Email Briefing 5 Jan 04

Contents:

1. Win a National Training Award in 2004
2. NICVA Management Development Programme
3. What your web designer needs to know
4. Review of Public Administration seminars
5. Democracy Commission seminar
6. NICVA Outreach Programme
7. Reminder – Brian Moore Short Story Competition
8. A Shared Future - Conference
9. NICVA Website Headlines

1. Win a National Training Award in 2004

NICVA is a great supporter of National Training Awards (NTA) and we would like to encourage you to enter your organisation for a National Training Award in recognition of your commitment to training. The publicity and benefits of winning the award have amazed previous winners and the use of the NTA logo is a badge of excellence on your training. To find out more, NICVA will be hosting a workshop on Thursday 19 February from 9.00 am to 12.30 pm. The NTA workshops are a great way to find out how to select and present your training and to explore best practice approaches to training in the sector. To register please contact Melanie at National Training Awards on 01772 611 555 or contact Úna McKernan at NICVA on 028 9087 7777 or Una Mckernan

2. NICVA Management Development Programme

2004 - New Year, new challenges, new opportunities.

Improve your management skills and be better prepared for all that 2004 holds by taking part in NICVA’s Management Development Programme. NICVA has programmes at first line, supervisory and senior management level, some of the programmes offered are sure to meet your training needs. NICVA is still accepting applications for the programmes at Senior Management Level. There are places available on Made to Measure, starting 18 February 2004, Effective Leadership and Management and Modern Leadership. Therefore we would particularly encourage managers at this senior level to avail of this unique opportunity for personal and organisational development. Please contact Sandra to express your interest as soon as possible.

For a prospectus, application form or further information contact Sandra Bailie or Roisin Kelly on 028 9087 7777 or Sandra Bailie or Roisin Kelly .

3. What your web designer needs to know

This new Media Resource NI online guide is packed to the brim with useful information to consider before commissioning a website designer. It lists everything that you should provide when putting together your brief as well as all the questions you should ask to help you choose the right designer.

4. Review of Public Administration Seminars

NICVA has arranged two consultation seminars on the Review of Public Administration. The Review will have major implications for the voluntary and community sector. The Review looks at all of the key services that are delivered by government including education, water, roads, leisure and sports facilities, youth service, community relations and social security. There are several key questions open for debate:

Participation – How do we as citizens interact with government? How can we influence the decisions that affect our lives and how accountable are the people who make these decisions? Is participative democracy an achievable reality and if so what can we do to make it happen?

Service Delivery – How can we deliver high quality public services? How can we ensure services go to the people who really need them? What increased role can the voluntary and community sector play in service delivery?

Service Users – What is the nature of the relationship between service user and service provider? How can we ensure that services are accessible to all citizens?

NICVA is hosting a series of seminars to facilitate discussion within the sector on these vital issues. At each seminar speakers from the Review of Public Administration team and social researcher Colin Knox will outline the proposals in the consultation document and their possible impact on the voluntary and community sector.

The first session will take place on Monday 19 January 2004 from 10.00 am to 5.00 pm at NICVA. The second session will take place on Tuesday 3 February 2004from 10.00 am to 1.00 pm at the Glenavon House Hotel in Cookstown.

To reserve a place at a seminar please contact Cathy Breslin on 028 9087 7777 or Cathy Breslin.

5. Democracy Commission Seminar

NICVA, Community Foundation NI and WEA will be holding a session with the Democracy Commission, an independent body set up in response to widespread concerns about the capacity of political institutions on the island of Ireland, North and South. David Begg, General Secretary, Irish Congress of Trade Unions, and Chair of the Commission, will chair the session, which will be held on 12 January 2004 at 2.00 pm at NICVA. To book a place, contact Cathy Breslin on 028 9087 7777 or Cathy Breslin .

6. NICVA outreach sessions

Happy New Year from the NICVA Outreach team! Start 2004 as you mean to go on and check you have registered your attendance at the NICVA Outreach sessions in your area. Remember this is FREE funding advice, charity advice and FREE training on funding and legal issues. There is also the opportunity for you to consult on a one-to-one basis with an advisor on any legal or fundraising issue your group might have. As a reminder, the Outreach Programme will be at the following venues over the coming weeks in 2004:

21 January 2004 Seven Towers Leisure Centre, Ballymena
28 January 2004 Tilly Molloy's Hall, Armoy
4 February 2004 W Belfast Partnership Board, Andersonstown
*Alessie Centre, Shankill
18 February 2004 Bank Buildings, Dungannon
25 February 2004 Newtownstewart Centre 2000

‘Committees and Trustee Responsibilities' will be delivered in the mornings from 10.30am to 12.30 pm and ‘Practical skills in completing forms' will be delivered in the afternoon from 2.00 pm to 4.00 pm.

* Please note that training in West Belfast will be delivered in two venues on the same day. Training in Andersonstown will take place as per the times above but training in the Shankill will occur at reverse times: therefore the funding advice session will take place in the morning at 10.30 am and the charity advice session will take place at 2.00 pm in the Hannah Centre.

For more information or to book a place, please contact Heather Rowan or Denise McCann at NICVA on 9087 7777 or Outreach .

7. Reminder – Brian Moore Short Story Competition

The deadline for entries to the Brian Moore Short Story Awards (first mentioned in the 1.12.03 email briefing) is 16 January 2004. Full details and an entry form are available from Joan Reid, Creative Writers Network, 109-113 Royal Avenue, Belfast BT1 1FF, info@creativewritersnetwork.orgor www.creativewritersnetwork.org/ .

8. A Shared Future - Conference

In January 2003 the Office of the First and Deputy First Minister launched the Consultation Paper A Shared Future. The consultation period ended at the end of September 2003 and an analysis of the response is nearing completion.

Organised by the Institute of Governance, Public Policy and Social Research at Queen's, this conference will look towards the future, considering and building upon the views expressed during the consultation. The audience will hear a keynote speaker, as well as political and civic leaders who will address the progress and the challenges of this agenda. The conference will be held in Whitla Hall, Queen’s University Belfast on Tuesday 27 January 2004 from 9.15 am to 4.00 pm.

Please register attendance before 14 January 2004 by sending your details to Paula Herron: p.herron@qub.ac.ukor 028 9027 2549 for more information.

9. NICVA Website Headlines

Scotland gets new charity regulator Report on developments in Scotland and the situation at home

Mid-term evaluation of BSP Read the full report on Building Sustainable Peace funding

Community Diary Sort out your 2004 diary with the help of NICVA's online events calendar

Is your organisation a member of NICVA? Do you know of another organisation that would benefit from NICVA Membership? For information about the many benefits and services NICVA has to offer, or to obtain a membership pack please contact Frances McAtamney on 028 9087 7777, Frances McAtamney or website www.nicva.org.

NICVA membership is open to all voluntary and community organisations operating in Northern Ireland.

NICVA's Information Briefing is sent by email to all our members on a weekly basis. We hope this helps you circulate the information within your organisation where appropriate.