Carmichael have released three more podcasts in its Governance Podcast Series.
Episode 5 features Louise Thomson Head of Policy (Not-for-Profits) at ICSA The Chartered Governance Institute where she talks about the importance of boardroom behaviours and ethics.
Episode 6 covers the speeches at the 2019 Good Governance Awards and contains some very helpful insights from the judges on what made this year’s winners stand out.
Episode 7 is Louise Thomson’s key note speech at the 2019 Good Governance Awards where she covers key developments in not-for-profit governance in England and Wales.
These 3 new episodes and all our previous Carmichael podcasts are available from most podcast platforms – Soundcloud, Apple, Spotify.
Prader-Willi Syndrome Association of Ireland (PWSAI) will host the International PWS Conference in Limerick in 2022.
The successful bid was made by PWSAI at the recent Global IPWSO conference in Cuba, which was attended by over 450 delegates from 45 countries.
IPWSO’s international conference is held every three years, and each time in a different country.
PWSAI was one of four countries bidding to hold the 11th conference in 2022.
The Association received strong support from family members, clinicians, an Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar and Minister for Health, Simon Harris and was successful in winning the bid. The event will be hosted in the University of Limerick in 2022. “We have a strong community of people with PWS as well as their families and professionals,” explained PWSAI Development Officer and member of the bid team Gary Brennan. “The hosting of this conference will enable further shared expertise, knowledge and an increased awareness of PWS on a national and global level”.
About Prader-Willi Syndrome Association of Ireland (PWSAI)
PWSAI was started by parents in the late 1980s as a support group for people with Prader-Willi Syndrome and their families in Ireland. They are a resident member group with Carmichael.
Objectives of PWSAI are:
- To provide support for persons with PWS, their families, and their carers by providing a range of services such as: promoting awareness of the syndrome; providing information services including seminars and conferences; and by promoting best practice standards of care for persons with PWS;
- To facilitate the development of each person with PWS to the full extent of their abilities in an educational, social, work, and leisure context;
- To facilitate awareness and understanding of PWS among the general public, among health professionals, teachers, etc.;
- To facilitate earlier diagnosis of the syndrome;
- To encourage and support research into PWS.
The Winners of the 2019 Good Governance Awards were announced on 14th November at a special event in the National Concert Hall, kindly hosted by Davy.
Winner of Best Governance Improvement Initiative Awards Category 1 = Sligo Volunteer Centre
Winner of Best Governance Improvement Initiative Awards Category 2 = Solas Cancer Support Centre
Winner of Best Governance Improvement Initiative Awards Category 3 = The Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation
Winner of Best Governance Improvement Initiative Awards Category 4 = LauraLynn Children’s Hospice
Winner of Best Governance Improvement Initiative Awards Category 5 = Trócaire
Winner of Annual Report Awards Category 1 = Helium Arts
Winner of Annual Report Awards Category 2 = Children’s Rights Alliance
Winner of Annual Report Awards Category 3 = The Care Trust
Winner of Annual Report Awards Category 4 = Jigsaw, The National Centre for Youth Mental Health
Winner of Annual Report Awards Category 5 = Trócaire
Further information can be viewed on https://goodgovernanceawards.ie/winners-2019/.
Davy Constitutional Consulting.
Good Governance Awards 2019.
Iain White – Fennell Photography.
Davy Constitutional Consulting.
Good Governance Awards 2019.
Iain White – Fennell Photography.
Davy Constitutional Consulting.
Good Governance Awards 2019.
Iain White – Fennell Photography.
FirstLight – a long established, national charity providing professional crisis intervention and counselling services to parents and families suddenly bereaved is seeking to recruit a Clinical Services Director and Clinical Services Manager.
The Clinical Services Director will be based in FirstLight’s Offices (Carmichael Centre, 4 North Brunswick Street, Dublin 2), will be a member of the senior leadership team and will contribute both strategically and operationally to the overall success of the organisation by leading effectively on client clinical services.
The Clinical Services Manager will be located in a region outside Dublin and will support the Clinical Services Director and deputise for him/her when appropriate. The regional location will be influenced by the location of the preferred candidate.Both positions are 2-year contract positions: the Clinical Services Director position is for 32 hours (4 days) per week; the Clinical Services Manager position is for 24 hours (3 days) per week.
A strong understanding of and empathy with FirstLight’s mission and objectives is essential as is a values driven approach to work based on integrity and service.
For the full job description and application form, visit https://firstlight.ie/clinical-services-director-and-manager-positions/.
We really enjoyed talking to Jillian Van Turnhout in our 4th episode of Carmichael podcast on the topic of “when things go wrong in charities”. This episode follows on from previous topics which looked at the Annual Report, the Charities Governance Code and Risk Management. Here’s link to this episode. https://soundcloud.com/user-982606224/when-things-go-wrong.
Episode 3 which covers Risk Management with Andrew Madden is available at https://soundcloud.com/user-982606224/risk-and-risk-management.
Congratulations to FirstLight who were recently awarded a grant under the Dublin City Council Social Enterprise Awards to develop a new income generating service.
First Light join Aspire Productions, another Carmichael Resident Member, as winners of a social enterprise grant under this scheme.
Below is a link to a short YouTube video where Fionnuala, FirstLight’s CEO, talks about FirstLight and its new service.
FirstLight: Dublin City Social Enterprise Awards 2019
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWpJR5H61UU
Well done and wishing FirstLight every success in developing their new service that will generate much needed income to reinvest in their core services to bereaved families.
Carmichael have developed this sample document to help charities that are implementing the Charities Governance Code to complete the Compliance Record Form. The document is for guidance only and organisations should complete their own Charities Governance Code Compliance Record. https://www.carmichaelireland.ie/resources/carmichael-sample-compliance-form/
National Parents Week 2019
23rd – 29th September
Being a parent is great but it’s not always easy; it’s ok to ask for help
National Parents Week 2019 is from Monday 23rd to Sunday 29th September. During National Parents Week we want to make parents aware that Parentline is there for them when they need support, information and guidance.
The theme for National Parents Week is: It’s OK to ask for help! We want to encourage parents to look for support whenever they need it.
Parents can google and will often find information but there is nothing like talking to a person who is there to give all the time and space needed to hear your story and explore your situation.
Parentline is a helpline for parents. Somewhere to pick up the phone and talk to a trained facilitator who will offer a sympathetic ear; in confidence and who won’t judge (either parent or child). No matter how big or small the problem Parentline will give support, information and guidance.
The helpline is open Monday to Thursday from 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. and Friday from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. It is free and no appointment is necessary – just call 1890 927277 or 01 8733500.
Whatever the issue – It’s OK to ask for help.
To date 84 CEOs and managers of nonprofit organisations have benefited from the Carmichael Mentoring Programme. We are now launching the next round of the mentoring scheme.
Being the leader of an organisation can be tough anywhere but it is especially true in the nonprofit sector. The value of a mentor is having someone who can ask questions that clarify the situation and can help relieve the anxiety that builds when there is nowhere to articulate the doubts and concerns that the CEO may feel.
The purpose of the Carmichael Mentor scheme is to help meet with this need by using our panel of very experienced mentors who bring a range of skills, insights and backgrounds in a range of sector such as large corporate, SME, public sector and the nonprofit sector. Our mentors are volunteers and will provide confidential one-to-one advice and guidance.
This mentoring round is limited to 8 places and the service for successful applicants is free. If you wish to apply, please complete the short application form and submit to Diarmaid@carmichaelireland.ie.
Carmichael would also love to hear from people who may be interested in becoming a mentor for this programme.
For more information on the programme, please contact Diarmaid@carmichaelireland.ie.
The closing date for applications is 5pm, Friday, 20th September.
The programme is only available to those working in the nonprofit sector.
The Good Governance Awards (GGA) is an initiative that recognises and encourages adherence to good governance practice by nonprofit organisations in Ireland.
The Awards were developed in 2016 by Carmichael and are supported by Boardmatch, Charities Institute Ireland, Dóchas, Enclude, Volunteer Ireland, The Wheel, together with our corporate partners; 2into3, Chartered Accountants Ireland, Davy, Dept. of Rural & Community Development, Mason Hayes & Curran, Mazars Ireland and The Governance Company.
Annual Reports
The Good Governance Award seek to acknowledge, encourage and promote good governance practice primarily in the area of annual reports.
Best Governance Improvement Initiative
This award will recognise initiatives that have been taken in the last 12-18 months to improve the quality of the nonprofit’s governance. Nonprofits can submit their good governance initiatives, setting out (briefly – max 750 words) the governance issue(s) they addressed, the actions they took and the impact that this has had for the organisation.
Why You Should Enter the 2019 Good Governance Awards
- We are open for non-profits of all sizes: There are 5 entry categories ranging from small (annual turnover of less than €250,000) to the very large (turnover of over €15million).
- Get your entries reviewed by a first class assessment and judging panel: We have a panel of 40 plus assessors and judges and 5 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Entry Criteria
- To enter, the organisation must be an Irish nonprofit organisation (i.e. it has a registered office in the Republic of Ireland).
- There are 2 award types and 5 entry categories based on the income size of the organisation from those with an annual income of under €250k to those with an annual income of over €15m. Organisations may enter for either award type or for both.
- A nonprofit organisation must upload their entry to the GGA website by the closing date (13th September 2019).
- Shortlisted listed organisations may be asked to supply additional information to assist the judges in their adjudications.
- See www.goodgovernanceawards.ie for more information.