'This brings Dulux Colour Match to a whole new level'!!

An invitation to join us in Comber on the 24th November 2011

For the fifth year in a row Comber will host its Christmas Fair in the Square on Thursday November 24^th from 4pm to 8pm.

The fair is sure to provide fun for all the family, awakening the Christmas spirit in all of us.  Visitors and locals alike can enjoy over 60 stalls, including Gifts, Jewellery, Arts & Crafts, Local Produce, the Kids Zone and the Food Village. 

Santa will be paying his usual visit on our local Fire Engine along with the Fire Crew and as an extra special treat Santa and his helpers will be in his wonderful  Santa’s Grotto for the kids to come and visit.

11am Wednesday 19th October 2011

Londonderry Room

Ards Town Hall

Due to the success of the first Meet & Greet on Wednesday 15th June 2011, Ards Development Bureau and Community Network will be hosting a second event on Wednesday 19th October 2011 at 11am followed by lunch at 12.30pm.  We will have another group of MLA’s and Councillors for you to meet.

As we have limited places available please contact Paula at our office on 028 91914625 or email on ardscommunitynetwork@live.co.uk if you wish to join us on the day.

Don’t hesitate to contact our office if you have any further queries about this event.

North Down Community Network

North Down Community Network are currently going through a process of review and restructure. We wish to appoint a dynamic Manager who will progress the strategic development and operational management of the organisation.

MANAGER – NJC Salary Scale Point 37

Based at: 5 Castle Park Road, Bangor BT20 4TF

Hours of employment: 37½ hours per week, exclusive of meal breaks

Holidays: 25 days, plus all statutory days with pay

Responsible to: The Chairperson as first Line Manager and, secondly, the Board of Directors

Overall aim of post: The strategic development and operational management of NDCN.

An Application Pack can be downloaded at www.ndcn.co.uk

CLOSING DATE: Monday, 15th August 2011, at 12 noon

North Down Community Network, 5 Castle Park Road, Bangor BT20 4TF

Tel: (028) 9146 1386 Email: admin@ndcn.co.uk

THIS POST IS FUNDED BY THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT FUND (DSD)

Facilitated by: Ards Development Bureau and Community Network

In attendance:

MLA’s -

Mike Nesbitt (UUP)
Jonathan Bell (DUP)

Councillors -

Naomi Armstrong-Cotter (DUP)
Deborah Girvan (Alliance)
Robert Gibson (DUP)
Trevor Cummings (DUP)
Jimmy Menagh (Independent)
Tom Smith (DUP)

Groups Represented-

Beechfield Residents Assoc.
De-Wind/Cherryvalley Residents Assoc.
Disability Matters – North Down
Little Doves – West Winds
Extern/Strength to Strength
Action Mental Health
South Eastern Trust
Shop Mobility – Ards
P.S.N.I.
West Winds Women’s Group
Movilla Women’s Group
Millisle Community Assoc.
Scrabo Residents Assoc.
East Down Rural Community Network
Cloughey and District Community Assoc.
Connecting Comber
Ards Phoenix Group
The Net, Comber
Crossroads Caring for Carers

Calvin Allcoat – Chair of Ards Community Network opened the Meet and Greet by welcoming all of the newly elected MLA’s and Councillors followed by a brief run through of the morning’s agenda by Cathy Rice.

Each of the MLA’s and Councillors took to the floor to introduce themselves to the 98 Community Groups and representatives. They highlighted their areas of work and outlined the constituency they represent.

For the final hour of the event the elected representatives joined each of the groups for a round-table discussion. A wide and diverse range of topics were discussed and contact details were exchanged.

While many of the problem areas were the same for each group it was very beneficial for the representatives to get their points across and invite each MLA/Councillor to visit their particular areas and see the work already carried out as well as helping out with the problems they face.

The main feedback from the session evaluations was to exchange contact information and to host similar events. Comments included: ‘Great to meet Urban and Rural groups’, ‘great to meet other groups in the same position as ourselves’, ‘Good to talk to MLAs and Councillors face to face’, ‘Learned where to go to get Council help’ and ‘We would have liked more time with the representative’.

Due to the success of this Meet and Greet Event we will be hosting a second event with a further 8-10 MLAs and Councillors on Wednesday 7th September 2011. We will post further information in early August.

Please feel free to contact our office for any further information.

LIST OF TUTORS/FACILITATORS

Ards Development Bureau & Community Network is seeking to update its List of Tutors/Facilitators, to provide training under network programmes. We are interested in hearing from anyone who can provide training/support in one or more of the following areas –

• Training & Capacity Building
• Group Facilitation & Mentoring on Community Leadership Skills
• Community Relations – Addressing Sectarianism, Managing Conflicts of Opinions and Equal Opportunities
• Tutors/Instructors – arts, crafts, physical activities, education, media arts, information technology, personal development & life skills.
• Information Technology and Community Based Web Design
• Action Planning & Change Management
• Committee Skills & Organisational Development
• Partnership Working
• Good Governance
• Sustainability
• Community Engagement & Involvement
• Participative Research
• Evaluation of Programmes of Work
• Peace Building & Good Relations
• Other Relevant Skills

Suitably qualified tutors and facilitators should submit a CV that must include contact details, e-mail address and indicate relevant community experience to;

Ards Development Bureau & Community Network, 2B James Street, Newtownards. BT23 4DY or to  info@ardscommunitynetwork.com  by Friday 15^th April 2011.  Interest in one or more of the areas listed above should be specified.  Ards Development Bureau & Community Network will use the Select List compiled for the purposes of tendering organisational support services over the period 2011/2012.

Previous applicants should register their interest and advise of any changes.

If you would be interested in coming along to this event

please contact our office – see “Contact Us” page.

SOUTH EAST COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT NETWORKS’ STRATEGY

COMMUNITIES PLANNING FOR CHANGE    

More than 80 representatives from local communities throughout the Ards, Down and North Down council areas and local politicians gathered together in the Somme Centre on Friday last to examine how to best support communities in the future. 

This was the fourth in a series of community planning and networking conferences organised by Ards Development Bureau, East Down Rural Community Network and North Down Community Network, in partnership with Community Places.  The conference saw the launch of “Working Together” which details how the three support networks will co-ordinate their efforts to benefit community development for people throughout the three council areas.  The new strategy sets out joint aims and actions for work in partnership with Government, local councils and funding bodies to deliver an efficient community development support service.

At the event, an overview of this joint strategy was presented and was well received.  Information was also presented about Peace III funding and current Down Rural Area Partnership funding. Groups provided feedback on what priorities they feel emerging funding programmes should focus on over the next few years. 

For further information on the Conference or to find out more about any of the Networks please contact Ards Development Bureau & Community Network (Cathy Rice) tel: 9181 4625, East Down Rural Community Network (Frances Hughes) tel: 9182 8884, North Down Community Network (Lynette Mahaffy) tel: 9146 1386 and Community Places (Elaine Devlin) tel: 9023 9444.

Left to Right : Lady Sylvia Hermon MP for North Down, Nicholas McCrickard & Jim McAfee – East Down Rural Community Network, Paulene Morton – North Down Community Network, Cathy Rice & Calvin Allcoat – Ards Community Network, Lynette Mahaffey – North Down Community Network.

Friday 21st January 2011

Cherryvalley/De Wind Community Plan Promises a Bright Future

The future is looking brighter for the Cherryvalley, De-Wind and Laburnum areas of Comber 

On Friday 21st January 2011 members of the Cherryvalley / De Wind Residents’ Group together with the Ards Development Bureau & Community Network, Community Places, The Mayor of Ards Borough Council, Cllr. David Smyth along with many Statutory Bodies, Elected Representatives and residents convened at Scrabo Garden Centre to officially Launch and discuss the exciting new Community Plan for the estate.

This plan was developed from information gathered by surveys and questionnaires with residents of the estate, and through a series of meetings facilitated by Ards Community Network and Community Places between the Residents’ Association , elected representatives, Ards Borough Council and other Statutory Bodies and local Agencies. 

Roberta Campbell of the Residents’ Association, told the gathering: “With the help of the Ards Community Network, Ards Borough Council, PSNI, NI Housing Executive, MLA’s, our local MP Mr Jim Shannon and the local residents we were able to put together this plan for the future. 

The Plan has identified a number of short to medium and some long term issues which need to be addressed, which include to name but a few:

 ·   Creation of a woodland area to the rear of Laburnum Grove

·    Identifying solutions to fencing issues in Upper Crescent

·    Establishing availability of venues for community and more specifically

     youth activities to be held

·    Identifying training needs of the Residents’ Group

·    Landscaping the Muckers and providing lighting in that area

·    Clean up and physical improvement of the area

·    The need to provide access  at the rear of Laburnum  

Jim Shannon MP opened the floor by congratulating the Residents Association, especially Roberta for their hard work and determination to implement the plan and pledged his ongoing support for all of the good work being undertaken by local people.

 The valuable contribution and work undertaken by the Housing Executive’s team was noted on several occasions by the Residents and local representatives, with Keith Porter being thanked for his huge input resulting in vast improvements that are already highly visible in the area. 

If you would like any further information or a copy of the Cherryvalley / De Wind Community Plan please contact the Residents Association directly or Ards Community Network, Tel: 02891814625

Friday 28th January 2011 from 10:30 am to 1:00 pm

See our Events page for further details.