Networking
*Community Development Networks Forum
*Older People's Policy Forum
*Policy, Lobbying and Advocacy Forum
*Arts for Older People Network
*Community Arts Forum Northern Ireland
*Craigavon Community Development Workers Network
(Further details provided below)
Community Development Networks Forum
Objectives:
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To lobby for long term core funding from central government.
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To act as a support mechanism for CD networks
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To act as a platform for the sharing of information
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To organise events as and when necessary.
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To represent the views of the membership.
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To highlight issues affecting the wider community sector.
This forum meets bi-monthly and members include
Older People's Policy Forum
Terms of Reference:
To enhance the capacity of organizations within and beyond the older people's sector to make policy responses, coordinate policy information, participate in policy development and influence decision making.
This will be achieved by:
• Facilitating information sharing and dissemination within the older people's sector on a range of common issues.
• Enabling those working on policy within the older peoples sector to come together on a regular basis to network, share experiences and knowledge and develop policy positions.
• Enabling those who do not normally work on policy to have regular access to information and debate on the policy environment which shapes their work.
• To keep a watching brief on policy implementation and joint working within government.
The forum meets 3-4 times per year and members include Age Concern, Help the Aged, Southern Health and Social Care Trust, Engage With Age, Carers UK, Belfast Health Cities, NICVA, Belfast Central Mission, Armagh and Dungannon Senior Citizens Forum, NIHE, General Consumer Council, North Down Community Network, Bogside & Brandywell Health Forum, Access to Benefits, Inclusive Mobility and Transport Advisory Committee, Fermanagh Volunteer Centre, Omagh Community Safety Partnership, Sperrin Lakeland Senior Citizens Consortium and Moneymore Activity Group.
Contact: Jonny Currie at NICVA
T: 028 9087 7777
Policy, Lobbying and Advocacy Forum
The forum meets 3-4 times per year and members include Rural Community Network, NI Council for Integrated Education, Home Start NI, Volunteer Development Agency, NIACRO, Belfast Health Cities, NICVA, Combatting Homelessness NI, Special Education Needs Advice Centre, Advice NI, General Consumer Council, NI Federation of Housing Associations, Asthma UK, Access to Benefits, NICVA, NI Anti-Poverty Network, Save the Children, Help the Aged, Simon Community, Trocaire, Northern Ireland Rural Women's Network, Conservation Volunteers and Breakthru.
Contact: Sean Kelly at NICVA
T: 028 9087 7777
Arts for Older People Network
Aim
To be a channel for older people and those working with older people to access a variety of information and education pertaining to older people in the community.
The Network objectives are to provide:
• An opportunity for networking
• An opportunity for the work of older people in the arts to be evaluated and documented
• Help and advice regarding grants, funding and sponsorship for older peoples work in the arts
• A platform for lobbying and profile change
• Support through education and training for older people and those working with them
Contact: Maureen Harkins at CAF
T: 028 9024 2910
Community Arts Forum Northern Ireland
The Community Arts Forum (CAF) is the umbrella body for community arts in Northern Ireland. With a membership that spans all art forms and all areas of Northern Ireland CAF aims to provide greater access to the arts to all people in Northern Ireland by providing:
• development
• advocacy and networking
• training opportunities
• research and development
CAF membership is open to anyone who has an interest in, or works within, community arts.
Contact: Heather Floyd at CAF
T: 028 9024 2910
Craigavon Community Development Workers Network
The Community Development Workers Network membership is open to all those working towards the principles of community development within the communities of Craigavon. This includes paid or unpaid development workers and volunteers from both the community, voluntary and statutory sector.
The Network objectives are to:
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Provide support and networking opportunities for community activists within the Craigavon area.
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Develop links between the areas of Portadown, Lurgan and Brownlow in order to progress partnership working.
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Provide opportunities for external speakers to present topics of mutual interest to the group.
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Enable a shared voice on topics (proactively developed by the group) and to feed this into other appropriate networks or channels.
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Identify and seek to meet training needs to better equip members to work effectively.
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Provide an opportunity for groups to seek alliances on funding bids where partnership working is applicable.
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Offer an opportunity for organisations to promote the service they provide and the possibility for similarly themed, or disparate, groups working together.
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Support collective learning on common areas of interest such as funding opportunities, changes in policies/practices and other training needs.
Network meeting are held on a bi-monthly basis are members include NITAP, Carleton Street Community Development Association, Portadown FC, Craigavon intercultural Project, TASSK Healthy Living Centre, Bannside Community Development Association, Drumcree Community Trust, Craigavon and Banbridge Volunteer Centre, Craigavon Travellers Support Group, Edward Street Hostel and Tada Rural Support Network.
Contact: Noeleen Byrne at CNC
T: 02838 392777