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Weekly round up of news, events, jobs and training for the sector. This week, check out the latest on the pay awards, your views on the DIY Committee Guide are needed and Northern Ireland Life and Times Survey tells us what we really think about the key issues.
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For those of you wanting to set your pay scales for the year, the new NJC scales for 2007/08 are still not yet available and it is possible they won't be available until late summer or even autumn!
Organisations needing to know figures for budgeting purposes will need to estimate an inflation/cost of living increase and then adjust for the actual figure when it is known. From 1 April 2007 organisations will need to continue to pay at 200606/07 rates until the negotiations have been concluded.
Once the new rates are announced, salaries should then be paid at the new rates and the agreed increase should be backdated to 1 April 2007. NICVA will let its members know by posting the new scales on CommunityNI and also via NICVA news and eNews.
The last update we received from NJC was on 25 May 2007 which said:
The NJC Committee agreed to take informal soundings from branches on the employer's informal suggestion that they might be prepared to offer 2.5%, either as an across the board increase, or as a 2% increase with 0.5% being used to restructure the bottom grades.
A fax back form and briefing will be going out to branches asking whether members would be likely to support a 2.5% across the board offer or a 2% offer with 0.5% used to increase pay at the bottom end of the pay spine. They will also be asked to get members’ views on whether they might be prepared to take action if an offer higher than 2.5% is not forthcoming.
Please note, no formal offer, other than the 2% which was rejected, has been received. The employers are currently considering their position. Once a final offer has been received, there will be a formal consultation under the Pay Consultation Procedures agreed at the 2006 Local Government Conference.
In the aftermath of the European Council, where EU leaders reached an agreement on the revision of the EU Treaties, European social NGOs are cautious in welcoming the outcome.
“Yes we have a legally binding Charter of Fundamental Rights, yes we have the horizontal social clauses, yes we have the provisions on participatory democracy, we also have an additional protocol on services of general interest, but it’s not a done deal. The Treaty will be formally agreed in December, we will not lower the guard as of yet,” said Social Platform president, Fintan Farrell.
Weeks before the June European Council, social NGOs launched a wide campaign to mobilise national and regional NGOs to send an open letter to EU heads of state and governments asking to keep the social provisions stated in the European Constitutional Treaty. The mandate to draft a Reform Treaty does include all the social provisions the Social Platform called for in its open letter. However the Treaty is not finalised yet and social NGOs feel it is too early to claim victory.
The DIY Committee Guide is an online resource providing information for voluntary management committees and those interested in governance. It was developed by the Volunteer Development Agency in partnership with fourteen other organisations. It has been operational for just over a year and in that time has seen a good and increasing level of usage.
Volunteer Development Agency has launched an online survey of users of the DIY Committee Guide to see if any changes or additions are needed to improve the site.
For more information or to discuss the DIY Committee Guide, please contact Denise Hayward on tel: 028 9023 6100 or email: denise@volunteering-ni.org. Alternatively you can take the survey right now.
The Department for Employment and Learning has published results from the Northern Ireland Omnibus Survey on the public’s attitude to migrant workers.
The main findings were:
The document is available to download at the DEL website.
The Rural College and the Gibson Institute of Land, Food and Environment at Queens University, Belfast, are offering an MSc/Graduate Diploma in Rural Development, beginning late September 2007.
The course is targeted at those who have an interest in rural affairs, rural living, rural enterprise and sustainability. The course deals with the social, economic, environmental and sustainability issues and challenges of rural life. Previous students come from a variety of backgrounds including community development, voluntary sector, local government, housing, health service, LEADER groups, agriculture/farming and the private sector.
The course will be delivered to Graduate Diploma level over two years at The Rural College and the third year leading to the MSc at the Gibson Institute for Land, Food and Environment at Queen’s University, Belfast. Some bursaries will be available.
Application forms and further details are available from Fiona Mullan on tel: 028 7962 9100, email: fiona@ruralcollege.co.uk.
The Northern Ireland Life and Times Survey was launched in October 1998. The survey puts on record the attitudes, values and beliefs of the people in Northern Ireland to a wide range of social policy issues. Results from the 2006 survey are now available online.
Whether you are at school or at college, work in the media, government or voluntary sector, or whether you are just interested in what the people of Northern Ireland think about the issues of the day, you will find something useful on the website - www.ark.ac.uk/nilt/.
Fieldwork for the 2006 survey was carried out between October 2006 and mid March 2007. 1,230 adults were interviewed and the subjects covered were:
Do you or someone you know have a knowledge of equality legislation including Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, a proven track record on age discrimination issues and excellent communication skills? Do you feel older people’s voices are not heard? If so, you may be interested to know that three new Age Equality Policy Fora have been established by the Changing Ageing Partnership (CAP), a partnership which brings together Age Concern Northern Ireland, Help the Aged in Northern Ireland, the Workers’ Educational Association and Queen’s University Belfast.
We are looking for up to nine older people to act as representatives on these Fora based in Belfast, Coleraine and Newry/Mourne. The Fora will bring together older people and representatives from various public authorities to review the progress public authorities are making towards meeting agreed age equality standards. The aim is to ensure public authorities move away from the largely passive approach to age equality which is currently the norm.
It is anticipated that the Fora will meet three times a year. Volunteer representatives will be offered training and travelling expenses will be paid.
For more information on the Changing Ageing Partnership and for copies of the application pack for Volunteer Forum Representatives, please contact Leona Reid (CAP Administrator) on 028 9023 0666 or email: leona.reid@helptheaged.org.uk.
Northern Ireland's leading environment organisations have given a warm welcome to the report of the Review of Environmental Governance which has recommended the creation of a new independent environment watchdog for the region. The Review of Environmental Governance was conducted by an independent panel of experts appointed by former Environment Minister Lord Rooker. The report has been presented to the new Environment Minister, Arlene Foster, for consideration and implementation.
Speaking on behalf of the Coalition for Environmental Protection, Aidan Lonergan, Northern Ireland Director of RSPB, said the report was the culmination of more than a year's work by the inquiry team and comes after more than four years of campaigning by the coalition. He added; “As the report's title suggests, environmental protection represents the foundation stone on which the economic vitality and public health of Northern Ireland depend."
Leading figures in civil society will come together on Tuesday 17 July 2007 to discuss how it can prepare for the challenges and opportunities it will face over the next 20 years. This joint NCVO and Carnegie UK Trust event, ‘Futures for civil society: ideas, implications and actions’, draws on and will contribute to the Carnegie Inquiry into the Future of Civil Society in the UK and Ireland.
Speakers at the event will include:
The event will discuss how forces such as technological, political, social, environmental and political change may shape the future nature and role of civil society. From the declining cost of technology to growing socio-economic divides, increasing pressure on global resources and the growing visibility of the security state, the challenge of building a sustainable future is formidable.
For further information about the event and details of how to book, please visit
www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/events/latest/?id=4312.
The Bill of Rights Forum is now up and running and the women’s sector has a seat at the table. What is happening at the Forum and what do women want to come out of it? Do we want women to have a separate section in the Bill of Rights as well as mainstreaming of rights throughout?
A briefing/discussion is taking place this week on Thursday 28 June 2007 from 10.00am to 1.00pm (lunch included) at NICVA, Duncairn Gardens, Belfast.
Programme:
To register, please email: info@wrda.net or telephone WRDA on tel: 028 9023 0212.
Following the success of its first forum last year, the Association of Charity Shops will be holding its second forum for members and others in Northern Ireland interested in the sector on Tuesday 2 October 2007 at NICVA, Belfast. The forum will begin with lunch around 1.00pm.
The forum will look at all the key issues for charity retail in Northern Ireland. If you wish to attend the forum, please contact David at the Association no later than 21 September 2007 on 020 7255 4483 or email: david@charityshops.org.uk. Please also let David know of any issues you think should be included in the forum.
Pathways to Work is an innovative new approach to help lone parents engage in the world of work. From January 2007 the Department for Employment and Learning has been piloting a new and comprehensive framework of practical and financial help and support to lone parents facing barriers to employment.
This new service is being piloted in Knockbreda, Limavady, Lisburn and Shaftesbury Square Jobs and Benefits offices.
What is available?
Please contact Janice Montgomery for details on 028 9072 6793 or email: janice.montgomery@delni.gov.uk.
Chief Executives of local trusts, human resource managers and equivalents in the voluntary and independent sectors are invited to have their say on the health sector qualification strategy. Visit the Skills for Helath site for details.
A consultation meeting will take place in Belfast on 27 June 2007 and there will also be an online consultation on the Skills for Health website from 9 to 30 July 2007 at www.skillsforhealth.org.uk.
For further details and to register your attendance please contact Veronica Markey on 0121 767 1388 or email: Veronica.Markey@skillsforhealth.org.uk.
The Volunteer Development Agency (www.volunteering-ni.org/) is currently developing its 2007-2008 training programme for those who work with volunteers and would like to have your input to ensure that the courses run will meet your needs.
Whether your interest is in volunteer management, voluntary management committees or child protection, the Agency’s online checklist provides a quick analysis of your training and development needs.
Please return your completed checklist by Friday 29 June 2007 to paula@volunteering-ni.org.
Got some furniture or equipment to donate (or going cheap) to a voluntary or community group? Use this space to let people know what you’ve got.
NICAS has about 380 collections tins available to donate to a voluntary or community organisation. Interested? Contact Christine on 028 9066 4434.
Upcoming business at the NI Assembly
The Office of First Minister and Deputy First Minister has announced that it will carry out a review of the mechanisms for civic society to promote its views
Members of the voluntary and community sector were well represented among the recipients when the Queen's Birthday Honours List was announced
This section contains a random selection of the latest jobs from the CommunityNI website.
Submit your job - eNews does not carry full job advertisements, but if you would like your job to be one of the featured links, please submit your advertisement to the CommunityNI website using this link.
As the featured link slot is in great demand, to keep things fair, we can only make a random selection of three or four new jobs each week, and cannot guarantee that your job will be selected.
NICVA’s successful Community Diary now has a new home on the CommunityNI web portal. Submit details of your upcoming events in CommunityNI’s Events Calendar at www.communityni.org/index.cfm/section/events.
Simply follow the Submit an Event link to the right of the page, enter the details, and we’ll do the rest.
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Communitybuyer.org has been connecting the voluntary and community sector with top suppliers since March 2007.
Communitybuyer.org is an online directory of products and services specially for the voluntary and community sector. With ratings and advice it’s an essential resource for your buying needs. Only companies that have a keen interest in working with the voluntary and community sector are listed and great discounts are available to NICVA members. Look out for the NICVA member discounts badge on the site.
To find out more, visit www.communitybuyer.org.
NICVA membership is open to all voluntary and community organisations in Northern Ireland.
To find out more contact Frances McAtamney on tel: 028 9087 7777, email: frances.mcatamney@nicva.orgor visit the website www.nicva.org/index.cfm/section/article/page/NICVAmembership.
The opinions, views or comments in this email do not necessarily reflect any views or policies of NICVA. In making information available from other organisations NICVA is not endorsing, privileging or guaranteeing its accuracy but acting as an information conduit in good faith.
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