The Neurofibromatosis (NF) Association of Ireland are delighted to tell their supporters about two events taking place this month. Being held in both Dublin and Cork, the meet-ups will take place on August 14 in Cork, and August 15 in Dublin.
As the national charity for those affected by NF, they are hoping to once again provide a safe space for a meet-up and chat in an informal setting. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic such meet-ups have of course not been permissible nor safe, so with restrictions currently lifted, the time for such events is now.
The Cork event, being held on August 14, will take place at Fitzgerald’s Park at 2pm. If you are interested in this event then contact Emma Ní Craith on 087 772 7665. The Dublin event, taking place the following day on August 15, will be held in the Phoenix Park at 2pm. If interested, contact Louise O’Keefe on 089 615 0934.
NF provide friendly peer support groups for families affected by the genetic condition neurofibromatosis. Neurofibromatosis is mainly divided into type 1 and type 2. Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a genetic condition that causes tumours to grow along your nerves. The tumours are usually non-cancerous (benign) but may cause a range of symptoms. Neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) is much less common than NF1.
Neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) meanwhile is a hereditary condition most commonly associated with bilateral vestibular schwannomas, also known as acoustic neuromas. People with NF2 are at an increased risk of developing cataracts in the eyes and benign skin tumors. They may have café-au-lait spots, which are light brown pigmentation, the colour of “coffee with milk”.
To fully illustrate the variety of this rare condition, we must also note NF Microdeletiom syndrome, which is a rare severe form of neurofibromatosis. Approximately 5% of NF 1 patients present with his specific strand of NF. A patient with this presentation will be missing genes connected to the NF gene and also genes around it, resulting in many learning difficulties and medical conditions.
NF Ireland relies on the dedicated support of the many individuals and companies who give their money and time on behalf of the charity. They appreciate every bit of help we can get which helps us continue their work. If you feel in the position to donate to them directly you can find all the necessary details here.
If you are interested in attending either of these events then contact the relevant parties seen in the text above. If you want to find out more about the condition, or the NF Association of Ireland, then go to their website here.
In this podcast, Carmichael’s Training Manager Derek O’Reilly interviews Diarmaid Ó Corrbuí, CEO about the findings and the wider sector implications of the Charity Inspector’s Report into Child Fund Ireland.
Organisations of all sizes enter the Good Governance Awards. All genres of organisations try their hand. Some organisations serve the elderly, some serve the young. Whether they win or not, the benefits for all are clear. We have seen this throughout our recent blogs.
Today, we hear from Sinead Keane, the Communications and Advocacy Manager of BeLonG To Youth Services. Sinead explains who BeLonG To Youth Services are, and what they do. Furthermore, Sinead goes on to talk about why the recognition ethical fundraising through the Good Governance Awards was so important.
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“We are the national organisation for LGBTI+ young people in Ireland. Since 2003, we have worked with LGBTI+ young people to create a world where they are equal, safe, and valued in the diversity of their identities and experiences. We offer advice, information, and crisis counselling for LGBTI+ youth, also supporting free, non-judgemental LGBTI+ youth groups across Ireland.
Through our advocacy and campaigning, we ensure policy formation and practice is informed by the voice and experiences of LGBTI+ young people. Through training, we ensure LGBTI+ young people are met by professionals, organisations, and services who are educated to meet and support their needs.
We are honoured to have been shortlisted for the Good Governance Award for our Annual Report and Financial Records for the past three years. We were thrilled when our 2019 Annual Report won the award last year. It meant so much to us as an organisation to have our commitment to good governance, transparency, and ethical fundraising recognised in this way.
Thanks to the detailed feedback from the judges, we have been able to continuously improve our report and financial records. Winning this award helps build trust with our donors and funders and we are grateful to them for continuing to support the lives of LGBTI+ young people.”
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To find out more from BeLonG To Youth Services you can check out their site here. Elsewhere, they’re on social media too, see there Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, and Instagram.
For more information on the Good Governance Awards the best source is the dedicated website for the awards which can be seen here.
Last week was a bumper week for the promotion of the Good Governance Awards with both video and written testimonials from past winners and today we are back with words from Aidan Horgan, Chair of SharingPoint.
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“SharingPoint was founded in 2002 to provide one-to-one and group counselling to adults suffering from the effects of addiction or indirectly affected by the addiction of a significant other person in their lives. As a registered charity, SharingPoint is an independent, not-for-profit organization which depends upon donations and client contributions to fund its services.
We are led by a full-time CEO, Padraig Langan, who has extensive addiction recovery experience and we have a voluntary Board of Directors with a broad range of experience.
We first entered the awards two years ago with a submission involving our annual report, which to be honest, and in hindsight, we hadn’t given a huge amount of attention to at that time. Not surprisingly, we didn’t score very highly.”
But crucially, we got invaluable feedback which allowed us to enhance our annual report to improve transparency, to share our governance & culture, and to showcase everything that SharingPoint has achieved. We progressed to be nominated again last year, received further invaluable feedback, and now, just one year on, we are delighted to be accepting this award!”
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To find out more from SharingPoint you can check out their site here. For more information on the Good Governance Awards the best source is the dedicated website for the awards which can be seen here.
Winning in the Good Governance Awards Helped Highlight Digital Innovation for the Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation Throughout the Covid-19 Pandemic
As we continue the promotion of the Good Governance Awards, Carmichael will post more testimonials from past winners. We want to illustrate the benefits to not only winning, but being involved in the overall process itself.
Here, we have more answers, this time in short blog form. Today we will hear from Maeve Biggs. Maeve is the Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation.
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“The Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation funds and delivers specialist home nursing care to 374 children across Ireland. We see children with complex medical and life-threatening conditions, up to the age of six, whose neurodevelopmental issues may include brain injury, genetic diagnosis and severe cerebral palsy.
We fund up to 80 home nursing hours per month through a ‘gift of time’ that allows carers a full night’s sleep, time to go shopping, a break to meet a friend or to take the other children out. Our entry was an opportunity to demonstrate our Covid Response Plan and to acknowledge everyone’s hard work.
We were delighted to win the Carmichael Good Governance Award which highlighted our innovation toward the digital sphere. We measure our success not by solely our finances, but how our services remained steadfast through such digital innovation. bonus is our new capability in consumer engagement models and fresh e-commerce revenue models for 2021.”
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To find out more from The Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation you can check out their site here. Elsewhere, they’re on social media too, see there Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, LinkedIn and Instagram.
For more information on the Good Governance Awards the best source is the dedicated website for the awards which can be seen here.
As part of the promotion of the Governance Awards we asked many past entrants and winners some simple questions: who you are, why you’re interested in entering the awards, what benefits have you seen from entering previously.
We have many videos with the answers to these from organisations. Here, we have more answers, this time in short blog form. Today we will hear from Brian Ogilvie. Brian is the President of Canoeing Ireland.
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“Canoeing Ireland is the National Governing Body for paddle sports in Ireland. The organization was formed in 1960 and supports a thriving membership base through the development, promotion and governance of canoeing over a range of disciplines from novice paddler to Olympic athlete. This is achieved through a network of clubs and partners which enables participation while providing pathways to performance.
Canoeing Ireland over the past number of years, has undergone a significant adjustment to stabilise and develop a robust road map for the future. Winning the Carmichael Good Governance Award has been extremely important to us as an organisation; as it recognises this pathway of change. Furthermore, it has acknowledged the work of our Board, staff and members who took on the collective responsibility for driving positive change, through a series of measures designed to increase accountability and transparency.
We would like to thank everyone for their involvement and commitment to making this happen.
Brian Ogilvie, President, Canoeing Ireland”
To find out more from Canoeing Ireland you can check out their site here. Elsewhere, they’re on social media too, see there Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and Instagram.
For more information on the Good Governance Awards the best source is the dedicated website for the awards which can be seen here.
The Good Governance Awards 2021 were launched on June 1, with applications being accepted from then until September 14. Anticipation is high for the awards, with the 2021 iteration set to be the sixth Good Governance Awards. But why should an organisation enter the awards?
1: We are open for non-profits of all sizes.
There are 7 entry categories ranging from the very small (annual turnover of less than €50,000) to the very large (turnover of over €50m.)
2: Get your entries reviewed by a first-class assessment and judging panel.
We have a panel of 60 plus assessors and judges and 8 accountancy firms who bring great expertise and experience who will review your entry and will provide valuable feedback and insight to assist you in enhancing your organisation’s governance
3: Enhance your organisation’s reputation with your stakeholders
Entering the GGA demonstrates your commitment to adhering to good governance practice and transparency. It also shows your willingness to be assessed and receive feedback on how you can enhance your governance.
4: Boost your team’s morale and gain valuable PR opportunities
Being shortlisted for a GGA award recognises the hard work that goes on in your organisation to adhere to good governance practice. Winning an award boosts credibility and increases awareness of your organisation which can help convince even more people that you are a cause worth supporting.
Speaking to the press ahead of the launch, Carmichael CEO Diarmiad Corrbui spoke about the importance of governance for nonprofit and voluntary organisations.
Mr. Ó Corrbuí said, ““The Good Governance Awards raise the quality of corporate governance in our sector by encouraging higher standards of good practice. Expert feedback is provided to all entrants on how to improve the quality of their annual reports. This helps to ensure our sector is meeting best practice and constantly reforming.
“This year we are especially encouraging applications from the diverse range of organisations working in the non-profit sector. We welcome applications from all areas – from arts and sports to homeless services and youth organisations. Due to the growing profile of the Good Governance Awards, we expect to see our highest number of applications yet this year.”
For more details and to submit your entries see www.goodgovernanceawards.ie
Strong governance in the non-profit sector is more important than ever for maintaining public trust and is essential for the sustainability of the non-profit sector. That’s according to Carmichael, who launched the opening of applications for their Good Governance Awards 2021 today.
Now in its sixth year, the Good Governance Awards recognise and encourage adherence to responsible governance by non-profit organisations in Ireland. In 2020, Carmichael received its highest number of applications for the Awards, with 100 non-profit organisations applying.
Commenting today, Diarmaid Ó Corrbuí, CEO of Carmichael, said: “We are delighted to open applications for the Good Governance Awards 2021. Each year the Awards showcase the excellent work carried out by non-profit organisations to implement effective and transparent corporate governance policies.
“Strong governance is essential in maintaining public trust and support for the vital work non-profit organisations do. Public trust in the sector in recent years has been damaged by a number of high-profile cases of bad governance. These cases are unacceptable and not the norm in our sector.
“Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, our sector has been at the forefront in supporting some of the most vulnerable and marginalised communities in our society. Non-profit organisations have provided essential services such as food parcels, supports for the elderly and online learning for children. Strong governance is now more important than ever in ensuring non-profit organisations are operating effectively.”
As part of the judging process for the awards, annual reports of applicants are assessed by panels of governance and accountancy experts, under the following criteria: transparency, governance, performance and impact and financial information. Last year’s awardees were: Concern, Laura Lynn, BeLong To, Children’s Rights Alliance, Sharing Point and Serve the City.
Mr. Ó Corrbuí added, ““The Good Governance Awards raise the quality of corporate governance in our sector by encouraging higher standards of good practice. Expert feedback is provided to all entrants on how to improve the quality of their annual reports. This helps to ensure our sector is meeting best practice and constantly reforming.
“This year we are especially encouraging applications from the diverse range of organisations working in the non-profit sector. We welcome applications from all areas – from arts and sports to homeless services and youth organisations. Due to the growing profile of the Good Governance Awards, we expect to see our highest number of applications yet this year.”
How to Enter
To enter, the non-profit organisation must be registered in Ireland and have a social purpose. There are seven categories for the awards based on the annual turnover of the organisation:
- Category 1: For volunteer only and organisations with an annual turnover of less than €50,000
- Category 2: For organisations with an annual turnover of between €50,000 and €250,000.
- Category 3: For organisations with an annual turnover of between €250,000 and €1 million.
- Category 4: For organisations with an annual turnover of between €1 million and €5 million.
- Category 5: For organisations with an annual turnover of between €5 million and €15 million
- Category 6: For organisations with an annual turnover of between €15 million and €50 million
- Category 7: For organisations with an annual turnover of over €50 million.
Details on the entry criteria and categories; the judging panel; guidance on how to enter; and other resources such as annual report templates are available at: www.goodgovernanceawards.ie .
About Carmichael
Carmichael is a leading specialist training and support body for non-profits in Ireland. With over 30 years’ experience, based on a foundation of 45 resident organisations, they provide expert guidance to non-profits to support them to become more effective and impactful at what they do.
Parentline has partnered up with Salesforce for a very special fundraising event. Salesforce is a global leader in customer relationship management (CRM) and employs 2,100 people. The company has a strong ethos of giving back to the community and volunteering for non profits.
Salesforce is encouraging all of its employees, customers and partners wherever they live, to take a dip in the sea on Friday June 11th in a bid to raise funds for Parentline. Parentline is a national, confidential helpline that offers support, information and guidance in confidence and without judgment to parents of children of all ages and in relation to any parenting issues.
The funds raised in support of this special and exciting event will particularly be targeted at increasing the awareness nationwide of the Post-Natal Depression supports offered by Parentline to new mothers. This is particularly in light of figures that show that four out of five women get some form of baby blues and between 10% and 15% go on the develop PND. This is a vast number of new mothers considering there are approximately 62,000 births in Ireland each year.
Along with encouraging employees and the entire Salesforce community to take a dip In the sea on June 11th and to donate to Parentline, Salesforce, the company, has committed to match any and all funds raised by its employees and their friends and families.
But the event is not limited to Salesforce and its employees and can be participated in by the wider community. So I would encourage everyone to come out on the day and bring a gang or even a few to your local beach, lake or river and dip a toe or a hand or even your full body into the water. Just remember to do so safely!
Carmichael are hoping as many people and organisations as possible will pass on the news of this great fundraising event to anyone who might be interested. Any donations can be made through the iDonate button on the Parentline website.
Parentline are a resident Carmichael organisation. You can keep up to date with all their great work here.
We all look forward to seeing some of you braving the water on the day and all for a great cause!
Covid-19 has forever changed the way we work. As we enter the post-Covid world, organisations need to seriously consider their working model for the future – and in this instance, their office space situation.
Anyone who has worked from home this year can tell you that remote-working comes with its share of disadvantages. According to a survey carried out by Digital Business Ireland, social isolation was most commonly named as the greatest challenge faced due to work-from-home arrangements. 36% of respondents said their mental health or mood had worsened since they moved to working remotely. 21% of respondents named unsatisfactory workstations as the greatest challenge they are facing while working from home.
More than two thirds of respondents wanted to have a hybrid model of working after Covid-19 restrictions are lifted, with the option to work from home for some of the week and work in the office for the rest of the week. According to a report by Sigmar and AON just 34% of workers want to return to the office on a full-time basis once Covid restrictions are permanently lifted.
This leaves organisations in a difficult position when it comes to office space as it is often not financially viable to pay for rent, cleaning and supplies if staff only intend to be at their desks for part of the week.
One model which is becoming increasingly popular is co-working. Co-working spaces allow organisations with similar goals or values to come together and share space, resources and expertise. Co-working spaces can be much more flexible than a “normal” office as organisations can rent as many desks as they would like in a fully-serviced shared office with the expectation that only some of their team will be present each day.
For organisations with one person who requires an office for only some of the week, the opportunity to desk-share with another organisation is an effective cost-saving measure while also mitigating the social isolation of a one-person team. When it is necessary for the larger team to meet, co-working spaces provide meeting rooms and even rooms equipped for hybrid meetings, with some people physically present and others attending online.
Co-working spaces are often themed to maximise the benefit of sharing experiences and resources. Carmichael’s co-working spaces are exclusively available to non-profit organisations. While some larger organisations choose to rent a private office within the building while still taking advantage of the shared kitchen and IT facilities, others share an office with one other organisation, or choose a room with several very small non-profits which each have only 1 or 2 people.
Our resident non-profits range from very small, volunteer-only organisations, to high profile national charities and each non-profit benefits from sharing experiences with other organisations, accessing supports provided by Carmichael and sharing facilities. For the full range of accommodation options provided by Carmichael, see here.