NWCN E-bulletin: 5 November 2025
- Kevin Burns
- Nov 5
- 12 min read
In this edition:
NWCN Funding Fair Strabane Tuesday 18th November 2025
10:30am – 1pm Fountain Street Community Development Association, Fountain Street, Strabane
National Lottery Community Fund
Community Relations Council
Community Foundation NI
John Moore’s Foundation
Department of Foreign Affairs
NI HE Social Enterprise Plus Programme
The Honourable The Irish Society
Heritage Lottery Fund
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
Holywell Building, Bishop Street Friday 14 November 10.30 to 12.30
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.
Culture Grant Aid Programmes Call for Applications 2026/27
Heritage Animation & Visitor Servicing Programme
Headline Events Funding Programme
Community Festival Programme (including Christmas events)
Consensual Awards Artist and Cultural Practitioner Award
Grant Aid Portal www.dcsdcgrantaid.com
Opening Date: 10.00am Monday 10th November 2025
Closing Date: 12 noon Friday 5th December 2025
Online Grant Aid Information Sessions
Wednesday 5th November @ 7pm and Friday 7th November @ 10am
These online information sessions will provide an overview of the grant aid programmes and provide groups with an opportunity to gain further advice on specific applications, ideas and queries.
To register your attendance at the online grant aid workshop contact colin.coyle@derrystrabane.com
British Science Week 2026 Community Grants open for application now
Supported by UK Research and Innovation, the British Science Association are offering Community Grants to help eligible community groups organise events and activities for their audiences during British Science Week 2026 (6-15 March 2026), expanding the number of people who enjoy and take part in science.
You can now apply for a Community Grant online from the British Science Week website. The deadline for applications is 5 pm on Monday 24 November 2025, so be sure to complete your form in good time!
For British Science Week 2026, we’re offering grants of up to £600 to community groups that work with people who are typically underrepresented in science, and which set out to deliver an event or activity that involves the local community, challenges science stereotypes and inspires ongoing science engagement. Why not take a look at our Community Grants case studies to discover how previous grant recipients used the funding for their own British Science Week projects?
Before submitting your form, please read the Community Grants guidelines to find all the information you need on how to apply, and whether your community group is eligible. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at communities@britishscienceassociation.org
National Lottery Organisations Digital Evolution Awards
For this programme digital art is artwork that is created exclusively in the digital space; it can either exist in the digital space or be translated into a physical object or tangible experience through technology. Work that exists only in the digital space can be artwork that is consumed online or offline; the latter having some form of installation in a venue.
Programme Objectives
Upskilling NI arts organisations in the use of new, emerging, and immersive Technology
Creation of excellent Digital Art
Programme Priorities:
Creation of digital arts
Creating the opportunities for audiences to experience digital and immersive art
Encouraging cross-sectoral collaboration
Further information available here The deadline for applications is Thursday 27 November 2025 at 12noon.
Brighter Communities Power NI
Our Brighter Communities programme energises innovative and emerging community groups, teams and projects with £1000 of funding awarded each month.
Applications for the month are now open!
For further information and to apply visit Power NI's website
Ulster Garden Villages
UGV supports a wide range of charities that make a positive difference, working in different sectors benefitting Northern Ireland. Our grants range from £750 to, in exception, £1,000,000, depending on the project, the proposed impact and each charity’s size and scope of work.
Our preferred projects will demonstrate active participation and self-help. They should be innovative and developmental with an achievable, practical and sustainable objective.
Applications must demonstrate a clear need and evidence of the impact of their organisation’s work along with their capacity to deliver, govern and sustain the initiative.
Our current priorities are:
Poverty
Housing/homelessness
Further information available here
Expression of Interest (EOI) closes 30th November 2025
Unlock Public Sector Opportunities – Join Our Tendering Workshop!
Are you part of a community & voluntary group or a social enterprise looking to explore new opportunities within the public sector and grow your impact?
The North West Community Wealth Building Partnership invites you to join us for an interactive workshop designed to introduce you to tendering for public sector contracts. Learn how to navigate the process, understand requirements, and position your organisation to win contracts that align with your mission and support the sustainability of your organisation. Build the knowledge, confidence and skills to apply for public sector contracts after attending this workshop.
What you’ll gain:
A clear understanding of public sector procurement landscape
Practical steps to get started with tendering
Insights from experts and real-world examples
Date: Tuesday 27th November 2025 Location: Gasyard Centre, 128 Lecky Road, Derry BT48 6NP Time: 1300 - 1500
Spaces are limited – reserve your spot today! Email brian@enterprisenw.com to reserve a place on this workshop
Download the HMRC app this Talk Money Week
This Talk Money Week (3 to 7 November 2025), we’re highlighting the ways the HMRC app can help your employees to 'get on it' and start the conversation about their money and tax.
Whether your employees are starting their first jobs or getting ready for retirement, downloading the app is the quickest and easiest way to:
Claim a tax refund if they’re owed one.
Find and save their National Insurance number (NINO).
Prepare and plan for retirement with the State Pension tool.
Download the free HMRC app from the Apple App or Google Play store.
Free session on maximising your money and getting financial first aid
We could all do with giving our finances some extra care and attention to get them into better shape.
The Consumer Council's recently launched campaign, ‘Make Your Finances Fitter’, aims to raise awareness about taking control of your finances and maximising your budget. As part of the campaign, we will be hosting an online information session.
The session is open to anyone, whether you want to give your own finances a health check, or if you are an employee and/ or volunteer who supports others. We will share ways to help reduce your bills and details of schemes that may benefit you or someone you know.
Polls during the session will be anonymous, and you will not be asked to share any confidential information during the session. Details will be shared on how to get individual advice afterwards if you need it. Please note that attendees will have their mics and cameras off during the session.
The session will take place on: Thursday 6 November at 7pm
If you wish to join please email us at financialservices@consumercouncil.org.uk We will forward a Teams link and joining details to your email.
Forward Thinking workshop with Katy Hayward
Our next Forward Thinking workshop will take place on Wednesday 5th November at 7.00pm in Holywell Trust, with guest contributor Professor Katy Hayward.
Katy is Professor of Political Sociology in the School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work at Queen’s University Belfast, where she is also co-Director of the Centre for International Borders Research. She is a Fellow of the Senator George J. Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice and an Eisenhower Fellow (through the 2019 Global Ireland programme). In 2019-22 she was a UK in a Changing Europe Senior Fellow, leading a project on ‘The post-Brexit status and future of Northern Ireland’.
Katy will be outlining the research from the Working Group on Unification Referendums on the Island of Ireland - a project examining how any future referendum on the constitutional status of Northern Ireland would be best designed and conducted. Also discussing her work on how Brexit has amplified calls for unification.
To find out more please visit: www.holywelltrust.com/forward-thinking
November at the Museum of Free Derry
Join us this November for a series of free public events at the Museum of Free Derry, exploring conflict, peace, identity, and civil rights through film and discussion.
Here We Stand: Young Filmmakers on Conflict, Peace and Identity An evening of short films by young filmmakers from Derry, Sarajevo, and Bradford, exploring conflict, peace, and identity. Includes a Q&A and refreshments.
Thursday 13 November, 4–6pm More details and RSVP
Brian Dooley: Ties Between U.S. and Irish Civil Rights Movements
Author Brian Dooley discusses the historic connections between the U.S. and Irish civil rights movements on the anniversary of President John F. Kennedy’s assassination.
Saturday 22 November, 2pm More details and RSVP
An Evening with Ben Collins: Reflections on Irish Unity and Identity
Author Ben Collins shares insights from The Irish Unity Dividend, exploring Irish unity, identity, and reconciliation.
Monday 24 November, 6pm More details and RSVP
Free Parent/Carer Support Courses with Autism NI
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.
Humour is the best therapy!
Laugh and Meditate Small groups or large groups
George Murphy has been conducting humorous mental-wellbeing classes for several years. All classes incorporate humour and meditation. Humour has been found to be an important factor in developing a positive mindset. Participants leave this socially inclusive event feeling much happier than when they arrived.
Interested? Get in touch with George today: George Murphy Mobile: 07841 560742 Email: georgemurphy34@hotmail.co.uk
Latest Offers from Salto Youth
Please see attached document for the latest offers from Salto Youth, including:
Making Way: Online seminar and capacity buildings on Disability Inclusive Youth Work
Make Your Content More Accessible: Test Our EU-Funded Online Course
Tumin – how complementary currency helps building community in Mexico
Trainers’ Forum 2026
Webinar Recording: Physical Activity in Later Life
The Institute of Public Health's recent webinar on ‘Physical Activity in Later Life: Staying active in an online world’ is now available to view on our YouTube channel.
The webinar focused on the theme of getting and staying active in a digital world, particularly as we age. It explored the latest trends on physical activity levels, what the evidence tells us about getting and staying active in an online world and insights from online physical activity programmes.
Claiming Pension Credit
A Pension Credit claim normally takes about 20 minutes to make.
Pension Credit:
Provides extra money to help with living costs for people over State Pension age and on a low income.
Is separate to State Pension and people may also be eligible if they are a carer, severely disabled, or responsible for a child or young person.
Can be claimed even if people have other income, any pension, savings, or own their home.
An award of Pension Credit can also provide access to a wide range of other benefits, services and supports.
Pension Credit can be claimed online at nidirect: www.nidirect.gov.uk/pension-credit
It is also possible to claim by phoning the NI Pension Centre: Tel: 0808 100 6165.
Invitation to participate in Public Health Agency (PHA) corporate website survey
As part of our ongoing efforts to enhance the Public Health Authority’s (PHA) corporate website https://www.publichealth.hscni.net/, we are conducting a stakeholder survey. Your input is essential in helping us create a website that effectively supports collaboration, transparency, and information sharing across all stakeholder groups.
About the survey: The survey aims to gather insights on how you currently engage with our corporate website, what features and information are most valuable to you, and where you see opportunities for improvement. Your feedback will directly inform the design and functionality of the new website, ensuring it serves as a more efficient and accessible resource for all users.
We kindly ask for your participation by completing the survey at the following link: Discovery phase PHA corporate website redevelopment survey. The survey should take approximately 5-10 minutes to complete and will remain open until 15 November.
About the workshop: Additionally, we are considering hosting an online workshop to further discuss ideas and gather more in-depth feedback. If you would be interested in taking part, please indicate this at the end of the survey.
Should you have any questions or wish to discuss your input further, please contact Edyta Machnik at edyta.machnik@hscni.net
Job Opportunity with Aware NICommunications Manager
The Communications Manager will provide strategic leadership of AWARE's communications function, ensuring that our messaging is consistent, impactful, and aligned with organisational priorities. This senior role exists to enhance AWARE's reputation, safeguard its public profile, and maximise the reach and influence of our work across Northern Ireland.
You will be responsible for developing and delivering a comprehensive communications strategy that strengthens AWARE's voice, drives awareness of depression, anxiety, and bipolar, and engages diverse audiences, including service users, volunteers, funders, policymakers, and the wider public.
Acting as the organisation's principal advisor on communications, you will provide expert guidance to the senior management team and trustees, advising on opportunities, risks, and priorities in an evolving media and policy landscape.
The post holder will oversee media relations, public affairs, and digital engagement, as well as leading on reputation management and crisis communications. You will manage and mentor the communications team, ensuring that staff are supported, motivated, and equipped to deliver high-quality, creative outputs. Working closely with colleagues across fundraising, support services, and education, you will ensure that AWARE's communications are integrated, evidence-based, and designed to influence positive change.
Closing date: 12pm on 21st November 2025 Belfast or Derry/Londonderry Office (with hybrid working options available) PermanentPart-time. 21 or 28 hours per week Salary: £35,000 p.a pro rata plus employer pension contribution
Further information and application form available here
UK City of Culture recruitment
UK City of Culture 2029 Expressions of Interest and Expert Advisory Panel Recruitment process now open
The Department for Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) has now launched the competition to find the UK City of Culture 2029. Expressions of interest have been invited from cities, towns or regions across the UK. Details of the competition are available here:UK City of Culture 2029 Expression of Interest: Guidance for bidders - GOV.UK
DCMS is seeking to recruit an Expert Advisory Panel for the UK City of Culture 2029 competition and has invited applications from across the UK for up to 9 panel member positions, including a dedicated representative for each of the four nations. Further details on the posts, and application forms, can be found here:https://www.gov.uk/guidance/uk-city-of-culture-2029-expert-advisory-panel-recruitment-advert
In addition, you may wish to note that DCMS has also announced that the inaugural competition for the UK Town of Culture will be launching in the coming months. All details currently available on that upcoming competition can be found here:https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-town-of-culture-competition-to-shine-a-spotlight-on-the-contribution-of-towns-that-tell-national-story
Fundraiser....Raffle
From Monday 3rd November you will be able to purchase tickets for Eden Place Arts Centre's Christmas Raffle.
There are fantastic prizes to be won:
1st Prize: Christmas Themed Handmade Quilt created and kindly dontated by Aileen Mac Manus.
2nd Prize: Personalised, Hand Crafted Felt Pet Portrait (this will be created and kindly donated by Rebeca Infante)
3rd Prize: Art Hamper. Kindly donated by Cliodhna Kennedy
4th Prize: Free Enrolment to an Art class of your choice for Jan-Mar 2026 term
5th Prize: Woodcarved Sculpture kindly donated by Liam Kennedy
6th Prize: Handcrafted Wooden Nativity Set, kindly donated by Loraine Mc Elhinney
Tickets will cost £1 per strip Raffle will be drawn at our Christmas Students Exhibition on Monday 15th December
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