About the CLP
IFI Community Leadership Programme (CLP) information sheet
The International Fund for Ireland’s (IFI) Community Leadership Programme, delivered by NICVA, is an exciting and innovative training and learning programme which aims to strengthen the leadership capacities of groups. Through increased leadership skills, the Programme aims to assist groups in the development of sustainable, social, economic and community relations regeneration in disadvantaged areas.
NICVA has been appointed as the delivery agent for this Programme. NICVA has a long standing record of providing advice, information, support and training to a wide range of voluntary and community groups across Northern Ireland. Aurion Leadership and The University of Ulster are Programme partners, and will deliver components of the Programme such as training facilitators, Institute of Leadership and Management accreditation and provision of the UU Certificate in Management Practice. This Programme team has considerable experience in delivering community leadership programmes.
Through training, facilitation and workshops the Community Leadership Programme (CLP) will empower your group to make real differences in your local community. It will help local communities to take ownership of their development and offers external support from NICVA and the University of Ulster. This Programme will build the capacity of your group so that you will be able to work together to address issues, network with others and influence policies that effect local people’s lives.
The three year Programme will be delivered to 100 groups in areas of weak community infrastructure and disadvantage from Northern Ireland and the southern border counties. NICVA will recruit community organisations on the basis of: greatest need, stage of development, potential to gain from the Programme and commitment to learning and development, including willingness to network with others.
This programme is targeted at groups that:
- Have community development as their main focus and are working at grass-roots level
- Have not previously had the opportunity for development
- Are not currently in receipt of IFI revenue funding
- Work with their local community, not single issue groups
- Work directly with the community not via support to another group
Participation in the Programme will give your group the opportunity to:
- Build management and leadership capacity.
- Develop a learning pathway tailored to your group’s specific needs.
- Learn from the ten action learning sessions with a dedicated facilitator .
- Benefit from a governance review, if one is required.
- Receive a year’s subscription to grant tracker and funding point
- Receive ongoing support and advice from NICVA.
- Network at three roundtable workshops with others from the Community Leadership Programme.
- Achieve accreditation for five individuals at Institute of Leadership and Management level 3.
- Nominate one or two individuals to receive a bursary for the Certificate in Management Practice from University of Ulster .
- Receive a maximum bursary of £2,500 (Euro 2,750) for an action learning project of your choice.
- Participate in online networking, discussion and knowledge sharing.
- Access learning material on a dedicated CLP website.
- Have an opportunity to promote their group via the website including creating a promotional video clip via a professional film company.
What will be expected of your group?
- Five people from your group need to have the time available to give to this Programme. It will involve ten half day or evening action learning sessions at times and locations set by your group in agreement with your facilitator
- Attendance at three roundtable events in the course of a year. The first roundtable workshops will be 3, 10 and 17 February. Your group will only need to attend one of these workshops.
- It is important that your group has the motivation to learn and develop and is willing to apply the learning from the Programme.
- As part of the Programme your group will prepare a next steps sustainability plan and complete an action learning project.
- To actively network with other participating groups including using online networking via the CLP website.
Application process:
- Complete an expression of interest form (before 1 October 2010) and send it to CLP at NICVA.
- A member of NICVA staff will contact you to discuss your expression of interest.
- A member of NICVA staff will visit you to discuss your needs and the Programme in more detail.
- Complete an application form – closing date 12 November 2010
- Successful applicants are selected.
- Groups are informed of the outcome.
Applications are welcomed from locally based community groups in Northern Ireland and the six southern border counties that have potential to gain from the Programme and have a commitment to development.