IFI Community Leadership Programme

Overview

Through increased leadership skills, the Programme aims to assist groups in the development of sustainable, social, economic and community relations regeneration in disadvantaged areas.

NICVA has been appointed as the delivery agent for this Programme. NICVA has a long standing record of providing advice, information, support and training to a wide range of voluntary and community groups across Northern Ireland. Aurion Leadership and The University of Ulster are Programme partners, and will deliver components of the Programme such as training facilitators, Institute of Leadership and Management accreditation and provision of the UU Certificate in Management Practice. This Programme team has considerable experience in delivering community leadership programmes.

Through training, facilitation and workshops the Community Leadership Programme (CLP) will empower your group to make real differences in your local community. It will help local communities to take ownership of their development and offers external support from NICVA and the University of Ulster. This Programme will build the capacity of your group so that you will be able to work together to address issues, network with others and influence policies that effect local people's lives.

The three year Programme will be delivered to 100 groups in areas of weak community infrastructure and disadvantage from Northern Ireland and the southern border counties. NICVA will recruit community organisations on the basis of: greatest need, stage of development, potential to gain from the Programme and commitment to learning and development, including willingness to network with others.

Participation in the Programme will give you the opportunity to:

• Build management and leadership capacity in your group.
• Develop a learning pathway tailored to your group's specific needs.
• Learn from the ten action learning sessions with a dedicated facilitator for your group.
• Benefit from a governance review, if one is required.
• Receive ongoing support and advice from NICVA.
• Network at three roundtable workshops with others from the Community Leadership Programme.
• Achieve accreditation for individuals at Institute of Leadership and Management level 5.
• Gain a Certificate in Management Practice from University of Ulster free of charge for individuals from your group.
• Receive a maximum bursary of £2,500 (Euro 2,750) for an action learning project of your choice.
• Participate in online networking, discussion and knowledge sharing.
• Access learning material on a dedicated CLP webpage.

What will be expected of your group?

• You need to have the time available to give to this Programme. It will involve ten half day or evening action learning sessions and attendance at three roundtable events in the course of a year. The first roundtable workshops will be in Cookstown on 28 April and 7 May. Your group will only need to attend one of these workshops.
• It is important that your group has the motivation to learn and develop and is willing to apply the learning from the Programme.
• At least five members of the group should be willing to participate in the learning process throughout the year.
• As part of the Programme your group will prepare a next steps sustainability plan and complete an action learning project.

How to Apply:

Complete an expression of interest form by the relevant deadline and send it to CLP at NICVA. A member of NICVA staff will contact you to discuss your expression of interest. A member of NICVA staff will visit you to discuss your needs and the Programme in more detail. Then complete an application form by the full application closing date.

Applications are welcomed from locally based community groups in Northern Ireland and the southern border counties that have potential to gain from the Programme and have a commitment to development.