The new e-network for stakeholder involvement around the planned changes for health and social care in Northern Ireland launched last week (22nd April).

Engage is at http://www.engage.hscni.net.

The national Heritage Open Days event sees buildings across England, old and modern, that are usually closed to the public or that would normally charge, throw their doors wide. This year it runs 11th to 14th September. It is co-ordinated nationally by the Civic Trust, with support from English Heritage, and thrives on the enthusiasm and expertise of local people.

If your organisation wants to take part, see http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk. There are similar but separate events in Wales, Scotland, Ireland and London - http://www.heritagedays.net.

Northern Ireland’s Volunteer Development Agency is making its membership open to appropriate organisations for free, so that they can become a stronger voice for volunteering.

This will also enable the widest range of organisations to inform and be informed about all aspects of promoting, supporting and developing volunteer involvement. See http://www.volunteering-ni.org/membership/about_us/.

(From http://www.communityni.org)

A briefing on the government consultation on new health proposals for Northern Ireland, with new structures to be set up by April 2009, has been produced by NICVA and the Community Development and Health Network, http://www.nicva.org/index.cfm/section/news/key/NICVA_CDHN_briefing.

Consultation ends 12th May.

Presentations from a series of seminars run this year by Northern Ireland’s NICVA and the ESRC (Economic and Social Research Council) are now available online.

The three sessions covered public participation; volunteering and its unintended consequences; and community relations and the voluntary and community sector. The slide shows are in pdf format, from ESRC.

(Source: CommunityNI)

There is concern in both Scotland and Northern Ireland around funding for voluntary sector health initiatives.

In Scotland, see SCVO’s news item at http://www.scvo.org.uk/scvo/NewsAndEvents/ViewArticles.aspx?f=h&al=t&pid=6934, or check out CHEX news, http://www.chex.org.uk.

In Northern Ireland, three per cent efficiency savings set in the Northern Ireland budget are being passed on by public bodies to voluntary and community organisations they fund - NICVA news items at http://www.nicva.org/index.cfm/section/news/key/100308efficiencysavings and specifically on health and social care at http://www.nicva.org/index.cfm/section/news/key/04mar2008trustcuts.

To help with contract and grant negotiations, NICVA has produced a useful summary on NI government policy around Full Cost Recovery.

A part-time three year multi-disciplinary Masters course in Social and Community Development presented by Queen’s University Belfast is recruiting.

See website, or contact Barbara McCabe, email: b.mccabe@qub.ac.uk (Source: NICVA eNews)

Charity legislation is to be coordinated to achieve consistent regulation between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, according to a report in Third Sector. Margaret Ritchie, social development minister for Northern Ireland, met Irish government ministers in Dublin recently to discuss plans to introduce common charity registers and regulators.

The legislative process on new charity law for both parts is about half-way through - the Republic’s Charities Bill 2007 page, NI Assembly Charities Bill http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/legislation/primary/2007/nia9_07.htm. Third Sector news item http://www.thirdsector.co.uk/News/787537/ (registration required).

Northern Ireland’s Environment and Heritage Service is consulting on revisions to the Historic Buildings grant aid scheme. Key proposals around increases in support provided for listed buildings, and grant-aid for non-governmental bodies wishing to purchase and restore a listed building at risk.

Runs to 18th April, http://www.ehsni.gov.uk/built/grants/proposals_to_amend_grant_aid_scheme.htm.

(Source: CommunityNI)

The Youth Council for Northern Ireland has launched three small grants short term programmes that are looking for applications, for up to £5000, to be submitted by 29th February. The 3 areas are: Equipment, Creativity and Healthy Living for Young People.

See http://www.ycni.org. (Source: CommunityNI)

The Northern Ireland Assembly committee considering the Charities Bill has had an extension to 27th June so that it can consider more than 40 submissions and look at several issues in greater detail. This puts back the timetable somewhat, with late summer as the earliest for the legislation to be brought in.

More on this announcement at http://www.theyworkforyou.com/ni/?id=2008-02-12.5.1, more information on the Charities Bill at http://www.nicva.org/index.cfm/section/General/key/141205CharReform.

(From NICVA eNews)

Voluntary and community organisations in Northern Ireland are being asked to sign a letter asking the Office of the First and Deputy First Minister to publish an anti-poverty strategy as a matter of urgency.

In 2004/5 more than 200 voluntary and community organisations supported the Enough Is Enough campaign which called for an effective strategy, but the Northern Ireland Executive is yet to adopt one.

Respond before 25th February - see details here.