While fossil fuels dominate local power production, Northern Ireland will suffer from the volatility of worldwide shifts in the cost of oil, gas and coal. That was the message from Energy Minister, Arlene Foster, as she launched a scoping consultation on the development of a revised strategic energy policy for Northern Ireland, today. Speaking to delegates at the sixth annual Northern Ireland Energy Conference in Belfast, Arlene Foster said that Government will continue to encourage the use of renewable power, and work to bring about the improvements in infrastructure needed to enhance security and diversity of energy supply, and to support economic activity. Arlene Foster said: “We face many challenges in creating a sustainable energy infrastructure that will support economic growth, and provide for a reliable and competitive energy market for Northern Ireland. While fossil fuels continue to dominate local power production and transport in Northern Ireland, we will continue to suffer from the volatility of worldwide shifts in the cost of oil, gas and coal.
This means planning for a sustainable energy future that will also deliver on EU climate change targets and increase security of energy supplies for domestic and business use. The era of us relying on cheap fossil fuel energy is over and we must become more energy efficient by seeking to reduce our energy consumption.”

Weblink

13 November 2008
© Northern Ireland Executive

The Workers’ Educational Association (WEA) is launching the Learning Age project; an exiting new programme of learning aimed at disadvantaged Older People on 12 November 2008. The launch will take place in the Verbal Arts Centre, Derry/Londonderry on Wednesday 12 November starting at 12.30. Renowned actress and older learner herself, Olivia Nash (Ma from Give My Head Peace), will be present to work with a group of seniors who will present a drama on the day. Colin Neilands, WEA Director, explains the importance of the Learning Age Project: “We have been involved in researching the benefits of learning in later life for some time now. Bringing together academic research and our experience of working with older people across Northern Ireland, we believe that taking part in learning can help reduce isolation, keep the body active, stimulate the mind, pass on new skills and even contribute to better health.

Weblink

10 November 2008
© CommunityNI

Providing high-quality care services can help prevent neglect and abuse of elderly patients, according to a recent report. Councils with higher overall quality ratings are more likely to have better safeguarding practices in place, the Commission for Social Care Inspection report says. The research is part of the Department of Health’s No Secrets guidance on responding to adult abuse. Neil Hunt, Chief Executive of Alzheimer’s Society, said people with dementia are vulnerable to abuse through neglect, poor-quality care and discrimination. “This report shows that people already contending with poor quality care are being let down by ineffective safeguards against abuse,” he added. Alzheimer’s Society provides information and education, support for carers, quality day and home care in addition to funding medical and scientific research. In recent news, it has been revealed by US researchers a vitamin found in meat, fish and potatoes my help prevent people from developing Alzheimer’s disease.

Weblink

10 November 2008
© CAF

The Scottish Government has launched a national portal for public contracting opportunities, covering Scottish Local Authorities, NHS Scotland, the Scottish Government, Agencies and NDPBs, Higher and Further Education and Emergency Services: http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk

Weblink

10 November 2008
© VoluntaryNews

NICVA is calling on the Northern Ireland Executive to agree to develop a White Paper on the relationship between government and voluntary and community organisations, and to begin a deliberative process on what this might mean. White Papers are issued by government and lay out policy, or proposed action, on a topic of current concern. Although a White Paper may on occasion be a consultation as to the details of new legislation, it does signify a clear intention on the part of a government to pass new law. Most other parts of these islands have issued White Papers or other legislative frameworks codifying relationships with the voluntary and community sector. Examples of these are contained within the report. NICVA believes that a White Paper would be a useful method of defining and clarifying these relationship in Northern Ireland. Download the full report on NICVA’s call for a White Paper:http://www.communityni.org/uploads/docs/WhitePaper.doc

Weblink

7 November 2008
© NICVA

The Voluntary Development Agency has been supported through a Lottery Business Support Award from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland to develop best practice child protection guidelines for arts sector organisations to support the development and implementation of policies. The guidelines, which formed the basis of free child protection training, are for use by organisations within the local arts sector. To download the Guidelines (PDF): http://www.artscouncil-ni.org/news/2008/files/ChildProtection.pdf

Weblink

10 October 2008
© Arts Council NI

Culture Minister, Gregory Campbell has today launched the Northern Ireland Community Archive website www.niarchive.org Speaking today at the launch on the Lagan Legacy Barge, the Minister said: “This is an innovative new website which makes it easier to find photographs, documents or oral history information on local communities. “Community archives represent a bottom-up approach to documenting our heritage, they are the grass roots activities of recording and exploring history. In other words, they are created by communities and are held in communities, often outside the formal heritage sector. “The recent growth in community archives and a new realisation of their value and importance has made it necessary to find a way of bringing them together into a web portal so that stories can be shared,” the Minister said. The community archive project as it develops will help promote the use of the rich collections of material in museums, libraries and the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland. Collections of material, written, visual and oral, are what constitutes a community archive which complement the formal historical record and bring to life individuals, communities and events that would otherwise lie dormant.
 
Weblink

23 October 2008
© Northern Ireland Executive

One in four people living in urban areas suffer from ‘green place poverty’, according to new research for the National Trust. The Trust says that the survey shows that whilst regular contact with the natural world is hugely important to everyone’s quality of life, many people are missing it in their daily lives. Across England, Wales and Northern Ireland one in eight have suffer from green place poverty, meaning they have access to two or fewer green spaces. The top reasons given for visiting open spaces were to experience fresh air and space, for relaxation and to see wildlife. The importance of green places to people’s quality of life is further demonstrated by three in four people saying they are willing to help protect their local green spaces, particularly local woodland and wildlife areas.
 
Weblink

27 October 2008
© National Trust

Representatives from Higher Education and Industry met today as part of a Government plan to increase future ICT enrolments. ICT has been identified as an area of particular economic significance in Northern Ireland. This is in recognition of the fact that as well as being a sizeable industry in its own right, it also underpins many other sectors such as financial services and healthcare. This event, organised by the Department for Employment and Learning, and held at the Stormont Hotel, is an important deliverable of the recently launched ICT Future Skills Action Plan. Employment and Learning Minister, Sir Reg Empey, welcomed the workshop and said: “It is important that the Higher Education sector works with industry to ensure that employers’ skills needs are met. In order to grow and develop, our software companies need an ever increasing number of highly skilled graduates in key disciplines, such as computer science and software engineering, yet university enrolments in these subjects are falling and drop out rates are high. We must do our utmost to overcome these issues if we are to benefit from an improved flow of skilled workers in future years.”
 
Weblink

21 October 2008
© Northern Ireland Executive

Minister Michelle Gildernew MP MLA has recognised the contribution women make to the economy, community and rural life on World Rural Women’s Day. World Rural Women’s Day provides recognition and support for the multiple roles of rural women who make up more than a quarter of the world population. From the school run to calving, from running a farm based business to looking after family members, women are increasingly at the centre of life in rural areas. The Minister said: “The vital contribution that rural women make to society can often go unnoticed. World Rural Women’s Day gives us the opportunity to stop and think about the crucial role that women play in rural life. It allows us to recognise and to show our support for the multiple roles played by rural women, as family members and as farmers and entrepreneurs. “Many women are also primary carers of young children and our ageing population also brings further pressures as they become carers of elderly relatives. These are vital support roles for rural families and are all the more important because of the lack of facilities and services in rural communities.” Last year the Minister took the first step towards more accessible childcare for rural families by commissioning a Rural Childcare Stakeholders’ Group to take a fresh look at the question of childcare in rural areas. The group presented the Minister with a report in April 2008 that identifies the main factors that affect access to childcare in rural areas and makes recommendations on how current and future provision can be improved.

 
Weblink

15 October 2008
© Northern Ireland Executive