Get Well Soon

Your thoughts and prayers are asked for the recovery of one of our 2007 graduates, Billy Johnston. Billy has had a heart attack and was submitted to the RVH. He is currently in ward 5D of the cardiac intensive care unit. Billy was on placement with the New York Parks department in 2007. He is currently placed with BCC as a liasion between PSNI and the council.

We wish him a speedy recovery. Cards only, can be sent to the ward, no flowers are allowed.

"Practical Future of the NICBP".

NICB Conference
May 15th, 9.30am – 2.00pm

"Practical Future of the NICBP".

You are invited to attend the Northern Ireland Community Builders’ Conference called the Practical Future of the NICBP, has been organised for the 15th May 2008 at the Wellington Park Hotel, Belfast. The conference will open with registration at 9.30am and will begin at 9.45am

The conference sessions will finalise the structures of our Networking Groups and will be followed by a celebratory lunch and slideshow of pictures from over the last seven years.

Please forward any pictures you might have to clannardassociates@gmail.com

Conference itinerary;

9.30am Registration and refreshments

10.00am Welcome and Introductions (Frank Costello) Strategic future of NICBP - policy and financial developments - (Board advisors)

11.00am Networks - brief discussion on their structure and practical needs. Critical mass that requires self - governance. Website maintenance-central point of info dissemination (Phil and Kerry)

12 noon Speaker; Sir George Quigley & Celebratory lunch - toasting to success! Slide show of images over the 7 years

Please RSVP to mailto:u.monaghan@qub.ac.uk

Pre-Departure Meeting

Northern Ireland Community Builders Programme2008 Programme

Pre-Departure Meeting
Wellington Park Hotel, Belfast
March 18th 2008

Congratulations to all the 2008 candidates. You should all have received your notification by now of your success.

A pre-departure meeting has been arranged for ALL 2008 candidates to be held in the Wellington Park Hotel on March 18th 2008.

The meeting will begin at 9.00am sharp. Candidates are asked to ensure that they bring with them all relevant information and documentation, including photographs if necessary.

The meeting will close with Lunch at approximately 1.00pm. It will be followed by the Northern Ireland Community Builders’ Spring Conference. All new candidates are asked to attend the conference also.

Spring Conference 2008

Northern Ireland Community Builders Programme
Spring Conference - March 18th – 19th 2008
Wellington Park Hotel, Belfast

The Northern Ireland Community Builders’ Spring conference has been planned for the 18th – 19th March 2008 at the Wellington Park Hotel, Belfast. The conference will begin with registration at 2.00pm and will follow on directly after the scheduled pre-departure session for 2008 Programme candidates.

The conference will convene structured sessions on Programme Networking followed by a working dinner to be addressed by a prominent speaker, followed by an informal social event. Dr Tom Ference of Colombia University NY will then address the conference on Wednesday 19th March on Organisational, Personal and Strategic Management. The conference will close after lunch at approx 2.30pm.

Shared accommodation has been arranged for those travelling from out of town. Contact Fergal at the latest by end of business on Thursday 13th March at clannardassociates@gmail.com to book a room. Strictly no bookings after this date.

NICB 2008 Programme Recruitment

Northern Ireland Community
Builders Programme 2008©

The Northern Ireland Community Builders Programme, designed by Frank Costello Associates, is aimed specially at community workers in locally based community organizations working on the ground building peace and stability in their communities in Northern Ireland. Recruiting is now under way for the April 10 to May 10 2008 external Programme in New York and all related components.
The programme will involve community workers and other partners including the Police Service of Northern Ireland, the Probation Board of NI, and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive. It is designed to provide a stimulating learning experience that combines both a period of specialised study at Columbia University and hands on practice in a relevant placement in New York City. This tailor made learning programme will allow for practical exposure to issues at the
centre of civil society – i.e. community development and community relations, gender and ethnic diversity and intersectoral co-operation through practical partnership working, with a view to building a greater understanding of the role that each has to play in building a more peaceful society.
Applicants to the Northern Ireland Community Builders Programme must be able to demonstrate:
• How they can make a difference to building the learning capacity of their community
• That they are in fact an active community worker at grass roots in a community organization and have the demonstrated support of a line manager to participate in the programme.
• How they can follow through in a meaningful way upon their return to Northern Ireland
• A commitment to fully engage in a long term process with previous participants
• The commitment of their respective organisation to support their participation on the programme in the long-term and to engage in a subsequent body of work

For a full information package and application form please contact by telephone or email: Stafford Reynolds for Northern Ireland Community Builders Programme
Telephone 07802-940407
Email: nicbprogramme@yahoo.com

or click here NICB APPLICATION PACK

Application deadline is 3pm Thursday 24 January 2008.

The success of this programme depends on the diversity of the participants and so applications are invited from all sections of the community, including women and members of ethnic
minority communities. Applications are particularly encouraged from those working in interface areas at ground level. A number of Belfast based places on this programme will be supported by the Peace II funding via Belfast Local Strategy Partnership in partnership with Queens University Belfast. This project is part financed by the European Union through the Peace 11 Programme implemented by the Belfast Local Strategy Partnership.

In Sympathy

It is with great regret that I inform you of the death of another of our fellow graduates and friend, John Stevenson. Our sympathies go out to his family circle in their time of grief. May he Rest In Peace.

John was a member of the 2004 NICB graduates. He was taken into hospital on Thursday 3rd January 2008 suffering from headaches. In the space of a few hours he was in intensive care and died later that night (4th Jan 2008) from a brain tumor. A funeral mass has been arranged for 7.30pm on Tuesday 8th January at St Patrick's Church, Portaferry. His remains will be brought to Roselawn crematorium on Wednesday at 10am.

May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, rest in peace, Amen.

Happy New Year

THE NORTHERN IRELAND COMMUNITY BUILDERS'

WISH YOU

A HAPPY NEW YEAR

2008

TO YOU ALL