CO3 loves to celebrate the impact its members have on their beneficiaries’ lives, and to promote their vital work.
Read about some of the excellent projects happening in our network in this week’s Member News.
If you are a CO3 member and have any news you would like to share with the wider CO3 network please email louise@co3.bz for more information.
Topics:
CO3- Calls For Help
Leonard Cheshire Virtual Conference
Annual Monitoring Returns
CO3 Job Opportunity
Community Relations Council - 2021 Good Relations Award
RCN - In This Together
National Lottery Heritage Fund - Research Opportunities
Employers For Childcare - COVID19 Childcare Update
DFC- Public Appointments
Interchange Appointments
CO3- Calls For Help
Property Lease Agreements
A member would like to speak in confidence with others who have experience of opting out of property lease agreements before their break clause. Any insights and experiences would be gratefully received.
HR Contract
We would like to hear from members who might be able to provide quotes to another member organisation to take over their HR contract coming to an end on 31 March. This is a small organisation with the potential to grow.
Staff Hardship Fund
Staff Recognition and Awards
We would like to hear from any members who would be happy to share any information on their recognition and rewards approach for staff. If any member has a policy/guideline/strategy that they would be willing to share please email CO3.
Cyber Security
A member would like to employ professional services to ensure their new website is cyber and GDPR compliant. They would appreciate guidance from any organisation who have experience in this process.
Submit your Call for Help>>>
Leonard Cheshire Virtual Conference
Leading disability charity Leonard Cheshire will stage a virtual conference on March 25 to explore needs and develop models of service provision for people living with an alcohol-related brain injury (ARBI) in Ireland.
This conference will bring together top clinicians, health professionals, policymakers and organisations in Ireland working across a wide range of fields such as addiction, mental health, neurorehabilitation and homelessness.
The event will focus on the pivotal role that a community-based service can in supporting rehabilitation and recovery and the opportunity to launch the first facility of its kind in Ireland,
Reflecting on current research and data from across the UK and Ireland and spotlighting the success of Northern Ireland’s first ARBI unit which was launched a year ago, the conference will offer delegates insight into the scale of ARBI and highlight how expert care and support from expert staff and specialists often results in life-changing recoveries for those affected.
The conference will be delivered virtually and aims to enhance understanding of approaches to supporting rehabilitation and recovery within community settings and explore the challenges and success of innovative services working in the field.
TO REGISTER FOR THE CONFERENCE CLICK ON THE EVENTBRITE LINK
Annual Monitoring Returns
We are strongly encouraging all CO3 members to complete their Annual Monitoring Return. Unlike previous years, charities will not be receiving a reminder from the Charity Commission for NI asking them to submit their AMRs due to the Court of Appeal ruling.
Please see communication below from CCNI.
“Charities who were registered in or before May 2019 do not currently have a legal obligation to file annual reporting information with the Commission. However, the facility to file annual reporting information voluntarily with the Commission remains open and we would encourage charities to do so where possible, as a matter of good practice.
This is particularly important for charities that currently prepare accruals accounts or fall within the audit threshold, as any subsequent accounts will require prior year comparatives and an audit of opening balances. It is therefore in the organisation’s best interest to continue to produce accounts and reports in line with current practices.
It should be noted that, despite the position with the regulations, charities must also still comply with all the terms of their governing document. For example, if a governing documents requires a charity to have audited accounts, then the accounts must be audited.
Those charities registered after May 2019 must continue to file annual reporting information in line with their deadline when it first arises.”
CO3 Job Opportunity - Events and Administration Officer (Part-time)
We are currently seeking applications for a part-time Event and Administration Officer to join the CO3 team.
Details on the role may be accessed in the Application Pack below.
Closing date for applications to Suzanne@co3.bz is 8th February @ 12 noon.
If you have the skills and experience suited for this role, we look forward to receiving your application.
Interviews are currently scheduled for Thursday 11th February.
Events and Administration Officer Information
Events and Administration Officer Application Pack
Events and Administration Officer Supplementary Questions
Community Relations Council - 2021 Good Relations Award
The Community Relations Council (CRC) are inviting nominations for the 2021 annual Good Relations Award.
After an exceptionally challenging year for everyone, there has never been a better time to recognise the achievements and impact people working in Good Relations have made in local communities.
Nominating someone for the Good Relations Award 2021 is an ideal opportunity to shine a light on the efforts and hard work that have helped us during the pandemic.
Nominations close on 29 January 2021 at 12 noon.
Download the Good Relations Award 2021 nomination form here
You can also get a nomination form by emailing info@nicrc.org.uk or by telephone on 028 9022 7500.
National Lottery Heritage Fund - Research Opportunities
The National Lottery Heritage Fund are working to improve how people apply for and manage their funding.
To do this, they're conducting research with a wide range of people to make sure our new designs are inclusive and accessible. Anyone who takes part in our research will be sent a voucher to thank them for their time.
If you would be interested in helping to improve these experiences for people, please fill in this form to join our research panel or email user.research@heritagefund.
Employers For Childcare - COVID19 Childcare update 
While schools, including pre-school settings, have moved to remote learning for most pupils, childcare settings and childminders can remain open to all children (not only those of key workers or vulnerable children) and continue to provide safe, quality care.
A Fund for providers impacted by Covid-19 related closures between September and December has now opened for applications. The Childcare Sustainability Support Fund also remains open for applications from eligible childcare providers, with both funds due to close on Friday 5 February. Further details are available in the briefing, along with a link to the Early Years website which includes full eligibility criteria. We are encouraging childcare providers to submit their applications as soon as possible.
We would welcome any questions you may have around childcare issues, or feedback on the briefing, and would be delighted to provide any further information that may be required. This remains a challenging time for the sector, with restrictions impacting on occupancy levels and ongoing requirements for rigorous infection control measures, but we hope to see meaningful progress towards the Childcare Strategy in 2021 and will continue to work towards that.
Click on this link to download Employers For Childcare's latest update.
DFC- Public Appointments
The Department of Communities has launched 2 public appointment competitions:
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Appointment of chair and members to the board of the Labour Relations Agency
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Appointment of members to the Northern Ireland Building Regulations Advisory Committee
Interchange- Available Interchange Opportunities
The Interchange Scheme is flexible, providing cost-effective benefits to those organisations who are partners to the Scheme. It allows employees from the participating organisations the opportunity to learn from each other and to share good practice, ideas and experience.
Full details of the posts, including salary ranges, contact for further information and how to apply etc, are included in the respective ‘Partners Cover Notes’ and all associated documents are available on the Interchange Website at: https://www.interchangeni.org.