NWCN E-bulletin: 10 September 2025
- Kevin Burns
- Sep 10
- 8 min read
In this edition
Public consultations events on section 167 of the Charities Act
(T:BUC) Engagement Forum - “Social Media and its impact on Good Relations”
PEACEPLUS Project: 'Inspire, Enthuse, Equip' FULLY FUNDED OCN L2 in Youth Leadership
Culture Night 2025 - 'The Irish and Ulster-Scots Origins of Our Local Placenames'
Border Lines: Bilingual Poetry Evening and Writing Workshop
Community Partnership Framework
Over the last months, Ulster University and some Community Partners have developed a draft ‘Community Partnership Framework to help guide our developing relationships across Derry/Londonderry. As a key part of the development of that framework, we would like to meet with communities from across the city to further develop that engagement.
We are keen to hear from you around three topics:
The content of the current draft Partnership Framework
Your thoughts on how future partnerships might develop
Your ideas on how communities and the University can be engaged in meaningful and sustainable relationships over the longer term.
Please come along to join in on these conversations. We need to hear more community voices. We are running two sessions:
Monday 15th September – 10:30am - North West Community Network, Holywell Building, Bishop Street
Tuesday 16th September – 10:30am – Waterside Neighbourhood Partnership, Shared Future Centre, Irish Street
To confirm your attendance please email info@nwcn.org
RAISE Programme
RAISE is a whole community, place-based approach in localities across Northern Ireland.
The RAISE Strategic Area Plans for all 18 localities have been published and are available on the Department of Education’s website. Alongside the publication of the RAISE Strategic Area Plans, the first call for Locality Led Projects is also now live.
To propose a Locality Led Project organisations will be required to complete a Locality Led Project Identification Template. The RAISE Locality Led Projects – Identification of RAISE Locality Led Projects and RAISE Locality Led Project Identification Template Guidance Notes document is available here.
Project proposals are invited from organisations with experience of successful working in the locality, schools serving those pupils who live within a RAISE locality or area identified within the locality’s Strategic Area Plan (excluding independent and preparatory schools), early years providers, colleges and appropriately constituted community groups and voluntary organisations. As one of the key objectives of the RAISE Programme is raising aspirations through a whole community approach to education, collaborative/ consortium proposals will also be welcomed.
All project applications must be submitted via the online platform by 2.00pm on 30 September 2025.
Further information available here
Community Fridge Setup Fund
Can you imagine a community fridge in your neighbourhood Hubbub and Co-op have teamed up to help make that vision a reality. The Community Fridge Setup Fund supports local groups across the UK to tackle food waste and bring people together by sharing surplus food.
If you're passionate about reducing food waste and want to create a space where your community can connect, you can apply for funding using the information on our website
This funding is designed to support new community fridges. £4,750 is on offer to 20 successful applicants.
Get your application in before the 30th September.
Funding Fayre
Following the success of last year’s funding fayre, RAPID Ltd are going to hold a fayre on Monday 1st October from 6pm – 9pm in Strabane & District Young Farmers Hall, 84 Urbalreagh Road, Victoria Bridge, BT82 9JL.
We will have a host of funders and support organisations in attendance where you will be able to learn more about their programmes and support, network with others organisations and gain new contacts and links.
BBC Broadcast Appeals
The BBC provides up to eleven broadcast slots to local charities each year on BBC Radio Ulster/Foyle. These opportunities, currently available from November 2025, are open to local charities and organisations that operate at regional or sub-regional level, or which are involved in international work.
Find out more:
Charity Governance Simplified
Join Tony Haren from Admor Business Solutions for his free 1-hour webinar on: Thursday 16 October 2025 at 1.00pm
In this session, you'll discover a 5-step approach to taking control of your charity governance, including how to run just one effective board meeting to reveal how strong your governance really is, where your gaps are — and what to do next.
Department for Communities APS consultation sessions
DfC have arranged consultation engagement events for the draft Anti-Poverty Strategy.The events are taking place in:
Anti-Poverty Strategy Consultation ToolkitA number of organisations have created the below Toolkit for engagement with the draft Anti-Poverty Strategy.Anti-Poverty Strategy Group Updated RecommendationsSummary Briefing on draft Anti-Poverty Strategy
The draft Anti-Poverty Consultation closes on 19 September at 5pm. Please see here for further details on the consultation.
Public consultations events on section 167 of the Charities Act 17 & 25 September | Online
The Department for Communities is seeking views on proposed changes to section 167 (s167) of the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008. This section applies to institutions that operate in or from Northern Ireland but are not established under its law and therefore cannot register as charities with the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland.
Further information available here
Launch of Know Your Rights Guide to Protest: Derry
A number of organisations - the Committee on the Administration of Justice (CAJ), Public Interest Litigation Support (PILS), Environmental Justice Network Ireland (EJNI) and Friends of the Earth NI (FOENI) - came together with lawyers to produce a Know Your Rights Guide to Protest, which can be found here.
The Derry launch of this guide will take place on 23 September at 17:30 in the Museum of Free Derry, 55 Glenfada Park, Derry BT48 9DR.
Event attendees will hear from the authors of the guide about the format and rationale for it, and from local activists from Alliance for Choice on their experiences of protest.
There will be an opportunity to provide feedback on the guide and suggestions for subsequent 'Know Your Rights' training. Printed copies of the guide will be available.
This event is being held in partnership with Alliance for Choice and Bloody Sunday Trust. For further information and to register, please see here.
Climate Action Plan Youth Event
COME HAVE YOUR SAY!
Join Youth Action for a fun consultation with games, activities, and discussions on environmental activism in Northern Ireland. This is your chance to share ideas, get creative, and shape action for a greener future
18th September 2025 6-8pm, Destined, 1 Foyle Rd, L/derry BT48 6SQ Food and transport provided
To register contact jessica@youthaction.org
(T:BUC) Engagement Forum - “Social Media and its impact on Good Relations”
The Community Relations Council, on behalf of The Executive Office, would like to invite you to the next Together: Building a United Community (T:BUC) Engagement Forum - “Social Media and its impact on Good Relations.
The event takes place on: Tuesday 16th September 2025 9.30 am – 1.30 pm in The Silverbirch Hotel, Omagh, Co.Tyrone.
This Engagement Forum will explore how social media impacts the delivery of good relations, both in all its positive ways and conversely the negative impacts too.
The event will involve input from senior officials from OFCOM, academics currently researching the theme, the CEO of FactCheck NI and community organisation's who use social media daily to promote their work.
Participants will have the opportunity to take part in table discussions and ask questions to our panel of speakers.
Book now with Eventbrite
Motivational Interviewing L1 Training
This workshop, facilitated by Glenn Hinds, is designed for everyone who wishes to develop their skills in supporting people change their behaviour. It will be of particular interest to those assisting people who wish to change their thinking or behaviour including diet, substance use, exercise routine, medication adherence, criminal behaviour, or any other health or lifestyle behaviour.
Dates: 5th & 6th November 2025 Times: 9:30am - 4:00pm Venue: Online
Would you like to learn Sign Language?
Hands That Talk, Dungiven are running BSL & ISL Level 1 in September.
This course is accredited and highly subsidised by Department of Communities.
Places are limited and will go fast! Contact info@handsthattalk.co.uk or Tel: 028777 42776
PEACEPLUS Project: 'Inspire, Enthuse, Equip' FULLY FUNDED OCN L2 in Youth Leadership
Are you interested in becoming a youth leader?’ Working in your local community?An OCN Level 2 in Youth Leadership will give you the relevant training and skills to help you gain employment in Youth Work or Community setting.The inspire, enthuse, equip project offers accredited courses fully funded.
Course: OCN NI Level 2 Award in Youth Leadership Duration: 12 weeks, total commitment 30 hours for course Start date: 23rd of September - Time 7pm -9.30pm Location: Strand Road Campus Cost: Fully funded by SEUPB and PEACEPLUS Projects DCSDC
Further information and QR code here
For more information or to register interest email: inspire.enthuse.equip@nwrc.ac.uk
Unicef UK Youth Advisory Board - Applications now open
Applications for the Unicef UK Youth Advisory Board are now open, if you are working with any young people aged 14-18 who would be interested in becoming a YAB member please share the link below with them.
Board members get involved in UNICEF UK’s work in a number of ways:
Being a voice on children’s rights;
Providing insight that helps UNICEF UK develop new ideas;
Raising awareness, using their networks – to help other young people understand our work.
The UK Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK) signed up to the Power of Youth Charter and the UNICEF UK Youth Advisory Board is a very important part of the organisation.
Latest Offers from Salto Youth
Please see attached document for the latest offers from Salto Youth, including:
Living Collage. Nonviolent Communication training for personal and community growth
Inner Compass: Navigating Stress and Burnout in Youth Work
Dealing with conflicts in youthwork
Webinar free interactive educational toolkit: Facing Trauma (English)
Promoting volunteering across DCSDC
The Northwest Volunteer Centre are currently updating our volunteer opportunities for autumn / winter 2025 for the Derry City and Strabane District Council Area - If you would like to register an opportunity to feature on our newsletter and website please click and submit on the link below.
Culture Night 2025 - 'The Irish and Ulster-Scots Origins of Our Local Placenames'
The Hidden History of Placenames Culture Night - Friday 19 September 2025 4:30 pm, Whittaker Suite, Guildhall
Have you ever wondered where our local placenames come from?
Join us, on Friday 19 September 2025, when translator and researcher Brian Ó Doibhlin will explore the Irish and Ulster-Scots origins of our local placenames in the Derry City and Strabane District area. Booking essential.
Book your place at languages@derrystrabane.com or call T: 028 71 376 579. Light refreshments will be provided.
This event is kindly supported by Foras na Gaeilge.
Border Lines: Bilingual Poetry Evening and Writing Workshop
Saturday, October 4, 7:30 - 9:30pm
Presented in association with Poetry Ireland, brings bilingual poetry and spoken word to Cultúrlann, with a workshop by Irish Slam Champion Cormac Mac Gearailt at Little Acorns Bookstore at 2.30pm
Tickets and further information at bit.ly/borderlines1
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