Rural Community Network

The search is on for the £30,000 winner of Gordon Brown’s ‘Nobel Prize of the Charity World’

The Beacon Fellowship Charitable Trust has today put out the call for nominations for the 2008 Beacon Prize. Together with the Government’s Cabinet Office, the Charity is urging people throughout the UK to nominate individuals who have made a significant charitable contribution in giving time, money or skills to a specific cause.

With awards in 5 categories and additional regional prizes for England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, the winners will be invited to attend a gala evening in London where the overall prize winner will receive £30,000 to donate to the charity of their choice.

Beacon’s former Chair and Broadcaster, Martyn Lewis CBE notes: "The Beacon Prize, described by the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown MP, as ‘the Nobel Prize of the charity world’, aims to encourage a culture of giving in the UK by uncovering and recognising extraordinary achievements in the world of charity.

“Beacon has had a remarkable response to last year’s Prize nomination scheme, revealing stories of extraordinary individuals who have worked to make a difference, be it locally or on a global scale. Each in turn represents the Beacon belief in the strength of individual philanthropy and we are confident this year’s nominations will highlight the work of many more yet unnamed heroes who have given so much in the name of charity.”

Nominations close on 1st July 2008. Nominations forms can be downloaded from the Beacon website: www.beaconfellowship.org.uk

Do you know someone who deserves a Beacon Prize?

· Perhaps a young person who their time and talent to help others?
· Or a person with energy and originality, transformed things in their community?
· Or someone who has used their skills to help transform a charity?
· Has someone you know created an idea that has changed people’s lives?

Whatever your story Beacon wants to hear about it. Categories for nomination include Leadership, Community Builder, Creative Giving, New Initiatives and Young Philanthropist.

If you’d like to nominate someone for the Beacon Prize 2008, please visit www.beaconfellowship.org.uk for a nomination form. Alternatively, you can email enquiries@beaconfellowship.org.uk or telephone 020 7203 8291.

The Poverty & Disadvantage Issue Group of the Southern Investing for Health Partnership is offering a one day workshop in association with the Rural College, Draperstown on “Understanding Rural”. This is in response to recommendations highlighted within our Rural Isolation Report. There is a choice of two dates that you can attend:

Tuesday 3rd June in Court House, Markethill, 9.30 am to 4 pm
Tuesday 10th June in Jethro Centre, Lurgan, 9.30 am to 4 pm
Please circulate to key individuals within your organisation whom you feel would be of benefit to attend. Places are limited to 15 people per workshop.

To register a place please contact Helen at the SIHP Office on 028 37 414606 or email helengi@shssb.n-i.nhs.uk

Places will be on a first come first served basis.

Helen Armstrong
Poverty & Disadvantage Issue Group Facilitator

Volunteers’ Week takes place from 1 – 7 June and is an annual celebration of volunteers and the work they do. To help you plan for the Week the Volunteer Development Agency (the Agency) has a number of free resources available on their new look website.

Would you like to win £500 to spend on your volunteers? The Agency is giving away £500 to the organisation with the most creative, unusual or imaginative plans to recognise their volunteers as part of their Volunteers’ Week celebrations. Download the entry form at www.volunteering-ni.org Closing date for entries is 9 May.

Visit www.volunteering-ni.org to download other free resources. Organisations are encouraged to place their orders for volunteer badges and certificates early to ensure receipt for Volunteers’ Week.

¹ Volunteer Development Agency (2007) It’s all about Time –Volunteering in Northern Ireland.

For further information contact Maria McBride, Marketing Officer
Volunteer Development Agency 028 9023 6100
Direct line 028 9081 8327

Post Office Ltd announced their Network Change Programme that will lead to the closure of 42 Post Offices and provide 54 outreach services in towns and villages across Northern Ireland.

Post Office Ltd are currently out to consultation on the outreach services. The consultation is due to close on 12 May 2008. NIRWN acknowledges the significant role that Post Offices play in local communities. We recognise that the vast majority of older people, especially rural women, consider their post office to be a lifeline, with many relying on the post office as a one-stop shop to access cash and benefits, pay bills, get advice and information, and socialise. We would like to know what you think of the Post Office plans.

How important your local Post Office is to you?
What role they play in your local community?
Will the closures and proposed changes affect how you access key services?

NIRWN is forming a response to the consultation and we would like to incorporate your experiences and views as a rural woman. As part of our reply we want to emphasise the social value of Post Offices and that they cannot be simply measured through financial terms. Therefore it’s important that we receive your views and experiences.

Please send us your viewpoints. There are a number of ways in which you can do this. You can contact our Policy Officer Nora Smith, by phone, email, fax or write to her. Nora’s contact details are:

Nora Smith
Policy Officer
Northern Ireland Rural Women's Network (NIRWN)
15 Molesworth Street
Cookstown
Co Tyrone
BT80 8NX
Tel: 028 86769191
Fax: 028 86765644

CARDI and SPARC have organised a one day workshop to help share a range of developments in the fields of health, housing, and technology relating to older people.

Programme:

9.30 Tea, Coffee and Registration

10.00 Welcome and Introduction, Dr. Roger O'Sullivan, Director, CARDI and Professor Peter Lansley, Director, SPARC

Session One: Housing

10.15 Introduction, Chair: Joe Frey, Research Manager Northern Ireland Housing Executive

10.20 The Nestling Project, Rodd Bond, Dundalk Institute of Technology

10.40 Retirement Villages, Fiona Boyle, Fiona Boyle Associates

11.00 Remodelling sheltered housing for Extra-care, Professor Julienne Hanson, University College London

11.20 Discussion

11.35 Tea and Coffee

Session Two: Health

12.00 Introduction, Chair: Dr James McKenna

12.05 Health, Happiness and Wealth - The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA), Professor Brendan Whelan, The Economic and Social Research Institute, Dublin

12.25 Recent developments in research and training, Maria McManus, Dementia Development Centre for Northern Ireland

12.45 Discussion

1.10 Lunch and networking

Session Three: Technology

2.15 Introduction, Chair: Patrick Minne, Access to Benefits

2.20 Assistive Technology, Dr David Craig, Queens University Belfast and Chris Nugent, University of Ulster at Jordanstown

2.40 Designing for Inclusion, Dr Russell Marshall, Loughborough University

3.00 TRIL Project - Technology for Independent Living, Dr Niamh Scannell, Intel

3.20 Discussion

3.40 Concluding Remarks, Dr. Roger O'Sullivan, Director, CARDI

4.00 Tea and Coffee

4.30 Ageing research: opportunities and rewards, Professor Peter Lansley, Director, SPARC This will be an Informal sesssion largely for university based researchers.

Contact details
www.cardi.ie Info@cardi.ie
www.sparc.ac.uk h.v.smith@reading.ac.uk

It has been designed to appeal to a range of stakeholders, professionals (including policy makers, health, housing and social services providers),industry, voluntary and community organisations, researchers with an
interest in ageing, carers and older people

There is no attendance fee.

To register:

Online - www.sparc.ac.uk/workshops.asp
Telephone - (until 21st May) call CARDI on 0044 (0) 28 90 690066.

Big Lottery has just recently launched the fourth year of the popular "People's Millions" competition allowing communities across Northern Ireland to put in their bids to receive up to £50,000 in Lottery funding.

This competition has a quick turn around and organisations have until 15th May to enter the competition.

Local people will be able to vote for their favourite project to transform the local environment through schemes that will improve amenities, public and green spaces, buildings or the natural environment and to help local people enjoy their area through a range of activities.

For more information contact Kathy Darling
Assistant Press Officer
Big Lottery Fund
Tel: 02890 551487

Colwick Hall, Nottingham NG2 4BH

This conference will look at the ‘big issues’ facing local government in ruralareas. The debate will be stimulated by speeches from senior politiciansand policy makers, as well as contributions from those working ‘on the ground’ to deliver policies and services. You will have the opportunity tohear about developments in policy and practice and suggest how theseshould be shaped to meet te needs of rural communities.

This year’s conference will showcase the rural perspective on some of the most significant issues being debated across local goernment rangingfrom attracting and retaining young councillors, to Eco Towns andresponding to climate change challenges. We will also look at particularconcerns for rural areas, such as the impact of immigration and integrationon rural service provision and the Rural Development Programme forEngland (2007-2013) and consider how councils can best address themworking with local organisations and local people.

The annual rural conference will be held on Wednesday, 10th September 2008 at Colwick Hall, Nottingham, and will be preceded by a meeting ofthe LGA Rural Commission on 9th September. The programme will include a mixture of thought-provoking plenary sessions and practical workshops,combining opportunities to think imaginatively about the solutions forsome of the current challenges facing rural communities, whilst also learning about what works ‘on the ground’.

For further information contact LGconnect (for programme details) on 020 7664 3131 or email info@lga.gov.uk.

INCORE will offer three separate one-week courses: Evaluation and Impact Assessment of Peacebuilding Programmes; Reconciliation in societies Coming Out of Conflict; and ***Transitioning from a Post-settlement to a Post-Conflict Society. The courses will run concurrently.

The Summer School is recognised by UNITAR (United Nations Institute for Training and Research) Programme of Correspondence Instruction in Peacekeeping Operations, and may form part of The Certificate-of-Training In Peace Support Operations (COTIPSO) Programme.

The school provides an intensive week of training, networking and discussion in the field of conflict resolution. It attempts to bridge the gap between policy, practice and research.

Applications are now open.

For further details on modules and how to apply please visit:
http://www.incore.ulst.ac.uk/courses/ss/

2008 Closing Dates:
Round 1: 29th February
Round 2: 29th August
Round 3: 31st October

Small grants are available for projects involving the following key areas of funding:

CARERS
Support for carers including actions such as the development of social networks, local respite initiatives

OLDER PEOPLE
Reducing the social isolation of older people including actions such as clubs, day centre activities, volunteer visiting

PEOPLE LEAVING INSTITUTIONS
Supports for people who are leaving institutional care; areas such as homeless, mental health, offenders

SEXUAL MINORITIES
Supports for sexual minorities, especially in rural areas

ETHNIC MINORITIES
Assisting the building of networks and structures for ethnic minorities

FAMILIES AT RISK
Support for initiatives involving parents and their children risks of poverty and exclusion e.g. parents who are substance misusers

We do not fund core or capital costs.
For more information about application procedures, please contact

The Community Foundation for Ireland
32 Lower O Connell Street
Dublin 1
( Tel: + 353 1 874 7354
( Fax: + 353 1 874 7637

connecting people who care with causes that matter

This course equips participants with the knowledge and skills to build a portfolio demonstrating their learning from experience in the community and voluntary sector. Successful completion enables participants to gain direct entry to Level 2 BSc (Hons) Community Development.
When: Thursdays 03 Apr - 08 May 2008
Where: Magee and Jordanstown, University of Ulster
Cost: £235
For further information please contact:

Rosemary Moreland Sharon Adams
(APEL Co-Ordinator) (Administrator)
Tel: 9036 8333 Tel: 9036 6680
rj.moreland@ulster.ac.uk sb.adams@ulster.ac.uk

Community Evaluation Northern Ireland (CENI), the only dedicated not-for-profit evaluation support provider to the voluntary and community sector, is pleased to announce its new programme of open training courses from October 2007 – June 2008. These courses are targeted at staff, managers and volunteers within the voluntary and community sector, and are also relevant to the statutory sector and funders. The courses aim to help meet a growing demand for specialist training on evaluation, outcomes and quality themes designed to strengthen organisational capacity and improve performance.

Approaches to Quality Within the Voluntary and Community Sector
16 October 2007; 22 January 2008; 17 April 2008
Examines ‘what is quality?’ and what is the relevance of quality to the voluntary and community sector in Northern Ireland. The course will explore the key characteristics of different quality systems/standards and consider the processes involved in implementing quality within the organisation.

Implementing PQASSO (Practical Quality Assurance System for Small Organisations)
21-22 November 2007; 5-6 February 2008; 4-5 June 2008
This two day course covers all aspects of introducing and implementing the PQASSO quality system within an organisation.

Introducing Self-Evaluation
18 October 2007; 15 January 2008; 8 April 2008
Introduces the concepts and issues relating to self-evaluation and the various steps and stages involved in its implementation into everyday working practice.

Methods and Tools for Self-Evaluation
6 November 2007; 21 February 2008; 13 May 2008
Designed to help participants understand the different approaches to gathering evidence and the range of evaluation methods and tools available.

Analysing and Reporting *NEW*
6 March 2008; 12 June 2008
Building on the inputs from existing evaluation courses including self-evaluation and the use of evaluation methods and tools, this course explains the process of analysis and reporting in more detail and is designed to help participants consider approaches for examining both quantitative and qualitative evidence.

Getting the Most From External Evaluation
4 October 2007; 28 February 2008; 1 May 2008
Explores issues such as: the purpose of external evaluation; what conducting an external evaluation involves; how to go about commissioning an evaluation consultant; developing of terms of reference for an evaluation; managing and quality assuring the process to ensure best value and a satisfactory outcome.

Introducing Outcomes
24 October 2007; 29 January 2008; 24 April 2008
Focuses on measuring the benefits gained from project activities and provides an introduction to concepts and issues as well as a number of examples of outcomes. Provides a systematic approach to identifying outcomes and measuring success and includes discussion on data collection issues.

Evaluating Social Capital Outcomes
13 November 2007; 14 February 2008; 20 May 2008
Demystifies concepts and explains the different dimensions of social capital. Participants will be supported to identify social capital outcomes and indicators as well as explore tools for gathering evidence.

All courses are held at NICVA, 61 Duncairn Gardens, Belfast from 10.00 a.m. –
4.00 p.m. For further information or to book a place on a course please contact Gladys Swanton, Training Manager at CENI on telephone 028 9024 8005 or email gladys@ceni.org. Courses can also be booked through the CENI website www.ceni.org.

Course costs per person per day are £100 (voluntary/community) and £175 (statutory/commercial). Participants on courses Introducing Self-Evaluation, Getting the Most From External Evaluation and Introducing Outcomes can receive an ILM Development Award for an additional cost of £45.

For further information please contact Kerry McCarroll, Information Officer, CENI, tel: 028 90248005 or email kerry@ceni.org

Carers Northern Ireland has produced a new guide full of tips and guidance on the best ways of involving carers in the planning, monitoring, development and evaluation of public services that affect their lives. The guide is aimed at carers, carers groups, public service workers and planners. For free copies, contact Carers Northern Ireland, 58 Howard Street, Belfast BT1 6PJ. Tel: 90439843. Email: bernie.byrne@carersni.org.

Phab NI Inclusion Matters is a Northern Ireland-wide organisation promoting inclusive youth work for young people with and without disabilities. As part of a Youth Outreach Project funded until March 2008, Inclusion Matters is keen to partner with a number of rural youth or community organisations with the view of developing a range of short to mid-term projects looking at the inclusion of young people with disabilities (14 – 25 yrs).

Pilot projects may focus on some of the following:

Developing proactive recruitment strategies
Disability Awareness and Inclusive Training for youth workers, volunteers and club members
Auditing current levels of inclusion with a view to develop steps to greater inclusion
Capacity-building and personal development programs for young people with disabilities
Development of innovative approaches to inclusive youth work, where current provision is limited or non-existent.

If you are interested in discussing how we might help you in your own setting, or would like to join us in pilot projects, then please do not hesitate to contact the Strategic Outreach Officers for further information:

Paul Francis: paul.francis@inclusionmatters.org, or
Bernie O’Neil: bernie.oneill@inclusionmatters.org

or by phone on : 028 9074 6555

APJ Publications: The Idea of Community, Social Policy and Self

A book for social policy professionals and anyone interested in the idea of community

The Idea of Community, Social Policy and Self
Kevin Loughran
Belfast: APJ Publications, 2003. ISBN 0954362306. £11.50

This book questions the idea of community. It does not offer definitions of community: rather it discusses different applications of the idea of community: those which are unhelpful because they do not correspond to the reality of our social experience, and those which are helpful because they do.
This book uses natural sciences as well as the social sciences to examine the idea of community. This is not just a book for professionals, but for anyone who is interested in the relationship between the individual and society, the origins and nature of co-operation, the idea of community, and how the idea is used.

For more information on trade and non-trade orders: visit the APJ Publications website at www.apjpublications.co.uk/

APJ Publications, PO Box 526, Belfast BT15 5YF
www.apjpublications.co.uk admin@apjpublications.co.uk

• Policy Evolution in Social and Community Development
• Development: an International Perspective
• Work-based Learning
• Management and Change in the Government and Voluntary Sector
• The Social Economy
• Partnership, Theory and Practice
• Dissertation

This Masters degree is intended for anyone interested in policy development in the areas of Social and Community Development. The course will appeal to those from the voluntary, community and public sectors. It is an interdisciplinary course designed to explore current issues relevant to both the public and voluntary sectors and its aim is to encourage cross-sectoral understanding.
This is an innovative and cutting-edge degree designed to bring together practitioners and policy makers from a number of different areas. It will emphasise student participation and partnership working across different sectors of the local economy. There will be a significant element of comparative work between Northern Ireland, Europe and parts of North America contained within this course.

For more information, please contact:
Barbara McCabe T: 028 90975979 or b.mccabe@qub.ac.uk
Janice McKee T: 028 90975032 or janice.mckee@qub.ac.uk

At the Centre for Co-operative Studies at UCC, we have recently developed a new Master Programme - MBS in Co-operative and Social Enterprise. This programme is completely web-based and so it is possible to continue work and study at the same time, without having to attend any classes.
If you require any further information, please contact Noreen Byrne at 00353 21 4903356 or n.byrne@ucc.ie OR Olive McCarthy at 00353 21 4903354 or o.mccarthy@ucc.ie

We also offer the following programmes that may be of interest
-Diploma in Social Integration & Enterprise for Community Development Workers. This leads onto a Degree programme - see information sheet attached. For further information log on to the website - www.ucc.ie//ccs or contact n.byrne@ucc.ie

-BSc in Rural Development - for further information log on to the website - www.v-learn.ie or contact n.byrne@ucc.ie

-Or a full-time Postgraduate Diploma/MSc in Co-operative Organisation, Food Marketing and Rural Development (for further information log onto the website - www.ucc.ie//ccs or contact n.byrne@ucc.ie

The RISE project is the ‘Rural Initiative for the Social Economy’. RISE has as its aim,

To promote and support the sustainability and growth of social economy organisations in areas of rural disadvantage
The strategic objectives of the project are,
1. To support and build capacity of community and voluntary organisations in transition towards social enterprise
2. To support and promote the growth of existing social enterprises

The objectives will be achieved through a range of outputs supporting approximately 60 community organisations/social enterprises.

Social Economy Solutions are now actively seeking expressions of interest from existing social enterprises and those organisations in transition from the community and voluntary sector to take part in the project. It is proposed that the project will identify and assist approximately 60 organisations. In turn the project management team and support workers will,

• Assist organisations undertake a ‘Sustainability Audit’
• Assist organisations with the production of ‘Business Plans’
• Assist organisations with the production of ‘Marketing Strategies’
• Assist organisations in developing an appropriate ‘Legal Form’
• Assist approximately 20 organisation prepare for ‘Loan Financing’

In addition to the above there will also be group training sessions, best practice study visits, cross border exchange visits and seminars and conferences on a range of development themes for social economy businesses.

Applicant organisations should:
Be either an established or transitional social enterprise or an existing voluntary or community organisation wishing to develop an enterprise activity. As such they should be established groups, and not individuals.
Generally be either an incorporated and socially-owned legal entity intending where this is appropriate, to incorporate as part of the project.
Be either located in a rural area within Northern Ireland or the Southern Border counties of Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo, Monaghan, Cavan or Louth or planning to initiate an activity which benefits rural residents.

Social Economy Solutions is now actively recruiting organisations that may wish to participate in the RISE project. For an expression of interest form please contact Charlie Fisher Social Economy Solutions c/o 45/47 Donegall Street, Belfast BT1 2FG: Tel. 028 90 961115 / 0784 1100 514: E.charlie@rise.ie. Once we have received your expression of interest we will be in contact for a fuller appraisal of your organisation and its development support needs.