drugs on Emotional Health Dates: 13th February 2026 Times: 9:30am - 12:30pm Venue: Online
2. Self Harm & Autism Dates: 16th February Times: 9:30am - 12:30pm Venue: Online
Booking Essential ** Register ** Book your place
FREE Admission to the Tower Museum/'The Story of Derry'
It’s time to say a fond farewell to ‘The Story of Derry’ at the Tower Museum!
This celebrated exhibition, which has helped us share so much of our history over the decades, will be closing its doors for the final time on Saturday, 1st March 2026. To ensure everyone gets to travel through our iconic tunnel entrance for one last look, we are delighted to offer FREE ADMISSION for all our visitors throughout January and February 2026!
While we are sad to see the much-loved ‘Story of Derry’ come to an end at the Tower Museum, we are excited that the important work of preserving our city’s history and heritage will continue with the highly anticipated development of the new DNA (Derry-Londonderry on the North Atlantic) Museum at Ebrington.
We encourage you to use this final opportunity to enjoy ‘The Story of Derry’ and join with us as we celebrate its legacy.
Plan Your Visit:
When: Free admission throughout January and February 2026
Bookings: Please contact our bookings team to reserve your group's free slot.
We look forward to welcoming you to ‘The Story of Derry’ one last time!
Booking Office: Tel 028 71 376510 Ext 8301 / guildhall@derrystrabane.com
Job Opportunities at Foyle Women's Aid
Foyle Women’s Aid opportunities to join their team please see below.
Current Jobs Available :
Dress for Success Manager
Policy Officer
Early Years Assistant (Bank Staff)
Full job information, criteria and APPLICATION FORM are available on our website: https://foylewomensaid.org/recruitment/
Derry Strabane Apprenticeship Week 2026
APPRENTICESHIP EMPLOYERS WEBINAR This event is for employers who want to hear more about taking on an apprentice in a one hour short and information packed webinar. Date: Tuesday 03rd February Location: online joining link https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/38079936006810?p=Chuv0LTkOMIOXWexTh Time: 10am to 11am Meeting ID: 380 799 360 068 10 Passcode: Sw7Tb6QN
FOYLE ANNUAL APPRENTICESHIP FAIR This event is opened to schools, the public, parents & guardians and indeed anyone interested in finding out more about apprenticeships. L2, L3 and HLA apprenticeship providers will be present. To date the employers with apprenticeship vacancies are Abbey Autoline and Seagate. Date: Wednesday 04th February Location: The Guildhall Time: 1pm to 4pm
STRABANE JOB AND APPRENTICESHIP FAIRThis joint job and apprenticeship event is opened to job seekers, job changers, potential apprentices, schools, parents and guardians and anyone interested in finding out what jobs and apprenticeships are on offer. L2, L3 and HLA apprenticeship providers will be present. There will be up to 20 employers present as part of the annual Strabane Job Fair. Date: Friday 06th February Location: Melvin Sports Complex, Strabane Time: 1pm to 4pm BSL/ISL: available from 2 to 4pm Quiet time: 3 to 4pm
LIVE LINK TO ALL APPRENTICESHIP EVENTS: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/apprenticeship-week-events
Latest Offers from Salto Youth
Please see attached document for the latest offers from Salto Youth, including:
"Feel, Flow, Grow - from inner balance to outer impact"
Digital Competences for Youth Workers: Tools & Methods
Webinar: Empower Youth Participation in Nature Restoration
Volunteering for ALL
Call for Trainers
Check out the British Science Week 2026 activity packs, live now!
We've published three FREE packs for children & young people from under 5s to secondary school students - there's something for everyone!
The theme this year is 'Curiosity: what's your question?' - the packs are full of activities that explore questions children ask about the world around them, from dinosaur adaptations to growing food in space.
Downloads yours now & get the British Science Week fun started: https://www.britishscienceweek.org/activity-packs/
Join Us to Commemorate Bloody Sunday 2026
Friday 30 January - Sunday 1 February 2026 As we commemorate Bloody Sunday in 2026, fifty-four years on from the massacre on our streets, we do so in the aftermath of the Soldier F trial – a moment that underscores both the scale of injustice endured and the continuing struggle for truth and accountability. This year also marks significant milestones: 30 years since the first meeting of the Bloody Sunday Trust and 20 years since the Museum of Free Derry opened its doors, reflecting decades of campaigning for justice and the work of preserving the story of Bloody Sunday.
Commemorations begin on Friday with moments of reflection, remembrance and public discussion.
Full programme details are available here
Art as Protest Exhibition
Join us at Eden Place Arts Centre on: Thursday 29th January 2026 @ 7.30pm for the launch of: 'Art as Protest' an exhibition by Ciarán Dunlevy.
Donegal based Ciarán is know for his colourful, historical and quirky murals but recently, fed up with the direction the world is moving in he has started creating art to highlight injustice in the world and how history keeps repeating itself.
The exhibition will be available to view on Friday 30th and Saturday 31st January from 12noon-5pm. After the weekend viewing times are as follows: Mondays: 10am-12noon, Tues-Fri 10am-9pm until 12th February.
This exhibition is part of the annual Bloody Sunday March for Justice Programme of events
IMBOLC 2026
Everyone is welcome to embrace the traditional and contemporary aspect of our island's rich culture with a full programme of music concerts, festival clubs for the night world and workshops from 1 to 7 February 2026!
The programme is available here
Energy Strategy E-Bulletin
Please find below link for the 33rd edition of the Energy Strategy E-Bulletin, which aims to keep stakeholders informed about progress on the Energy Strategy for Northern Ireland.
In this edition:
Publication of the Mid-Term Review of the Energy Strategy
Energy Strategy Targets and Metrics Monitoring
Minister announces fairer connection costs for rural communities
Funding for NI Sustainable Energy Programme (NISEP)
Submit an article - Email info@nwcn.org. Please note that the e-bulletin goes out once per week on a Wednesday, please have your article for inclusion with NWCN by Tuesday afternoon
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The information in this E-Bulletin has been collated from a range of sources. NWCN does not however accept responsibility for any third party content or for any of the opinions expressed.
