IFI Community Leadership Programme recruiting for year two intake

Una McKernan, Director of Corporate Services at NICVA said:

"Following the success of our first year, the Programme is now recruiting for groups to participate in year two. It continues to offer exciting and innovative training and learning opportunities which aim to strengthen the leadership capacity of community groups."

She added: "The Programme aims to build the capacity of groups so that they will be able to work together to address issues, network with others, improve their community and influence policies that effect local people's lives."

The Programme is targeted at grass-roots community groups working at a local level to develop their communities. It is for groups that work with the whole community not single issue groups.

This is a one year leadership journey for groups, and by participating a group and its committee will have the opportunity to:

• Build the management and leadership capacity in your organisation.
• Participate in 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 Leadership Programme.
• Achieve accreditation for individuals at Institute of Leadership and Management level 3.
• Opportunity for up to two people to gain Certificate in Management Practice from University of Ulster free of charge.
• Receive a maximum bursary of £2,500 (2,750 Euro) for an action-learning project of your choice.

The first year of the programme was a great success and we want to ensure that groups from across Northern Ireland and the southern border counties (Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Cavan, Monaghan and Louth) have an opportunity to take part in the programme. Groups currently in receipt of IFI revenue funding are not eligible to apply for this programme.

Groups interested in the 2010/2011 programme should complete an expression of interest form by 8 October 2009.

Download an expression of interest form

Find out more at www.communityleadershipprogramme.org or call Nuala Muldoon on 028 9087 7777.