Northern Ireland Community Relations Council - About Us - Council Minutes

06 March 2007

Confirmed Minutes

Present: Chris O’Halloran (Chair), Sheena Funston, Sean Coll, John Clarke

Staff:Michaela Mackin, Brian Mullan, Carol Taylor, Joan Clements, Kimberley MacDonald (Minute Taker)

1. Apologies: Caroline Wilson, Nigel McKinney, Jim Campbell, John Cousins

2. Minutes of Previous Meeting (14^th November 2006)

Provisionally agreed. To be formally agreed at the next meeting.

3. Matters Arising

Lobbying Issues

Michaela reminded members of the nature of this issue and that advice had been received from Fiona Cassidy in the past and further advice was sought from Jennifer Ebbage Solicitors. The Council has received an opinion from Jennifer Ebbage which was presented to members. Michaela advised that this was forwarded to the Council’s management team in order to ensure there was consistency of practice with respect to funding contracts across the Council.

Michaela indicated that the Council did not want to fund work that went against its ethos and that funding should be used for the purpose that it is intended.

Ms Ebbage has stated that there should not be a threat to the Community Relations Council’s charitable status and that the letters of offer/agreement forms were strong. Ms. Ebidge has been asked for two things: 1) To look at the wording in the letter of offer, and 2) To look at whether any other charitable body has carried out this type of work (looking at past practice). Michaela will update members at the next meeting.

Suggestions for Possible Speakers for Future Conferences

Michaela indicated that some members had agreed to forward details of possible speakers onto Michaela however she has not received all contact details. It was suggested that it might be helpful to share ideas that have worked here with other people/internationally. Others voiced that it was important to strike a balance between other contexts/situations and people realizing the pain and suffering that people have experienced here. It was suggested that there should be some input on Peace 3 at the conference. Michaela indicated that the team would be planning for the conference and would keep committee members informed of progress.

4. Officer’s Reports

Report from Brian Mullan

Brian informed the committee that the Core Funding Scheme had been extended for another year. Brian also stated that salaries had increased by 3%, and that there had been a 10% increase in running costs as there had not been an increase in this area since the onset of the scheme.

Brian stated that support visits were ongoing and outlined some of the key achievements of some of the core funded groups for committee members.

The Wider Circle

The Wider Circle have recently created a link with Business in the Community, which puts community groups in contact with businesses. This is a useful way to seek practical help for their work. Brian highlighted that this might be an idea for a future seminar.

Survivors of Trauma

Brian stated that they had been waiting a long time on Peace 2 and that they are just starting to get back on board. They have a new worker.

Northern Ireland Music Therapy Trust

Northern Ireland Music Therapy Trust has extended their work for six months to create a therapist post - specifically aimed at victims of the troubles.

New Life Counselling Service

The Council is funding an administrative post for this group.

SAVER/NAVER

Brian stated that SAVER/NAVER has been extremely busy and that their men’s project has been very popular. Their work is about looking to the future and helping their users to move forward.

HURT

Brian stated that he was intending to see the work that this group is doing.

Contact Youth

Contact Youth have recently received a contract to roll out a counselling programme in all schools in NI. They are also moving to new premises. Contact Youth is keen to continue focusing on victims as 10% of their users have been directly affected by the Troubles.

Ashton Centre

Brian stated that they have been carrying out positive work i.e. building bridges in Shankill, Newlodge.

Report from Joan Clements

Joan stated that she was in the middle of support work with her core funded groups. She is also concentrated a lot of effort on working with smaller groups i.e. Phoenix. Joan stated that it has taken a lot of time to build trust with the smaller groups associated with the UDR and USC. Joan informed the committee that these groups were often reluctant to apply for money, mileage etc.

Joan informed the committee that accredited befriending training had been developed and that 110 people were trained. Joan stated that a ‘Day of Celebration’ would take place on the 2^nd of April 2007 at Baronscourt. The theme of the day will be the gift of time - time being the precious thing that volunteers give to a group of people who are isolated, lonely etc. The concept of reaching out will also be focused on during the Day of Celebration. Certificates will be given out to those that have completed the training. Joan stressed that it is a great accomplishment for people to reach this stage, but that the work did not stop there as support and supervision continue. Joan also stated that it is an evolving process and that it is about acknowledging work.

Joan and Sean Coll have been working with groups regarding the Phoenix Fermanagh training. Joan took the committee members through her befriending report. She discussed the training and how there had been an effort made to make the training flexible. Excellent feedback has been received regarding the training. Sean Coll has attended training sessions to deliver on standards. Both Joan and Sean meet with people every other month.

Joan highlighted recruitment as an identified weakness in her report. Joan also outlined training/support for volunteer counsellors and reviewed various befriending projects with the committee i.e. the “Competent Helper”, CALMS volunteer listening ear service (done by young people for young people), Springhill’s volunteer complementary therapists. Joan also informed committee members of grants/activities that had been funded under the victims/survivors befriending scheme. These include: newsletters, respite, gardening- SAVER/NAVER, West Tyrone Voice taking elderly individuals out for a meal and that the feedback from this activity in particular has been positive. Joan also explained that two groups had received grants for financial advice/support (welfare) and were now highly trained.

Joan also stated that Phoenix work was evolving. She explained that it started with Fermanagh, and has now moved to Tyrone West, Armagh, Limavady, Derry, Magherafelt, & Stewartstown.

Sean Coll emphasised that the training was accredited and officially recognised by ILM. He stated that Phoenix has evolved more than was anticipated at the beginning and that it is making an impact. He also stated that Joan needed to be acknowledged for her work and that this was a good news story which he was glad to be a part of.

Joan reviewed the Shared City Future Project as an example of good practice and provided a summary which included reviewing ‘Make Mine the Last’ for Community Relations Week.

Report – Carol Taylor

Carol stated that she is working on completing the last financial year and bringing in the new financial year. Carol went over figures with the committee and stated that spend figures were going up due to verifications. She also informed the committee that all projects must be completed by the 31^st March 2007 and that all invoices/receipts must be in by the 10^th April 2007. Groups have received letters informing them of these dates.

Carol informed the committee that it will take more time to close the files of the smaller voluntary groups. Carol stated that verifications were ongoing and that invoices/receipts were filtering in from groups/organisations. She stated that full spend was anticipated, but that it could not be confirmed until invoices/receipts are received.

Michaela pointed out the procedure to the committee and explained that all applications for funding were verified. Carol further explained that the process of photocopying a group/organisation’s original receipts and sending them back allows the CRC to look at a group’s capacity.

Carol highlighted the Ely Centre’s HGV Licence Training as an example of good practice. Carol explained that the course had been completed by five people who had been directly affected by the troubles and that four out of the five now have full time jobs. Carol stated that this was good practice for other members.

5. CRC Update Report

Michaela stated that the Community Relations Council had received formal notification for extension of the two grant schemes. She stated that the Community Relations Council has carried out recruitment for another Officer to help with the workload and that it was hoped that there would be someone in that position by April 2007.

John Clarke outlined some of the recommendations from the Interim Victims Commissioner’s report.

Seminar

Michaela informed the committee that on 18^th December 2006 the NVQ Justice Sector Awards seminar had taken place. It was held to give people an opportunity to obtain an award based on work that they do on an everyday basis. The Justice Sector Awards use the wider definition of the term victim. Over fifty people attended this event. Michaela explained that there was a list of groups who had signed up for it as well as a list of assessors. The NIO have committed monies to support the training which begins this month. The people who are taking the training are working towards an NVQ 3 while the people who are assessors are working towards an NVQ 4. In the future they hope to have a selection process in place. Michaela will meet with M. Magee and A. Quinn for updates.

CapacityBuilding

Capacity building was provisionally planned for the 21^st March 2007. Michaela stated that she is currently exploring opportunities with the Volunteer Development Agency. She stated that the capacity building was for committees. Michaela informed the committee that this training would be directed towards smaller groups.

IVC Report

Michaela reiterated that the Interim Victims Commissioner’s report was now published. She stated that in the section on funding there was a recommendation that the Community Relations Council review the scheme. However, she stated that this would be a conflict of interest.

Conference Report

Brian distributed copies of the conference report for committee members to review. He stated that the report was also on the Community Relations Council website.

6. Core Funding Scheme- Special Requests

Brian distributed the request from Relatives for Justice to committee members. However, as the meeting was not quorate committee members could only review the request.

Brian explained that their original application did not contain insurance. He stated that the group would like the Community Relations Council to pick this up through core funding. Brian stated that this has been supported in the past as groups should not be running without insurance. Brian reviewed a couple of options with the committee members: 1) That the group be allowed to re-allocate last year’s underspend of £113.63. Or 2) The committee fund the difference in insurance with the agreement that any savings from this year automatically go towards insurance. Brian stated that a condition can be added that they obtain multiple quotes. Brian stated that the preferred option would be option two.

7. Cost of Additional Core Funding Extension (Year 5 Extension Year 3)

The total awards for core funding were made available to committee members for informational purposes. NOVA was the single highest award. Brian emphasized that the Community Relations Council do not necessarily fund all of the salaries. It was stated that this should be formalized in a letter and taken on board as salary scales could continue to rise.

8. Update Discussion Item: Who Cares for the Carers- What Next?

This is a standing item for committee meetings. Joan and Sean Coll commented on their work with the health boards at the last meeting. There have been many changes in personnel within the boards. Joan has compiled a list and sent out letters highlighting what health boards could do, as well as information on befriending and trying to get meetings set up.

Sheena Funston suggested that a reminder be sent out at the end of April. Joan will keep pursuing this issue.

9. AOB

None.

10. Date & Venue of Next Meeting

Date of next meeting: Thursday 10^th May 2007 at 10:30am in Belfast

Next Meeting: Wednesday 12^th September 2007 at 10:30am in Belfast

Next Meeting: Wednesday 4^th December 2007 at 10:30am in Dungannon

Michaela will e-mail the dates to committee members.