NWCN E-bulletin: 23 October 2025
- kevin7809
- Oct 24
- 9 min read
NWCN Coffee Morning for The DEEDS Project - TODAY!
You are very welcome to join us for a Coffee Morning Fundraiser in support of DEEDS! Drop in if you are passing by - you wont regret it!!
Wednesday 22nd October, 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Holywell Building, Bishop Street
Come along for a cuppa, some sweet treats, and even sweeter company — all while helping raise vital funds for your local dementia support service. Every cup makes a difference! All proceeds going to the DEEDS project to support those living with and experiencing dementia.
Let’s brew up some kindness together!
NWCN Funding Fair Strabane
Tuesday 18th November 2025
10:30am – 1pm
Fountain Street Community Development Association, Fountain Street, Strabane
Join NWCN on Tuesday 18th November for a festival of funders where you will have the opportunity to hear about the latest funding on offer from a range of funding bodies. Meet with them face to face and receive guidance and advice.
Register your interest: info@nwcn.org
Gender Budgeting Workshop
Friday 14 November
10.30 to 12.30
Holywell Building, Bishop Street
NIAPN, North West Community Network and Foyle Women's Information Network have partnered to deliver a workshop on gender budgeting on Friday 14 November.The workshop will explore what is gender budgeting and how it can be used as a tool to tackle poverty. Additionally, the workshop will hear about a gender budgeting pilot in the Derry City and Strabane District Council.
Places are limited.
Please contact becca@niapn.org to book your place.
Government's Connect Fund Reopens for Applications
The Government’s £1 million Connect Fund aims to bring together community groups across the UK to better improve the lives of all communities in Northern Ireland. After being paused for a month, the Fund has reopened with a reduced maximum grant (from £50,000 to £9,999) for the remainder of Round 1, in line with the availability of remaining funds.
Round 1 will run from 12 June 2025 to 30 April 2026.
Applications must have a clear East-West lens and activities must directly benefit Northern Ireland; however, activities are not restricted by location and can occur in Northern Ireland or Great Britain provided stakeholders from Northern Ireland are involved.
Although this is a rolling programme, with applications submitted throughout the two years it is running, rounds may close early if all funding has been drawn down.
Further information available here
Funding for Physical Health and Mental Health Charities
The James Tudor Foundation is offering grants of up to £25,000, which can support a wide range of initiatives - whether it’s therapeutic interventions, condition-specific healthcare, or trauma-informed mental health support for children and families impacted by Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs).
Expression of Interest: 01 October – 05 November 2025
Full Application Deadline: 23 January 2026
These grants are designed to help fund either your general service delivery or a specific project. For more details on eligibility and how to apply, click here
Free Equipment & Training for Sports Clubs 2025/26
The Public Health Agency, through the Clear Project, are offering constituted voluntary sector sports clubs in the Western Trust area the opportunity to avail of training, which will help them support their members. The amount available to spend on relevant sports equipment for their club is £500.
Closing date for applications is Wednesday 5th November 2025 @ 3pm
Nurtured by Nature Grant Programme
Just 2 weeks left to make an application for funding under the Nurtured by Nature Grant Programme. LFT Charitable Trust is a family foundation based in Belfast. Our priority is to fund partner organisations which make a lasting difference to people’s lives; focus on reducing isolation, inequality and stigma; and inspire and empower individuals to realise their potential and share in the life of the whole community.
In this Nurtured by Nature Grant Programme, the aim is to promote and harness the well-established links between the natural environment and wellbeing and to support organisations to increase community engagement and connectivity with nature for mutual benefit.
Proposed projects should demonstrate how they will advance the health & wellbeing of participants and how this impact will be measured.
LFT particularly encourages applications from rural areas and projects that have an intergenerational element to them.
Please visit HERE for more information and to learn how you can apply for a grant of up to £7,000 for your project.
Submissions must be made by 12 noon, 4th November 2025.
New JobStart scheme announced
The JobStart Scheme provides funding from the Department for Communities to allow employers to create new job opportunities to help those who are aged 16 – 65, currently unemployed or economically inactive, in receipt of working age benefits and wish to enter or re-enter the workplace.
Funding for each JobStart opportunity will cover:
the relevant National Living Wage for up to 25 hours per week
the associated employer National Insurance contributions
an employer's minimum automatic enrolment pension contributions.
The closing date for applications is Wednesday 31 December 2025
For more information go to NICVA website
Understanding Children and Young People's Grief Workshop
Cruse Bereavement Support are holding an event on Understanding Children and Young People's Grief to mark Children's Grief Awareness Week on Tuesday, 18 November in the Guildhall, Derry/Londonderry at 2 pm - 4 pm.
The workshop will look at the effects of grief on children and young people, common responses to grief, how adult grief can impact them and practical ways to support them. Members of our Youth Advisory Group will share their experience of grief and there will be an overview of the services Cruse and the Somewhere For Us project can provide in the community.
The workshop is suitable for anyone who works with children and young people including social workers, teachers, youth workers and sports coaches.
A CPD certificate will be provided for attendance at the workshop. As tickets are limited, we request that organisations only book 2 per organisation.
The link to register is below: https://buytickets.at/crusenationalservices/1895320
Is your group based in the Western Trust area?
If you have 12 or more members and are interested in hosting a FREE 2-hour Mood Matters mental health workshop delivered by AWARE NI, we’d love to hear from you!
Mood Matters: Adults is an engaging and interactive session designed to introduce fundamental concepts of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and how our thoughts and behaviours impact our emotional and physical well-being. Tailored as a Tier 1 mental health awareness session by a Public Health Agency, it provides essential tools to better understand mental health and wellbeing.
This session offers participants a chance to reflect on their own mental health while also exploring common mental health conditions such as stress, anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder. By challenging stereotypes and increasing awareness, it empowers individuals to recognise early signs and take proactive steps toward self-care.
Whether you're aiming to boost your resilience, gain insight into mental health challenges, or learn how to better support those around you, Mood Matters Adults provides a safe, inclusive, and thought-provoking space for learning and personal growth.
Content Includes:
What is Mental Health?
Mental Health Problem vs Mental Health Illness
Understanding Stress, Depression, Anxiety, and bipolar disorder
Self-Help and Coping Strategies
Sources of Help and Support
If you are interested in booking a Mood Matters workshops please contact Catherine on E: catherine@aware-ni.org
LEGO-Based Therapy with Dr. Daniel LeGoff
As part of Children’s Mental Health Week, MindWise is bringing Dr. Daniel LeGoff, the creator of LEGO-Based Therapy, to Northern Ireland for his first ever visit. He’ll be delivering his world-renowned, accredited training workshops in person.
Over three days (11–13 February 2026 at Ulster University Belfast Campus), we’ll be running:
Introductory LEGO-Based Therapy Training – for anyone new to the approach
Advanced LEGO-Based Therapy Training – for those who already use or want to build on their experience
The Stronger Foundations Evening Event – a mix of research, creativity, and real-world stories, featuring Dr. LeGoff, Dr. Mary Lavelle (Queen’s University Belfast), and other inspiring speakers
If you’d like to find out more — and access limited discounted tickets — please sign up for early access here: Early interest in MindWise Children's Mental Health Event | MindWise. There’s no commitment yet, as tickets don’t go live until 1 November, but early registration means you’ll be first in line and receive an exclusive discount code before the public release.
Technology Facilitated Abuse event
While we may be much more connected through the use of social media and other technologies, we may inadvertently leave ourselves vulnerable to abuse. To mark the 16 Days of Action for Domestic Violence, we are delighted to welcome Steve McNeill, Child Safeguarding Lead from the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust. With 24 years experience working with children and families, Steve has a special interest in tech and how is might be used to stalk, threaten and control victims and survivors.
If you work with families in the Community and Voluntary or statutory sectors, this half day training is for you.
When: Friday 28th November 2025 9.30am - 1pm (registration from 9am)Where: Mellon Country Inn, Beltany Road, Omagh
To book a place, click 'read more' and then the link on the flyer.
If you'd like more information about the event, please contact Dr Priscilla Magee at priscilla.magee@westerntrust.hscni.net
Latest Offers from Salto Youth
Please see attached document for the latest offers from Salto Youth, including:
AI women - toolkit
Empathetic Flow - Non Violent Communication for Youth Workers
Crossroads of Media and Youth Work
Path to Success
Act for Human Rights - Legislative Theatre Training course
Call for Trainers
Job Opportunity with Donegal Local Development CLG
Local Area Employment Services (LAES) Case Officers
Panel to fill Current & Future Full/Part Time Opportunities
Donegal Local Development CLG is an integrated local development company established in 1995. We deliver multiple external funded programmes to the Donegal community. Donegal Local Development CLG (DLDC) now invite applications to fill current and future full/part time needs within our Local Area Employment Service (LAES) team on a fixed term basis. Further information is detailed below:
Local Area Employment Services (LAES) Case Officer required to fill current and future part/full time vacancies, working as a member of the LAES Team within DLDC. This programme is funded by the Department of Social Protection which focuses primarily on long term unemployed clients farthest from the labour market who experience barriers to labour market participation. Its goal is to provide personalised support, helping each client return to employment through one-on-one career guidance, access to relevant information and training, education opportunities, and job placements that align with their individual needs, in the Donegal catchment area.
The positions may be based in Stranorlar, Letterkenny or Donegal Town. These are Fixed-term contracts up to 30 June 2027, subject to funding. Minimum 3 years' relevant experience in employment, enterprise, or career guidance required.
To apply for the positions, please submit by email with a letter of application, clearly outlining how you meet the criteria including access to own transport, together with a current Curriculum Vitae to: Human Resources at vacancies@dldc.org
The closing date for receipt of applications is 12pm noon Tuesday 28th October 2025 and no applications will be accepted post deadline. It is expected that proposed interviews will be held on the week commencing 3rd November 2025.
Job Descriptions are available from vacancies@dldc.org and also on the DLDC website Jobs Board - Donegal Local Development Company CLG (DLDC).
Donegal Local Development CLG is committed to a Policy of Equal Opportunity. Canvassing will disqualify
Support the Halloween Costume Swap!
I’m encouraging all Halloween revellers in Derry and Strabane to join the Halloween Costume Swap – a fantastic opportunity to recycle old costumes and pick up a pre-loved one for free!
Thanks to Repair & Share Foyle, you can drop off your unwanted costumes and props at Boo-tique bins across the City and District from October 16th. You can also visit the Halloween Costume Swap at The Guildhall (Derry) and Riversdale Leisure Centre (Strabane) from October 20th to 26th to find your next spooky look!
We all love a good Halloween ensemble, but let’s avoid waste and save money this year. Derry has always been famous for its creative homemade costumes, and I’d love to see that tradition revived!
Drop, Swap, & Save – it’s a win for the environment and your wallet!
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