A new ferry service to serve the island community of Rathlin will be officially launched on Wednesday, 9 September 2009.  A new purpose-built high speed vessel capable of carrying 100 seated passengers will provide a comfortable, accessible, year-round service to the island and will reduce the crossing time for the six mile journey from 45 minutes to 20.  Congratulations to Rathlin Development and Community Association for its part in this realisation of efforts to improve services to the island. 

Community Places together with a number of other community and environmental organisations has prepared a Shared Policy Paper to encourage participation in the planning reform process. The paper identifies 11 key issues which we feel need further consideration in the Planning Reform consultation document.  Click here to download it.

The Planning Service is holding 11 consultation events during September 2009 on the proposals for the Reform of Planning.  For further details of the events, including dates and venues, please click on the link below. 

Planning Reform Consultation Events

To reserve your place at one of the events, please register online at: www.event-ful.co.uk/planning or contact Julie Corey at the event-ful consultancy (Telephone: 9043 4320, Fax: 9043 4321 or Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ).

(26 August 2009)

NICVA, in conjunction with the International Fund for Ireland (IFI), has launched the second year of its £2.1 million Community Leadership Programme for Northern Ireland and the southern border counties.  The Programme is targeted at grassroots community groups working at a local level to develop their communities.  It is for groups working 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 within their organisations;
• participate in ten action learning sessions;
• 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; and
• receive a maximum bursary of £2,500 (€2,930) for an action learning project of the group's choice. 

Groups currently in receipt of IFI revenue funding are not eligible to apply for the programme.  Groups interested in the 2010-2011 programme should complete an expression of interest form by 8 October 2009.  Further information and forms are available on the Community Leadership Website at www.communityleadership.org or by calling Nuala Muldoon at NICVA on 9087 7777.

(24 August 2009)

The Building Equality and Inclusion Grant Scheme offers financial support to arts, cultural, leisure, community and heritage venues and organisations that are committed to enhancing accessibility for people with disabilities.

Adapt NI will distribute incentive grants of up to £2,000 depending on the ownership of the venue, quality of application and proposed work to be undertaken.  Applications will be considered on a first come first served basis and priority will be given to proposals for support for projects that can be completed by March 2010.  The competition for funds is expected to be high.  For more information visit www.adaptni.org, call 9023 1211 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it


(21 August 2009)

The Department of Finance and Personnel is seeking views on the development of the draft Northern Ireland spending priorities and the underpinning policy directions for the Dormant Bank and Building Society Accounts Scheme.  A 'dormant bank account' is a bank or building society account which a customer has not asked about, put money into or taken money out of for at least 15 years.   

It is estimated that there will be in the region of £10 million to £20 million available in the first year of the scheme with an anticipated several hundred thousand pounds available each year thereafter.

The consultation's aim is to establish spending priorities to specifically address the needs of the people of Northern Ireland and asks for input on a number of questions, including:

• are there particular areas or issues that would benefit from the funds?
• are there particular groups of individuals or organisations that should be targeted? 
• should disadvantaged areas in particular be targeted?

The consultation paper is available to download from DFP's website and responses should be submitted by 29 October 2009. 

(18 August 2009)