The An Saol Foundation are promoting several events for the next couple weeks, starting with the 2nd annual Iron Month challenge, followed by their International Summer School and Forum on Life and Living with a severe Acquired Brain Injury.
IronMonth 2022
An Saol are another Carmichael resident member with a bumper few weeks ahead. Iron Month, now in its second year, is an inclusive fitness-orientated event which sees participants in the month-long challenge completing a full Iron Man style triathlon (3.8km swim, 180km cycle, 42km run) at your own pace over the month of May.
This year, in addition to inviting participants of all abilities to complete a full Ironman triathlon over the month of May, An Saol have officially teamed up with Triathlon Ireland to kick-start the challenge with a TRYathlon event on May 1st at the prestigious Sports Ireland Campus in Dublin.
Reinhard Schäler, CEO of the An Saol Foundation, explains this unique aspect of the challenge and sheds more light on the cause underpinning the event: “The IronMonth serves to remind us that everyone has different abilities and capabilities in life. Some people may be able to complete the whole challenge in one day, others may take days or weeks. All efforts are equally valid and inspiring, with all of us working towards a common and profound goal together”.
Participants are invited to sign up now on Eventbrite now for the challenge and to document their progress over the month of May on social media using #IronMonth22. Supporters can get involved by tracking our athletes progress and donating much needed funds for the An Saol Foundation on GoFundMe.
1st International Summer School and Forum on Life and Living with a severe Acquired Brain Injury (sABI)
An Saol have organised the first International Summer School and Forum on Life and Living with a severe Acquired Brain Injury, taking place next week, May 9 – 14, with online and in-person events taking place every day.
The aims of the 2022 International Summer School & Forum to raise awareness among several key demographics, including medical professionals, but also those directly and indirectly affected by Sabi, but crucially wider society itself too.
An Saol explain that ‘The 1st International Summer School and Forum on Life and Living with a severe Acquired Brain Injury (sABI) – Leave No One Behind, will address the question why this big gap in service provision exists and how it can be closed, hearing from national and international world-leading experts, families and practitioners’.
There will be numerous sessions and a wide array of speakers so do check out this page first. Please register here for the sessions you wish to attend.
About Severe Acquired Brain Injury (sABI)
A brain injury that involves a long period of unconsciousness (coma) and a prolonged disorder of conscience (PDOC). Persons with an sABI are very highly dependent, are often non- or minimally-verbal, and require, in most cases, life-long support with basic activities of daily living (ADL) as well as life-long rehabilitation.
About the An Saol Foundation
The An Saol Foundation was established in 2014 by the family of Pádraig Schaler to provide adequate and ongoing support to people with a severe Acquired Brain Injury (sABI). It now also offers neurological rehabilitation in the community. It is a registered charity and a Company Limited by Guarantee.
An Saol are a Carmichael resident member. Check out their website here.They’re on social media too, see their Facebook and their Twitter.
ADHD Ireland are set for a busy start to summer with two events on the way in the coming weeks. The Carmichael resident member will co-host a conference on May 19 and 20, and then will host a webinar on June 2.
ADHD Ireland are working with University College Dublin (UCD) and The National University of Ireland (NUIM) for a virtual conference on May 19 and 20 titled ‘Neurodiversity and the Legal System: Towards Equality for all’. They explain further, saying it will be ‘a cross jurisdiction exchange of policy, practice and learnings’.
They say that the objective of this conference is to ‘facilitate an exchange of cutting edge academic discourse, policy and practice initiatives with lived experience at the core.’ The conference will be be varied, including all areas of the criminal justice system across international jurisdictions: police, practice in court and the judiciary, probation, prison, parole and forensic mental health services.
On both days the event will begin at 9am and finish at 7pm. For a full list of speakers and biographical notes, visit this page. You can register to attend here. This is only part one of their busy month however, days later on June 2 they are hosting a webinar on executive function with Dr Dorothy Armstrong OT.
As the webinar about Executive Function, it is something that crosses over the Neurodiversity Umbrella, and would be relevant for those also with Dyslexia, Dyspraxia and Autism. Dr Dorothy Armstrong OT is an Occupational Therapist who works with children, teenagers and young adults. She received her PhD in 2017, and also holds an Honour’s Degree and Master’s in Occupational Therapy.
Executive function is all about the ability to start tasks, organise yourself – time, place and belongings, set goals & follow them through. She will explore the topic and give strategies and tools to support parents and individuals in order to deal with these challenges. Register to attend this free event here.
Women for Election are one of Carmichael’s newest resident member groups and today we are delighted to promote their upcoming event ‘Introduction to Irish Politics’, with Pat Montague.
If you’re a woman looking to learn more about politics or how to get involved, then join Women for Election in person in Carmichael house on Tuesday the 26th of April for an exciting Masterclass from Pat Montague about Irish political structures and systems.
Have you ever wondered what the difference between the Dáil and the Seanad is? Or how your local council is run? Or perhaps, you would like to better understand Irish politics?
Introduction to Irish Politics is a training session designed to provide attendees with a foundational understanding of how the Irish political system works.
This session will cover the functions of the local government and the role of a Councillor as well as the Dáil and the Seanad, including the development of parliamentary committees.
The trainer will walk you through the stages of how legislation is passed and the role each house of the Oireachtas plays in these stages.
This training session will demystify and breakdown the Irish political system and structures, so that you can be informed if you make the decision to run for political life/when you take your seat in the Oireachtas.
Refreshments will be provided on the night. Spaces are limited to make sure to book your now! To find out more about Women for Election check out their website here. They’re on social media too; see their Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
REGISTER FOR YOUR FREE TICKET HERE.
The Hope Foundation are currently looking to garner awareness for their upcoming Footsteps for Hope campaign.
The Carmichael resident member is a registered charity working with street and slum children in Kolkata (formerly Calcutta), India. Their Footstep for Hope campaign is a fundraiser running fro, April 12 – May 24.
The premise is a walk/jog/run in order to raise vital funds for The Hope Foundation and their work on the streets of Kolkotta. Each step taken, and every €1 raised, will help support the continued education of a child in HOPE’s care.
By pledging to raise €115, you will provide education materials for a child for one year. Every 10,000 steps taken will represent the 10,000 miles return journey from Ireland to Kolkata. Invite friends, family, and colleagues to join you in Footsteps for HOPE, and invite them to donate to support you here.
Pledge to raise a minimum of €115 –which will provide education materials, for one year, for a child in HOPE’s care. Tag and share your social media posts #FootstepsForHOPE #StepUpForHOPE #TeamHOPE #GOHOPE
The Hope Foundation champion a clear message: every child deserves an education and the pandemic has cruelly interrupted education for children. They say it is now more important than ever for HOPE to have funds to provide the children in our care with access to a continuous and vital education.
HOPE believes education is fundamental to building an independent successful life and a chance to escape poverty. Education gives children an opportunity to find their strengths, to reach their full potential and empowers them to pursue careers and to provide for themselves, as well as for their future families.
HOPE believes that education is critical, not only for the development of the individual child, but for the development of society as a whole, and by giving more children access to education, the benefits will inevitably filter through into the wider community.
The Hope Foundation are a resident Carmichael organisation. You can find out news from this and all their events and charitable work here. Their on social media too, find them by clicking the following links; Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.
Carmichael wish to recruit a CE Assistant Supervisor. As part of our Community Employment Scheme work, the Community Employment Assistant Supervisor will work with the CE Scheme Supervisor with the administration of the Community Employment Project according to the Community Employment Operating Guidelines. The role is based in Coleraine House, 49 – 50, Coleraine Street, Dublin 1.
This is a full-time role. Salary scale from €429.50 – €542.84 per week (4 point scale). Entrants must commence at point 1 of the current scale. See below for the full job spec.
CARMICHAEL CE SCHEME JOB VACANCY
| Job Title: | CE Scheme Assistant Supervisor |
| Company: | Carmichael Centre for Voluntary Groups |
| Department: | CE Scheme |
| Location: | Carmichael House, North Brunswick Street, Dublin 7 |
| Hours: | 39hrs weekly, Monday – Friday |
| Rate of Pay: | Salary scale from €429.50 – €542.84 per week (4 point scale)
Entrants must commence at point 1 of the current scale
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| Type of contract: | Fixed Term 12 Month Contract |
| Reports to: | CE Scheme Supervisor |
| Job Purpose: | To provide administrative assistance to the CE Supervisor in overseeing all aspects of the CE scheme within CCVG.
This position is subject to Garda Vetting |
| Key Responsibilities: | Role Specific
To assist the CE Scheme Supervisor with the administration of the Community Employment Project according to the Community Employment Operating Guidelines.
To assist the CE Supervisor in sourcing and costing effective training/development To ensure that all HR files both physical and soft copy (Sharepoint) are up to date for each individual participant. To update the Individual Learner Plan for each participant employed on the project. To ensure that all participant ILP files are reflected in hard copy on all participant’s HR files. All forms are to be completed correctly, signed and filed appropriately. To assist the CE Supervisor with the scheduling of one on one meetings with participants. Provide effective Supervisory cover in the absence of the CE Supervisor as directed by the Sponsor Point of contact for CE Participants when CE Supervisor is unavailable. To assist the CE Supervisor with any other duties which may be required from time to time.
Must have: Attained a Major Level 3 Qualification (NFQ Level 6) 1 year Supervisory experience Fluency in English.
Other Good IT skills. Excellent communication skills, written and oral. Excellent interpersonal skills. Experienced team player. |
| Funding | This position is supported by the Department of Employment and Social Affairs
Carmichael is committed to equal opportunity in employment. |
How to apply:
Please email a CV of no more than 2 pages along with a cover letter to: roisin@carmichaelireland.ie
Closing date for applications
Resident Carmichael member the Association for Criminal Justice Research and Development are recruiting a Manager.
ROLE DESCRIPTION
| Job Title | Manager of the Association for Criminal Justice Research & Development (ACJRD)
The Manager is responsible for the management and direction of ACJRD within the context of the business plan. The Manager is accountable for delivering the business plan and for the day to day running and management of the organisation’s business under delegated authority from the Council. The Manager reports to the Chairperson/CEO and Council of ACJRD. The staffing of the office comprises one manager and an administrative assistant.
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| Location | ACJRD operates a hybrid working model. The post holder will be based at the Carmichael Centre, Coleraine House, Coleraine Street, Dublin 7 D07 E8XF and will be required to spend at least 2 days per week in the office.
The post holder may be required to periodically visit locations within Ireland in relation to fulfilling the requirements of the post, for which appropriate travel and subsistence allowances will be paid. |
| About ACJRD
|
The Association for Criminal Justice Research and Development (ACJRD) seeks to promote reform, development and effective operation of the criminal justice system.
It does so mainly by providing a forum where experienced personnel can discuss ways of working in an informal setting, by promoting study and research in the field of criminal justice and by promoting the highest standards of practice by professionals associated with criminal justice. Its activities are designed to lead to increased mutual understanding and provide insights into the problems with which all are confronted. In opening unofficial channels of communication, it improves co-operation between the various parts of the criminal justice system. The ACJRD is a registered charity and company limited by guarantee. Primary funding is provided by the Department of Justice, Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Irish Prison Service and Irish Probation Service. For additional information please see website www.acjrd.ie. |
| Key Role Responsibilities: | 1. Drive, manage and implement the yearly business plan within budget.
2. Manage day- to-day operations of ACJRD in an efficient and effective manner. 3. Ensure that budget is submitted in a timely manner to the funding organisations and to respond to any queries from funders. 4. Develop and implement an effective membership strategy. 5. Report regularly to the Council on the management, budget, status of agreed actions and governance. 6. Develop and design a quarterly newsletter/ejournal that will stimulate the professional growth and membership of the ACJRD. 7. Support the work of ACJRD council and subcommittees 8. Organise and oversee events on behalf of ACJRD including launches, conferences and prepare conference reports etc. 9. Develop, update and maintain the ACJRD website and other approved social media forums, so that it increases the visibility of ACJRD within the criminal justice system.
The above description is not intended to be comprehensive list of all the duties involved and consequently, the post holder may be required to perform other duties as appropriate to the post which may be assigned to him/her from time to time and to contribute to the development of the post while in office.
|
| Essential Role Requirements: |
Candidates must have:
1. A good general education standard. 2. Recent experience of working in the charity sector. 3. A minimum of three years satisfactory experience in a managerial /organisational role. 4. Experience of leading and directing staff with a focus on performance and results. 5. Experience in managing budgeting and accounts. 6. Good understanding of the criminal justice system and public policy development and how it can be influenced. 7. A good knowledge of information management systems and good organisational skills. 8. Well-developed information technology skills and a sound knowledge of computer software applications e.g., spreadsheets, word processing, database and website applications and online conferencing. 9. A demonstrated understanding and experience of managing budgets and financial reporting in addition to a working knowledge of policy development and strategic planning (or the ability to quickly acquire the later). 10. Knowledge and/or experience of the policy work or the ability to quickly acquire that knowledge.
|
| Personal Attributes |
· Dynamic person with personal initiative and leadership skills. · Able to work independently on their own initiative and as a member of a team. · Effective communication, interpersonal and administration skills, with the ability to interact at all levels across various departments and agencies either in the public or voluntary sectors. · Good strategic thinker with capacity to see the big picture. · Consistent, thorough and tenacious. · Strong team player who can work with a variety of stakeholder groups · Good understanding of the criminal justice system and public policy development and how it can be influenced. · Excellent writing and reporting skills.
|
| Principal Conditions of Service | Tenure: 12 months *
Salary: €34,320 per annum
Working hours: 30 hours per week
Annual Leave: A ‘pro- rata’ annual leave policy applies which is aligned with the number of days worked per week.
* A probationary period of six months applies. The tenure may be extended.
|
APPLICATION
| E-mail contact details: | Maura.Butler@acjrd.ie |
| Closing Date: | Monday 28 March 2022 |
Please submit a CV and cover letter.
Mental Health Reform (MHR) is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year by hosting a half-day hybrid conference. This conference will explore the biggest mental health challenges facing Ireland today, and the opportunities for change.
The event will take place on Thursday, 31st March, 09:30 AM – 1:00 PM. This Mental Health Reform anniversary event will be broadcast from Wood Quay Venue, Dublin and live streamed to the public. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the event in Wood Quay is by invitation only. To watch the event online, register for your free place here on Eventbrite.
Attendees will hear from leaders, policy-makers and activists who will discuss key developments in mental health and aspirations for the future. Through live panel discussions, the conference will present a range of focused subjects to provoke debate and stimulate action.
MHR will also be launching a new report at the conference as part of the Brave New Connections project, an initiative supporting capacity-building for Voluntary and Community Sector mental health organisations adapting to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The report will examine the contribution of the sector within the wider mental health ecosystem in Ireland. The hybrid conference is free, online and open to MHR members, partners and like-minded stakeholders from across Ireland and beyond.
External experts and leading thinkers have been invited to provide additional stimuli and new perspectives. This will be a historic year for mental health in Ireland. Join MHR as they look back and move forward into a new decade of advocacy, innovation, research and collaboration.
Mental Health Reform is a Carmichael resident member. They were founded in 2006, following a coalition by five organisations aiming to hold the Government accountable in its delivery of policies. Over the years, they have developed a strong membership. Today, they are Ireland’s leading national coalition on mental health.
Together with their 77 member organisations, they work to drive progressive reform of mental health services and supports in Ireland. You can check out all their fantastic work here. They’re on social media too; see there Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.
By Diarmaid Ó Corrbuí
There is a Chinese curse, “May you live in interesting times” which may sound like a blessing, however, the expression is normally used ironically; life is better in “uninteresting times” of peace and tranquillity than in “interesting” ones, which are usually times of trouble. We are certainly currently living in interesting times. Just as are we beginning to hope that the worst of the global Covid-19 pandemic was over, the world has been hit with a geo-political crisis as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the humanitarian catastrophe it has created.
The crisis in Ukraine adds another layer of complexity to the many governance challenges and potentially funding challenges that organisations need to address in 2022. For charities in Ireland in particular, there are a wide range of governance challenges and developments to be addressed in 2022, but the major ones in my opinion, are the following;
- Grappling with the “new normal” and the implications of hybrid working models for the organisation and delivery of charitable activities
- Recruiting and retaining staff and volunteers in an increasingly competitive environment
- Succession planning, trustee development and recruitment
- Ensuring that the charity is in compliance with the Charity Governance Code standards
- Getting ready for the SORP for Charities financial reporting standard
Grappling with The “New Normal”
The removal of almost all of the Covid-19 restrictions, has triggered a slow but steady flow back to the office for many organisations. Some firms are offering meals and other perks to entice their staff back to the offices. Charity trustees and managers don’t have the same latitude to offer similar enticements but they urgently need to think through and plan for their future working operating model that will need both appropriate flexibility and sustainability.
They will need to organise staffing rosters that will have the necessary staff and volunteers in place to ensure continuity of delivery of quality services and supports. Another key consideration will be how to maintain the ethos, culture and values of the charity in an era of hybrid and remote working. They also need to return to having in-person board meetings and re-engaging with their fellow trustees in ways that are not really possible with online meetings.
There was a certain amount of tolerance or acceptance for the imperfections and constraints that working from home created, but this tolerance is finite and the Board needs a clear, thought-through strategy and plan for how the “new normal” will operate in their charity and this will need to be communicated to and be bought into by staff, volunteers and beneficiaries.
Recruiting and Retaining Staff and Volunteers
There is considerable commentary on the recent phenomenon of the “great resignation” as many workers across the globe decide following an extended period of working from home to resign from their jobs and do something different. The reasons are varied but the impact is that employers are being faced with the additional challenge of trying to recruit workers in a very competitive environment.
The charity sector is also impacted by this and also faces the additional challenge of not being able to compete against the higher salaries being offered by for profit and public sector organisations. The USP for charities is their purpose, the difference they make in society, their values and their ethos. Charities need to communicate and demonstrate these points of difference in the battle to recruit and retain staff and volunteers.
However, there are many charities where these are unclear or unconvincing and this will require Boards to reflect and refresh their purpose and values and tell their stories with conviction and authenticity.
Succession Planning, Trustee Development and Recruitment
As well as considering and developing its staff recruitment and retention strategies, charity boards will also need to look at their own composition in terms of skills, diversity and tenure. They need to objectively assess what changes to the board’s composition and skills development are required to enable the board to effectively address the evolving challenges facing their charity and ensure its future sustainability and success.
Compliance with the Charity Governance Code Standards
Compliance with the Governance Code is now a requirement for all Irish charities. It is not simply a tick box or form filling exercise. Compliance with the governance standards goes to the heart of how the charity operates, how it does its business, how it engages with its beneficiaries, how it oversees and manages its resources and how it provides accountability and transparency to its stakeholders.
Many charities have put in considerable effort in getting ready for compliance with the Code but there are many other charity boards that have not properly engaged in the compliance process and have delegated responsibility to staff or ignored the Code and its implications. Charities need to be prepared for a random compliance audit by the Charity Regulator. The Regulator has commenced the process of selecting charities for audit to verify the charity’s actual compliance with the Code’s standards in terms of performance and effectiveness.
SORP for Charities
Complying with the SORP standard for financial reporting is only voluntary for now in Ireland (it is mandatory in the UK) and only a very small percentage have opted to apply the standard. Finally, after many years of it being promised, a Charities Amendment Bill will shortly be introduced in the Oireachtas. One of the amendments, will give the Regulator the power to specify the financial reporting standards that all charities must adhere to.
This is expected to pave the way for setting SORP for Charities as the required standard for charities with annual income of over €250,000. For relevant charities who do not currently apply the SORP standard, they need to start the planning process now to be ready when it becomes a mandatory requirement.
There are many other challenges specific to the charity that the boards and management will also need to address in addition to those listed above. The task for all charity boards is to assess the challenges and opportunities for their charity and develop the responses and strategies to ensure that they are effective, impactful and sustainable.
Chronic Pain Ireland are hosting an upcoming webinar on March 15, as part of our Pain Talks with CPI series. Here at Carmichael we are delighted to spread the word of the event, which will feature Mags Clark-Smith MA, PGCE, a movement specialist and Director of Resolving Chronic Pain.
What’s Happening?
Mags, who worked with clinics based in Ireland and Scotland, is a Stress Illness practitioner, University Lecturer and researcher in dance, movement and psychology and is a member of the Irish Pain Society.
Mags will discuss ‘How movement can calm the mind and how the detailed precise approach fits with new evidence concerning pain in the brain’.
Throughout this live and interactive talk they will:
1. Summarize key research and clinical concepts that underlie the relationship between movement and pain science.
2. Identify some disorders that are likely to benefit from this
3. Understand the limitations and clinical caveats to this approach
As previously stated, the event takes place Tuesday March 15th from 2:00-3:00 p.m. via Zoom. To register www.chronicpain.ie
Chronic Pain Ireland are a Carmichael resident organisation, one of the many organisations we help at one of our two locations based in Dublin’s city centre.
More about Chronic Pain
In Europe 1 in 5 adults suffer with chronic pain. In Ireland that figure is higher. In 2011 Researchers from School of Psychology & Centre of Pain Research, NUIG Galway found that in Ireland 35.5% of adults in Ireland suffer with chronic pain. That’s 2 in 5 people. In those aged between 18 and 24 the proportion was 1 in 5 people, those aged 65 and over it was as many as 3 in 5.
- 42% have chronic pain more than 5 years
- 15% have clinically relevant depression as a result compared to 2.8% living without chronic pain.
- 12% unable to work or reduced work hours and are 3 times more likely to be unemployed due to their chronic pain.
The Organisation & What They Do
At Chronic Pain Ireland they offer nationwide support to people living and learning to live with chronic pain, their friends, and family. They achieve this through their support phone-line, email, online forum, self-management workshops and information talks.
Brain Awareness Week
Chronic Pain Ireland are proud partners of Brain Awareness Week an annual campaign run by the Neurological Alliance of Ireland. National Brain Awareness Week takes place this year from March 14th to 20th 2022 and the theme is “Together We Are Stronger: Promoting the Value of Teams, Partnerships and Collaborations in Neurological Care and Research”.
ADHD Ireland are delighted to promote their upcoming webinar titled ‘Emotional Regulation and Healthy Boundaries’. The webinar will take place on March 23, and will be presented by professional Play Therapist Aisling Murray.
This webinar is aimed towards parents and children up to age 8. As stated, the webinar will be presented by Aisling Murray, an Accredited Play Therapist based in Portlaoise. Aisling, the founder of Laois Play Therapy, has been working with children for over 16 years and in Play Therapy for over 6 years.
Furthermore, she is currently working with children with a wide range of issues including social anxieties, social difficulties, behavioral issues, trauma, loss, ASD, ADHD and other individual needs.
On Aisling’s website we learn more about her methods. It states Play Therapy is a type of therapy primarily used on children under the age of 12. A trained play therapist can use play to observe and gain insights into a child’s problems, emotions, or unresolved trauma. Using play therapy has been proven to help children develop coping skills and learn how to redirect inappropriate behaviour.
In play therapy the therapist will facilitate the child in their play, bringing themselves to the child’s level and building trust between them. The therapist will observe the child’s behaviour and how they interact with the toys. As trust develops children become more willing to share their thoughts and feelings with the therapist.
ADHD Ireland a resident Carmichael organisation. ADHD Ireland are a dedicated non-profit in Ireland that look to provide up-to-date information, resources and networking opportunities to individuals with ADHD, parents of children with ADHD and the professionals who serve them.
You can register for the free event here. To become a member of ADHD Ireland you can click here. Finally, if you wish to donate to ADHD Ireland you can click here.