NWCN E-bulletin: Funding, Jobs and News
- Aug 27
- 9 min read
Updated: Sep 8
In this edition
Ulster-Scots Language Week 2025 - Call for Applications
Derry City and Strabane District Council is currently inviting applications from individuals, groups, and organisations who wish to develop projects, events or activities to celebrate Ulster-Scots Language Week due to take place from 24-28 November 2025.
Applicants can apply for a grant up to a maximum value of £250
Closing date: Friday 26 September before 12 noon
Further information and application form available here
The Skipton Building Society Charitable Foundation
Applications will re-open on Monday 1st September until Friday 31st October
The Charitable Foundation has identified two focus areas through which it aims to drive social impact. These focus areas align with our sole funder Skipton Building Society's charitable giving framework, and more information can be found here: Charitable giving - Skipton Building Society.
Helping people experiencing hardship and/or underserved groups to:
access a place to call home.
and improve financial wellbeing.
The trustees will select charities based on their alignment with one or both focus areas. The Foundation has committed to fund UK registered charities, where successful, up to a maximum of £10,000.
Further information available here
The Austin and Hope Pilkington Trust
Priorities for Grant Round 4: Refugees and Asylum Seekers
To be eligible, a project must focus exclusively on refugees and/or asylum seekers as its beneficiaries, without extending services to other groups. We don’t fund salaries for charity staff unless specifically employed for the project concerned.
Application Period: 1st - 30th September
Amount: £5,000
Further information available here
Heritage Keepers
Heritage Keepers is a free heritage education programme for primary schools and community groups across Ireland that empowers participants to delve into their built, cultural and natural heritage and provides funding to allow them to take positive local action!
Deadline: Tuesday, September 30, 2025 at 12:00 AM
Further information available here
Take the Lead: New micro-grants for community-led health data projects
This Autumn, Health Data Research UK (HDR UK) are offering micro-grants through their new Take the Lead programme to support community groups and organisations in exploring how data can support health and wellbeing.
Applications open in September 2025, with grants of £500 to £1,500 available for projects running from January – March 2026. Projects can include creative or practical initiatives that use data to address community health needs.
An online Q&A session will be held on 11 September at 14:00 BST – register now.
To receive updates join the HDR UK Voices mailing list.
Developing Women in the Community Programme
Developing Women in the Community is a two-year programme funded by the Department for Communities focusing on personal development, community development and family support across the Derry City and Strabane District Council area.
The Churches Trust will run three groups and are welcoming new participants for information & registration sessions next week (w/c 1st Sept). The groups are:
Waterside - Churches Trust Office - Tuesday 10am
Strabane - Strabane Ethnic Association - Thursday 10am
Cityside - Churches Trust Office - Thursday 7pm.
Please get in contact if you are interested or would like any more information.
Contact Margaret on 02871311322 or margaretbonner@thechurchestrust.org.uk
Extended Closing Date for Forward Thinking Applications
Holywell Trust have decided to extend the closing date for applicants who want to take part in the residential part of our new Forward Thinking Project, that includes visits to Scotland and Catalonia and/ or the Basque Region.
The new closing date is Friday 29th August at 12 noon.
Forward Thinking will commence in September with a series of workshops exploring constitutional questions and issues from a wide range of perspectives. It will consider Northern Ireland in the global context, and involves examining other places also facing constitutional challenges. These workshops are free and open to all to attend, and the dates of the first five workshops are listed in the pack attached.
The Potential Participants Information Pack also provides details of how to apply to take part in the residential elements of the project, along with provisional dates for each study visit. Participants will be required to complete a minimum of 75% of the workshops to be eligible. They will also be required to attend BOTH residential study visits.
If you are interested, please demonstrate how you meet the criteria outlined, and submit your CV, cover letter & monitoring form before 12 noon on Friday 29th August to our Programme Manager, Sara Duddy: Sara@holywelltrust.com
ACET OCN Level 2 Course - November
ACET will be running their next online HIV STIs and Contraception OCN L2 Training course on:
Monday 3rd, Wednesday 5th, Monday 10th
Wednesday 12th November 2025
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.
EHWB Framework Public Consultation Events
As part of the Public Consultation of the Children and Young People’s Emotional Health and Wellbeing (EHWB) Framework, we are pleased to offer a series of in person and online seminars to provide further information which will take place as follows:
In Person Seminars:
Wednesday 27th August at 10.30am to 12.30pm – Boardroom, Tower Hill, Armagh BT61 9DP
Friday 29th August at 10.30am to 12.30pm – Committee Room 4, County Hall, 182 Galgorm Road, Ballymena BT42 1QB
Monday 1st September at 2pm to 4pm – Boardroom, Gransha Park House, 15 Gransha Park, Clooney Road, Londonderry BT47 6FN
Thursday 4th September at 2pm to 4pm – Conference Room CR2, 12-22 Linen Hall Street, Belfast BT2 8BS
Online Seminars:
Thursday 28th August from 2pm to 4pm
Monday 8th September from 10am to 12pm
Thursday 11th September from 2pm to 4pm
Thursday 11th September from 6pm to 8pm
Friday 12th September from 10am to 12pm
Monday 15th September from 6pm to 8pm.
The online seminars will take place on Microsoft Teams, please register your interest and a link will be shared.
If you would like to attend any of these information seminars, please register your interest by emailing the Regional Emotional Health and Wellbeing (EHWB) Team at the following email address Regional.EHWB@hscni.net indicating which seminar you would like to attend.
Physical Activity in Later Life: Staying Active in an Online World
FREE EVENT - Online via MS Teams from Thursday, 23 October 2025, 10 am - 12 pm
The event will focus on the theme of getting and staying active in a digital world, particularly as we age. Digital technology has become an integral part of our society with many of us working, learning, shopping, socialising and accessing services online.
This webinar will explore 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. The webinar will hear from experts in the field of ageing, physical activity, online interventions and providers and users of online physical activity programmes for older people.
Register your place here.
Launch of new support group for people affected by head and neck cancer
We are delighted to announce the launch of a new patient and caregiver support group for people affected by head and neck cancer in the North West. The Swallows Head & Neck Cancer Support Charity are an internationally awarded charity whose aim is to give all those affected with head and neck cancer the chance to meet like-minded people and chat about concerns in the dealing with their cancer. The launch event will provide an opportunity to hear from local people affected by head and neck cancer, to meet the team from Swallows, and to hear about the monthly support group meetings which will take place in Derry starting from October.
Launch event details as follows:
Date: Tuesday 2 September 2025
Time: 5.30pm – 8.30pm (Light refreshments, tea and coffee will be available from 5.30pm and proceedings will start at 6.00pm)
Venue: Holywell Trust, 10 – 12 Bishop Street within, Derry/Londonderry BT48 6PW
Anyone can reserve a place by contacting Maura McClean, Communities Manager, Macmillan Cancer Support:
Email: mmcclean@macmillan.org.uk
Mobile: 07870 469682
Recovery College Autumn/Winter 2025 Prospectus
The Western Trust Recovery College offers free courses and workshops that support people to better understand and manage their mental health and emotional wellbeing.
All courses are written and delivered by people with lived experience of mental health issues in partnership with those who have professional experience and knowledge. The College strives to promote hope and self-awareness; increase understanding of particular conditions and treatments; and encourages self-management with an emphasis on taking back control.
Our free courses are open to all – those who use services, people with mental health issues whether diagnosed or otherwise, carers and supporters, students, health professionals – in fact anyone who is interested in good mental health.
Coming up at Eden Place Arts Centre
Online enrolments for our Autumn Term will go live on the 'upcoming courses page' of our website on Monday 8th September 2025 @ exactly 9.30am (please note they will not be visable before this time).
10- Week Term of Courses:
Woodsculpture: Monday 10am-12 noon Spinning and Weaving: Monday 1-3pm B& W Darkroom Photography: Monday 7-9pm Ceramics: Tuesday 10am-12noon Ceramics: Tuesday 7-9pmOil Painting: Wednesday 10am-12 noon Landscape Painting: Wednesday 7.30-9.30pm Recreational Art: Thursday 10am-12 noon Painting in Egg Tempera Thursday: 1.30pm-3.30pm Printmaking: Thursday 7-9pm Mosaic Art: Friday 2-4pm Woodsculpture - Friday 7-9pm
All 10-week courses will cost £558
Week courses:
Painting with Indian Ink & Watercolour: Wednesday 1.30pm-3.30pm Portraiture: Wednesday 4.30pm-6.30pm
8-week courses cost £45
Fused Glass Christmas Decortations Workshops: Monday 1st December 7-9pm Thursday 4th December 2-4pm
£30 per workshop. These courses are for adults only
Women's Centre Derry September 2025 timetable
The Women's Centre Derry has released the programme of courses available starting in September. Opportunities to study Counselling, nail art, makeup, ESOL and more.
Check out the full list of courses here.
Latest Offers from Salto Youth
Please see attached document for the latest offers from Salto Youth, including:
What can AI do today? “Artificial” “intelligence” in everyday life and youth work
Let's create inclusive activities
Safeguarding: a shared responsibility
ON/OFF – Online and Offline Tools in Youthwork 2025
Pragmatic Youth Work
Call for Trainers
Could you ‘Host for Hospice’
October is officially Foyle Hospice ‘Coffee Morning Month’. We are calling on supporters to help us raise vital funds by hosting a Coffee Morning. Whether it’s at home, work or in your local community, get your friends together and get the kettle on, it’s a piece of cake!!
To request your FREE host pack or for more info, please call Ailbhe McDaid, Community Fundraiser on 028 7135 9888 or email: ailbhe@foylehospice.com
Music Kin invite you to take part in 'Through Song We Belong'
A music project that celebrates the songs that reminds you of home! Calling people of all nationalities that are now living in Derry and the North West. If you would like to listen to, sing and share music from your culture, we want to hear from you!
Have you or your family moved to Derry from another country?
Do you enjoy music and song that really reminds you of your native homelands?
We invite you to join local musicians to sing, share and teach songs from your culture in a friendly music project with other people from your community.
Come and celebrate culture, belonging and unity through song with Music Kin!
If this sounds like something you would like to be involved with please register your interest at the link below or email us at musickincic@gmail.com We would love to hear from you!
This project is free of charge supported by the Central Good Relations Fund through The Executive Office. It is open to everyone aged 15years and above and weekly sessions will be running from mid September to November with the option of taking part in a performance celebration in early December. Once interest is registered we will contact you with locations and dates.
The World on Your Doorstep
Please find attached the new version of “ The World on Your Doorstep” booklet
With contact details of organisations which support newcomers to our area and which also provide information/events about various ethnic cultures to everyone in the community here.
Jobs at Nerve Centre
We have two new job positions available at Nerve Centre Belfast: Digital Communications Officer (Part-Time)| Job Opportunity Creative Producer | Job Opportunity
Whilst you’ll have the flexibility to work remotely, we also require you to be based in our Belfast office.
Deadline for both posts: 10am, 8 September 2025
European Heritage Open Days 2025
We are excited to share the below news about this years festival, and look forward to sharing more as the event approaches.
Coming in September, this year’s EHOD theme is ‘Architectural Heritage: Past Structure, Future Connection’. With over 230 venues and 300 events to choose from, this year’s line-up is not to be missed. Find out more & Download the EHOD brochure.
Volunteer at this year's EHOD
Would you like to volunteer for one of the biggest heritage events in Ireland? European Heritage Open Days (EHOD) is an initiative that is held every year in over 50 countries across Europe. Sign up now
