Magazine - co3.bz Winter Mag 2018 WEB-compres… · co3 member magazine winter 2018/19 3 contents...

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Magazine WINTER 2018/19 CO3 ANNOUNCES HIGH PROFILE GLOBAL LEADER HONORARY AWARDS DINNER | P11 2019 LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE KEYNOTE SPEAKERS ANNOUNCED | P10 JOHN MCMULLAN REFLECTS REFLECTIONS ON WORKING OVER 30 YEARS IN THE THIRD SECTOR | P06

Transcript of Magazine - co3.bz Winter Mag 2018 WEB-compres… · co3 member magazine winter 2018/19 3 contents...

Page 1: Magazine - co3.bz Winter Mag 2018 WEB-compres… · co3 member magazine winter 2018/19 3 contents 04 welcome, nora smith, ceo, co3 05 say hello to iris, our executive recruitment

Magazine WINTER 2018/19

CO3 ANNOUNCES HIGH PROFILE GLOBAL LEADERHONORARY AWARDS DINNER | P11

2019 LEADERSHIP CONFERENCEKEYNOTE SPEAKERS ANNOUNCED | P10

JOHN MCMULLAN REFLECTSREFLECTIONS ON WORKING OVER 30 YEARS IN THE THIRD SECTOR | P06

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2 CO3 Member Magazine Winter 2018/19

BOARD RECRUITMENT

INTERIM RECRUITMENT

CEO & SENIOR MANAGEMENT RECRUITMENT

Contact us today on 028 9024 5356 or email [email protected]

WE OFFER

EXECUTIVE RECUITMENTSERVICE

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CO3 Member Magazine Winter 2018/19 3

CONTENTS

04 WELCOME, NORA SMITH, CEO, CO3

05 SAY HELLO TO IRIS, OUR EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT DIRECTOR

06 BLOG: JOHN MCMULLAN REFLECTS

07 CO3 BOARD RECRUITMENT

08 UPCOMING TRAINING & EVENTS

10 CO3 LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE 2019 | KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

11 CO3 HONORARY AWARDS DINNER

14 CO3 LEADERSHIP AWARDS 2019

16 WHAT HAPPENS IN STOCKHOLM...| JIM MCSHANE, CEO, ARK HOUSING ASSOCIATION

18 NEW MEMBER PROFILES | ASHLEY HUNTER & DEIRDRE ROBB

19 WHAT A WAY TO RUN A RAILROAD! | ROGER COURTNEY

20 WHAT’S NEW AT THE LABOUR RELATIONS AGENCY?

21 INSURANCE - ENABLING A BETTER WORLD? DAVID LANE, ECCLESIASTICAL INSURANCE

22 STRESS MANAGEMENT | JIM HUGHES, PREMIER WEALTH MANAGEMENT

25 CO3 MENTORING PROGRAMME - IS MENTORING FOR YOU?

26 MORE PLATE SPINNING | RICHARD RAMSEY, ULSTER BANK

27 BREXIT ‘EMPLOYER TOOLKIT’ | LOUISE MCALOON, WORTHINGTONS SOLICITORS

28 CO3 TRUSTEE NETWORK

30 CO3 INTERIM EXECUTIVE TRAINING

31 OCN NI, CELEBRATING SUCCESS

the printing of the CO3 Member Magazine has kindly been sponsored by Media Design & Print

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THERE ARE CERTAIN TIMES IN YOUR LIFE WHERE YOU CAN PICTURE WHERE YOU WERE EXACTLY FOR WORLD EVENTS.

For me it is, 9-11, the financial crash in 2009 and when result in Brexit Referendum result was announced in 2016. World events that feel very much outside of our control, however, have the ability to impact on every aspect of our life. We live in a turbulent world and that uncertainty impacts on us all either directly or indirectly. All we can do is the best job we can in the circumstances that we find ourselves. For us at CO3 that is about offering

personal and professional support to develop and support you on your leadership journey.

In this edition of the magazine, we reflect on some of the services that we offer, highlighting what is available to you. It is also a chance to share with you further details on the CO3 Conference and Awards happening on 7 March 2019. It is also an opportunity to announce a very special event that we have planned, linked to the CO3 Awards that is happening on 14 May 2019.

I am not going to share that information with you now on who or what that is, you will have to read further for more information! All I will say is that Time Magazine described him as one of the 100 most influential people in the world!

Thank you for your continued support to CO3 and enjoy the read.

Yours sincerely

Nora SmithChief Executive, CO3

WELCOME

CO3 Chief Officers 3rd Sector 34 Shaftesbury Square Belfast, BT2 7DB Tel: [email protected] | www.co3.bz

@co3updates

Chief Officers 3rd Sector, CO3

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CO3 Member Magazine Winter 2018/19 5

WHAT IS YOUR ROLE WITHIN CO3?

Executive Recruitment Director

Developing the three pillars of CO3’s recruitment service;

Permanent recruitment from senior management leadership to Chief Executive level, board appointments and interim executive roles.

The goal of this role is to provide an exclusive and personalised service for all our services.

WHAT HAS DRAWN YOU TO THIS ROLE?

I have worked most of my career in the US working with large non-profits in 26 countries, I have had the privilege to observe some amazing leaders and what makes them tick. I believe this role will allow me to draw on the “People Science” skills that I have learned and I can’t wait to now use these skills in my new role.BEFORE WORKING AT CO3 WHAT IS THE

MOST UNUSUAL OR INTERESTING JOB YOU EVER HAD?

As a thank you, for a rather large and complicated completed project I was invited to a Native American Indian reservation to watch a sunrise dance of the wolves.

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT TO DATE – PERSONAL OR PROFESSIONAL

I was tasked with building a consortium of the prieminent Cancer organisations across the world, we raised $90,000,000.00 in one year for research.

WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO OR PERSONAL MANTRA?

Personal – you are not born with a fixed amount of resilience. like a muscle, you can build it up and draw upon it when you need it. – in that process you will figure out who you really are – and you just might become the very best version of yourself.

Business – It is the ultimate luxury to

combine passion and contribution. It’s also a very clear path to happiness.

TOP 3 HIGHLIGHTS OF YOUR LIFE?

Being a mumBeing a grandmotherAn African Safari on horseback.

TO GET IN TOUCH WITH IRIS ABOUT ANY RECRUITMENT NEEDS PLEASE EMAIL [email protected] OR

TEL: 028 90 245 356.

SAY HELLO TO IRIS -OUR EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT DIRECTORWITH A GROWING DEMAND FOR OUR EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT SERVICE WE HAVE ADDED A NEW MEMBER TO OUR TEAM. WE CHAT TO IRIS PENDERGAST ABOUT HER NEW ROLE AS EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT DIRECTOR.

Iris Pendergast (far right) at the International Summit in Johannesburg, 2013

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JOHN MCMULLAN REFLECTS ON WORKING OVER 30 YEARS IN THE THIRD SECTOR

WHEN NORA ASKED ME AS I RETIRED FROM MY ROLE AS CEO AT BRYSON TO PRODUCE A SHORT BLOG REFLECTING ON OVER 30 YEARS OF WORKING IN THE N IRELAND 3RD SECTOR, IT GOT ME THINKING.

The first thought that came to mind was that I had perhaps reached my ‘sell by’ date but then it got worse; in extending the analogy, the ‘best before’ date come to mind – OmG; what if I should have retied some years ago; a sobering thought.

Having packed that unnerving thought away, there are some reflections I would like to share. I’ve worked in the sector much longer than the +30 years in Bryson; in the late 60s redevelopment in the Lower-Falls meant the McMullans ( Mum, Dad and 6 children), like many more families, moved from cramped terraced housing ‘up the road’, sacrificing strong community bonds for modern accommodation. Inside toilets and a bath that was in a room not hanging on the back yard wall were welcome

improvements. However the community vacuum and the need to build community cohesion and social common purpose was the best ‘schooling’.

The McMullan house became the meeting place for a new tenants association that spawned a youth club; a Credit Union and a range of people led initiatives, which included: a Claimants’ Union, a Citizens Advice Bureau, a community house, a food purchasing co-op, a community transport service and much more. What this taught me in the mid 70s was the importance and strength of voluntarism, community resilience and the amazing skills and talents that until unlocked through necessity can lay latent in people and within communities.

After two redundancies from manufacturing jobs (Tyrone Crystal and Michelin Tyre Company) the new Action for Community Employment (ACE) programme gave me my first opportunity to be employed in the Third Sector, beginning with BVWS ( Belfast Voluntary Welfare Society, the precursor to Bryson House and the current Bryson Charitable Group). I believe firmly, more than most of Government’s interventions, the ACE programme was a ‘sea’ change in the development and structure of our Third Sector. Access to a new workforce, engaging people who had been economically forgotten and written off as unemployable, allowed the more entrepreneurial Third Sector organisations to develop responses to social need and demonstrate a new social business paradigm; more than anything else, I firmly believe that this created the foundation upon which we have built the current vibrant and innovative social economy in N Ireland.

Many people like me used the opportunities provided by the programme to enter third level education and in my own case acquire a range of third level business education culminating in an MBA. A growing workforce, educational driven new thinking and a move away from the stranglehold of 75% grant funding to the evolution of social market contracting has opened the door to the emergence of new social

business models. The resulting growth has driven innovation leading directly to a greater number of social enterprises appearing annually in the N Ireland top 200 SME lists and winning recognition regionally and nationally in all-Island and UK business awards. In my view, we have created here in N Ireland some of the best examples of social enterprise to be seen across Europe and as a consequence, we have created a vibrant and innovative social economy, building sustainable community businesses many (+40%) led by women and sourcing most of their workforce from our local communities. This brings me back to the starting point of this short blog and my experience of community resilience, innovation and finding opportunity in the face of adversity, which is something we do well and that our public sector needs to recognise and invest in.

It would be myopic of me not to recognise in my reflections on the development of the Third Sector, the important role played by CO3, initially under the leadership of Majella McCloskey and more recently Nora Smith and their fantastic support team. I was privileged to Chair CO3, following the skilful chairing of Dame Judith Hill and with my fellow board members help shape a new construct focussed on supporting the Leaders in the Third Sector but more importantly, building and developing leadership across our sector enabling new leaders to emerge and replace those like me, who wonder if they have passed their ‘best before’ date.

I can close this short blog sharing my personal delight and satisfaction that I have spent many exciting years working alongside great leaders and social entrepreneurs, who I know will continue to establish and grow our social economy and rebalance the N Ireland economy, making it focus on delivering social value to all but in particular, the most vulnerable and disadvantaged in society.

John McMullanNot at all retired

November 2018

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CO3 Member Magazine Winter 2018/19 7

CO3 offer an executive search service dedicated to Board Appointments. We feel that given the breadth of our networks coupled with 30 years’ experience in leadership within the Third Sector we are uniquely placed to offer this highly tailored and niche service.

The Third Sector is an environment of change. As an organisation focussed on leadership, we are acutely aware of the challenges and opportunities prevalent within both the micro and macro environments, through which Board members must successfully navigate.

Through this deep sector knowledge and the application of world class recruitment and search methodologies we are able to engage with, and select leaders with the right blend of skills and experience, cultural and value based alignment coupled with a connection to your cause.

How we understand and anticipate your needs

CO3 offer a blended Board Advisory approach to our recruitment services which aligns to developing long term relationships as a key partner within the sector.

Our mix comprises of;

1. Board advisory and effectiveness consultation

2. Succession and diversity planning3. Board Appointments

Why engage us for Board Appointments:

• Leadership is at the core of our organisation. Quite simply we understand the demands of modern day Boards

• Our networks stretch beyond the Third Sector into both the Private and Public Sectors

• Our research and recruitment processes are robust and comprehensive, fully utilising all available mediums and networks to ensure exposure to the widest pool of appropriate talent as possible

• The majority of our prospective Board applicants are not actively seeking opportunities. They engage with us on a strictly confidential basis, confident that we align their fit to opportunities.

• We take a key role in the effective on-boarding of new Board members and offer ongoing support and development opportunities through our dedicated Trustee Network.

If you would like to find out more about CO3’s Executive Recruitment services, please do not hesitate to contact Iris Pendergast on Tel: 028 90 245 356 or [email protected] to organise a coffee and a chat.

CO3 BOARD RECRUITMENTGETTING THE RIGHT PEOPLE FOR YOUR ORGANISATION’S BOARD.

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17 Jan | 5.30pm - 7.00pm | £30

FROM RESOLUTION TO REALITY

A one-day workshop for anyone who wants to sharpen his or her ability to effect real change and make a lasting difference in his or her organisation.

The mark of effective leadership is the capacity to make things happen that were not going to happen anyway. However, as is often the case with New Year’s resolutions our aspirations and intentions for ourselves and for our organizations end up on the long finger and never get beyond items at the bottom of our agendas or to-do lists.

to book: email [email protected]

6 days | Feb - May | £725* LEADING EDGE| ILM LVL 5

Designed by the sector for the sector, this programme provides protected space and support to build your leadership skills in line with your live issues and challenges. Delivered with an interactive approach, you will work together and learn from each other as you engage with different theories and leadership themes. This can be a powerful and transformational experience.

Our innovative approach to leadership development provides you with practical opportunities to learn from others, as well as a network of high profile chief executives. This six-day programme will provide you with the

opportunity to reflect, share and connect with others. to book: email [email protected]

*Small bursary available.

3 Evenings | starts 14 Feb | 5.30pm - 8.00pm | £75 per session or £200 for all 3WHAT EVERY TRUSTEE SHOULD KNOW

The role of a Trustee is important and rewarding. It is extremely important that anybody who is or is considering becoming a Trustee is fully aware of their roles and

responsibilities. The three workshops provide you with this knowledge, as well as providing you with the opportunity to learn from your peers and form new connections.

To book please contact [email protected]

3 & 4 April | 9.30am - 4.00pmINTERIM EXECUTIVE TRAINING

Interim Executive Training prepares individuals to work with a Third Sector organisation on a short term basis, helping organisations to either manage a gap in permanent leadership and/or to provide additional support to a Chief Executive and the Senior Management team in times of need.

We are looking for people who demonstrate strong

leadership, management, organisational development experience and the ability to analyse and effectively deal with organisational challenges.

to book: email [email protected]

6 June | 9.30am - 4.30pm | £130UNDERSTANDING FINANCIAL ACCOUNTS AND CONFIDENCE ON REPORTING TO YOUR BOARD

This course will provide participants with a refresher on how to read a set of financial accounts and generally examines what information should be included in a financial management report.

The workshop will then be followed by a separate one to one session (on a date to suit you) which will allow delegates to review their own financial reporting systems in confidence and to consider ways that these may be improved to provide them with better financial information to support decision making.

to book: email [email protected]

26 September | 9.30am - 4.30pm | £130STRATEGIC PLANNING WITH ROGER COURTNEY

This one day workshop strategically planned for September, for those of us who will be launching new Strategic Plans in April 2020, will support leaders to develop their strategic and operational planning processes to enable organisations to achieve their potential.

to book: email [email protected]

Starts October 2019 | 6 Days | £1350EXCELLING IN LEADERSHIP

Underpinned by the key principles of CO3’s Framework for Leadership Excellence, this intensive residential programme will explore leadership theories and apply them to your live issues through action learning and the adoption of new practices.

To book: email [email protected]

For further information on all of our upcoming events please

visit www.co3.bz or email [email protected]

UPCOMING TRAINING

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LA MON HOTEL, CASTLEREAGH, BELFAST

CO3 LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE & AWARDS 2019 | 7 MARCH With 300+ delegates at the 2019 leadership conference it will be an unrivalled opportunity to network with a range of leaders from across the Third, Public and Private sectors. At CO3 we pride ourselves on bringing people together who make a difference, creating a space to widen your network, where people can meet to get inspired and supported by each other, reconnect, to articulate and collaborate.

CO3’s Leadership Awards recognise the talent, innovation and success of Third Sector leaders.

With over 400 guests in attendance, the awards gala dinner provides an excellent opportunity to showcase the innovative work of Third Sector leaders.

17 Jan | 5.30pm - 7.00pm

REPORTING A SERIOUS INCIDENT TO CCNI

The session will be led by the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland. Jenny Ebbage of Edwards and Co. Solicitors, will join us at this session to advise us from a legal perspective.

to book: email [email protected]

22 Jan | 12.30pm - 2.00pmHOW TO ENCOURAGE CHARITABLE GIVING

This presentation will help charities to discuss and highlight to donors ways that they may wish to consider making donations/gifts to charities to ensure their donations are structured in the most appropriate way and that the donor can take advantage of any tax benefits and potentially pass these on to the charity.

to book: email [email protected]

24 Jan | 5.30pm - 7.00pmSHORTLISTING DRINKS RECEPTION

A Drinks reception to celebrate those shortlisted for the CO3 Leadership Awards 2019. This is an opportunity for those shortlisted to celebrate along with those who nominated them.

To book please contact [email protected]

7 Feb | 5.30pm - 7.00pmHOW TO RUN EFFECTIVE BOARDS

The challenge to run an effective board should not be underrated. Boards are responsible for the governance of their charity. Their responsibilities include setting the strategic aims, providing the leadership to put them into effect, monitoring management, reporting to members and stakeholders on their stewardship. The board’s actions are also subject to laws and regulations.

On the evening, Sarah Witchell of Virtus Consultancy will set out key building blocks to achieve an effective board.

to book: email [email protected]

12 Feb | 11.00am - 12 noonMENTORING INFORMATION SESSION

For almost 15 years the CO3 Mentoring Programme has been enabling members to benefit from the experience and knowledge of their peers, either from within the third sector or from the public and private sectors. So if you are thinking of making a positive change in your working life then why not come along and find out how you can get involved.

to book: email [email protected]

26 March | 10.00am - 12.30DIGNITY AT WORK

This seminar addresses the complex and sensitive issue of bullying in the workplace by looking at core issues such as – defining bullying, distinguishing bullying from harassment, legal issues surrounding bullying, tackling bullying and policy development in areas such as dignity at work. It is about raising awareness and challenging myths and stereotypes that have developed over the years about bullying in a workplace context.

to book: email [email protected]

14 May | from 7.15pmCO3 HONORARY AWARDS DINNER WITH GEORGE MITCHELL

On 14 May 2019 CO3 will present an Honorary CO3 Award to Senator George Mitchell in recognition of the leadership role that he has played in peacebuilding in Northern Ireland.

For further information please see page 11.

For further information on all of our upcoming events please

visit www.co3.bz or email [email protected]

UPCOMING EVENTS

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10 CO3 Member Magazine Winter 2018/19

Building on the momentum of the 2018 CO3 Leadership Conference, this year’s event will be brimming with ideas and fresh thinking to inject and inspire us as we lead forward. We have a range of inspirational preeminent speakers including Josh Littlejohn, one of the UK’s leading social entrepreneurs, Calum Chance, a best-selling writer and sought-after speaker on artificial intelligence and Artistic Director Jenny Sealey was appointed Artistic Director of the London 2012 Paralympic Games opening ceremony. .

Rolf Alter is an experienced economist and Senior Fellow at the Hertie School. He spent over 25 years at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in Paris. In 2006, he was appointed Chief of Staff to the OECD Secretary-General, and in 2009 he became Director of Public Governance. Alter built a team of over 200 staff to support governments in improving their public sector performance for inclusive growth and economic competitiveness. He previously also worked for the IMF in Washington, DC, and for the German Ministry of Economy in Bonn.

Calum Chace is a best-selling writer and sought-after speaker on artificial intelligence. He focuses on the medium- and long-term impact of AI on all of us, our societies and our economies.His non-fiction books on AI are The Economic Singularity, about the prospect of widespread technological unemployment, and Surviving AI, about strong AI and superintelligence. These are combined and updated in Artificial Intelligence and the Two Singularities. He also wrote Pandora’s Brain, a techno-thriller about the first superintelligence. He runs a blog on the subject at www.pandoras-brain.com.

Andrew joined Community Foundations Canada in 2013 and became CEO in 2017, following a six-year tenure as Vice-President of Finance for the London Community Foundation and his long-standing service as a finance and regulatory expert for Canada’s philanthropic milieu. Now at the head of the community foundation move-ment, Andrew is working closely with the Community Foundations of Canada Leadership team, Board and foun-dations in Canada and abroad to help the philanthropic sector transform, innovate and meet the new challenges and opportunities of the 21st century.

Jenny Sealey co-directed the London 2012 Paralympics Opening Ceremony alongside Bradley Hemmings (GDIF). She has been Artistic Director and CEO of Graeae since 1997 and has pioneered a new theatrical lan-guage, coining the term “Aesthetics of Access”; the creative integration of sign language and audio description within performance. Additionally, Jenny has directed work, run workshops and given presentations international-ly including Russia, Japan, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Brazil.

Wendy Austin is the voice of the award winning BBC Radio Ulster programme Talkback. In a career spanning three decades Wendy has been a reporter and more recently presenter on both television and radio, in North-ern Ireland and nationally.For many years the co-anchor of Good Morning Ulster, Wendy’s voice was also heard on PM and Woman’s Hour on BBC Radio 4. On screen she presented and co-produced Hillsborough Revisited, a 40 minute documentary on the Queen’s NI home, and the DIY Show.

WENDY AUSTIN

ROLF ATLER

CALUM CHACE

ANDREW CHUNILALL

JOSH LITTLEJOHN

JENNY SEALEY MBE

Josh Littlejohn is one of the UK’s leading social entrepreneurs. Josh is the co-founder of Social Bite, a social enterprise in Scotland with a mission to eradicate homelessness in the country. Social Bite started as a small chain of sandwich shops, which shot to global fame when Hollywood A-lister George Clooney visited an outlet in 2015. Another Oscar winner Leonardo Di Caprio then visited the social enterprise in 2016.

LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

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CO3 Member Magazine Winter 2018/19 11

CO3 HONORARY AWARDS DINNER WITH

SENATOR GEORGE MITCHELL

LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE & AWARDS FOLLOW ON EVENT

ON 14 MAY 2019 CO3 WILL PRESENT AN HONORARY CO3 AWARD TO SENATOR GEORGE MITCHELL IN RECOGNITION OF THE LEADERSHIP ROLE THAT HE HAS PLAYED IN PEACEBUILDING IN NORTHERN IRELAND.

At a black-tie dinner, we will take this opportunity to pay homage to Senator Mitchell by bestowing him with a CO3 Honorary Award. This is a rare and wonderful opportunity that we are delighted to announce. At the ceremony, Senator George Mitchell will offer some reflections on his leadership journey to date. We will also have some contributions from a range of civil society leaders on their experiences of Senator Mitchell.

As it is linked to the CO3 Conference and Awards, we are offering members the chance to book the CO3 Conference & Awards dinner on 7 March 2019 together with the CO3 Honorary Awards Dinner on 14 May 2019 with Senator Mitchell for £195.

This is our opportunity to offer a personal thank you for his vision and contribution on behalf of CO3 members.

It presents you with a unique opportunity to be part of this special occasion. Below provides a short glimpse into Senator Mitchell’s career to date.

Senator George Mitchell has had a long and distinguished career. He served for several years as Chairman of DLA Piper, now Chairman Emeritus. Before that he served as a federal judge; as Majority Leader of the United States Senate; as Chairman of peace negotiations in Northern Ireland which resulted in an agreement that ended a historic conflict; and most recently as U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East. In 2008 Time Magazine described him as one of the 100 most influential people in the world. Senator Mitchell is the author of five books. His most recent books are a memoir entitled The Negotiator: Reflections on an American Life, published in May 2015 and A Path To Peace, published in November 2016.

14.05.19 | LA MON HOTEL, BELFAST

DETAILS AND HOW TO REGISTER

DATE: 14 May 2019VENUE: La Mon Hotel, Castlereagh, BelfastTIME: Drinks reception from 7.15pm

Please note that this event is linked to the CO3 Leadership Conference & Awards 2019. To purchase a ticket you must register for the Conference & Awards. See page 12 for further information.

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12 CO3 Member Magazine Winter 2018/19

CONFERENCE & AWARDS RATES

WHY ATTEND?

The CO3 Annual Conference provides a space for CEOs, Leaders and Trustees to gather to showcase the value of the Sector and to address some of the most complex challenges that we face as we step forward.

As a participant you will have the opportunity to: • Invest in your leadership and hear from a range of

international and local speakers bringing innovative and inspirational thinking to the Sector

• Network with over 300 peers from across the Public, Private and Third Sector, creating opportunities for new partnerships.

• Discover new products and services at our interactive network village showcasing a range of valuable services on your doorstep.

• Share your expertise and learn from your peers’ experiences during interactive workshops and Q&A sessions.

• Take time out to have fun, re–energise and celebrate the creativity and excellence of the Third Sector at our Leadership Awards Gala Dinner

To register to attend please visit the CO3 website, www.co3.bz or contact: Rachel Cooley : [email protected] | Tel: 028 90 245 356

UNTIL FRI 25 JAN 2019(EARLY BIRD!)

AFTER FRI 25 JAN 2019

NON RESIDENTIAL (CONFERENCE ONLY)

£100 member rate£200 non member rate

£120 member rate£220 non member rate

NON RESIDENTIAL CONFERENCE & AWARDS

£155 member rate£255 non member rate

£175 member rate £275 non member rate

NON RESIDENTIAL CONFERENCE & AWARDS & GEORGE MITCHELL DINNER (14.05.19)

£195 member rate £295 non member rate*

£215 member rate £ 315 non member rate

RESIDENTIAL CONFERENCE & AWARDS

£245 member rate £345 non member rate

£265 member rate £365 non member rate

RESIDENTIAL CONFERENCE & AWARDS & GEORGE MITCHELL DINNER (14.05.19)

£285 member rate £385 non member rate

£305 member rate £405 non member rate

AWARDS DINNER ONLY £70 member rate£90 non member rate

£80 member rate £100 non member rate

*Please note that places at the dinner on 14 May with George Mitchell will be prioritised for CO3 members.

All those who register for the Conference & Awards ticket option can also book to attend the CO3 Honorary Awards Dinner with Senator George Mitchell on 14 May.

LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

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CO3 Member Magazine Winter 2018/19 13

GET INVOLVED! EXHIBITION SPACEDuring the the conference CO3 creates a networking space to allow delegates more time to peruse the exhibitions and chat to exhibitors and colleagues. The morning, afternoon and lunch breaks are all served in the exhibition area. We are also offering a number of added incentives to delegates that will encourage them to visit the stands in the exhibition area. More will be revealed in due course!

Our package is designed to offer value for money and make your planning as easy as possible.

The package includes:

• A large space in the exhibition area (complete with a table and chairs and access to power supply, subject to availability) able to accommodate stands up to full size

• Use of the space for the duration of the conference over the full day.

• Listing in the delegate pack, including contact details• Pre-event link from the event website to your organisation’s

website• Entry in the event guide• Lunches and refreshments for one person• Complimentary conference pass for one person to attend

conference sessions

The exhibition does not include a shell scheme.

If you are interested in exhibiting at the CO3 Leadership Confer-ence, please contact [email protected] or Tel: 028 90 245 356.

EXHIBITION STAND

LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

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CO3’s Leadership Awards recognise the talent, innovation and success of Third Sector leaders, be they leaders of large or small community associations, self-help groups, voluntary organisations, charities, faith-based organisations, social enterprises, community businesses, housing associations, cooperatives, mutual organisations as well as many others.

The winners will be presented with their awards at a high profile ceremony on 7 March at La Mon Hotel and Country Club, Castlereagh, Belfast. With over 400 guests in attendance, the awards gala dinner provides an excellent opportunity to showcase the innovative work of Third Sector leaders.

AWARDS HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE :• Welcome drinks reception• A four-course meal • Celebrity compère Wendy Austin• 11 category winners• Evening entertainment and networking

with over 400 Third Sector Leaders in Northern Ireland

DRESS CODE: BLACK TIE, FORMAL WEAR.

The Early Bird Rate has been extended!To give everyone a chance to benefit from the discounted rate, the Early Bird deadline has been extended until 25 January 2019. This means you will be able to take advantage of the low rate for a little bit longer!

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THURSDAY 7 MARCH 20197PM - MIDNIGHT LA MON HOTEL, CASTLEREAGH, BELFAST

CELEBRATE THE SECTOR | TREAT YOUR TEAM | BOOK A TABLE AT OUR GLITTERING AWARDS DINNER!The ceremony is attended by key players and decision makers. Each table seats 10 and is a great way of entertaining clients, business partners and prospects at our dazzling awards dinner. You and your distinguished guests will join hundreds to share in the success of the Third Sector. The prestigious awards recognises and rewards excellence.Demand for tables is always high.

Please note that we operate a first come, first served system for table booking.

Standard table of 10 (Includes drinks reception, four-course dinner. Table deals start from £650.

To book a table please contact [email protected] or Tel: 028 90 245 356.

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WHAT HAPPENS IN STOCKHOLM...BY JIM MCSHANE, CEO, ARK HOUSING ASSOCIATION

I HADN’T EXPECTED TO BE VISITING STOCKHOLM ANY TIME SOON. MY SWEDISH EXPERIENCES PRE-OUR CO3 TRIP WERE LIMITED TO SEVERAL NETFLIX FILM RELEASES AND THE OCCASIONAL TRIP TO IKEA.

My knowledge and understanding of the history, complexities and interwoven dependencies that make up Swedish Civil Society would, as far as I was concerned, remain an unknown, unknown.

However, all that was about to change.

When the CO3 leadership award winners were announced earlier this year, I was delighted to be recognised in the “Leading for Impact” category. However, that delight was mixed with a little trepidation, when I learned that, as part of this “prize” I would be visiting Stockholm, for four days, with a group of people I hadn’t known. This trepidation, quickly gave way to a sense of excitement as our winner’s group newly formed whatsapp page began to evolve from the pleasant introductory hellos, to

that more befitting of a group of friends looking forward to their first school trip together. It seemed that I might just enjoy this trip after all.

The itinerary was jam packed. It was clear to me from the outset that Nora was going to make sure she delivered VFM for the CO3 membership body by working us to the bone! Taking in a wide range of activities, across two very full business days on a tight timetable, our trip would ultimately prove not only to be hard work, but lots of fun too.

On travel day one, we arrived in Stockholm early evening, and having made our way to our hotel held an introductory meeting with Truls from Ideell Arena, Stockholm’s equivalent of CO3. Truls was a generous host throughout our entire stay, and on that first evening, he set out the programme of what was going to be an interesting few days of interactive learning. The programme we later learned was devised by Truls, having first taken on-board an understanding of us from Nora as third sector leaders and of the organisations that we led. Truls and Nora were focussed on us taking as much learning away from this trip as we possibly could, and I was very impressed that the time was taken to carefully sculpt this programme to maximise our benefit.

Our first evening was spent getting to know each another better as a group. We enjoyed a meal and a bottle of wine in a local American Midwest themed restaurant, swapping anecdotes and learning about each other’s challenges and priorities as third sector leaders. Already, I was finding this leadership exchange very useful and our official programme had yet to start.

The following morning, our visit kicked off in earnest with our first visit to one of the purest forms of a membership led organisation in the “Swedish Civil Society” - KFUM Central. The equivalent of the YMCA. We were given a guided tour of the building, learned about the services and activities on offer, about its governance structures, membership influences, and the history of this very successful organisation. In line with what would be the format for our entire trip, this visit and every interaction throughout our stay thereafter, would be an engaging two-way encounter.

The second site visit that morning, was to a very different kind of third sector organisation. Cancer Fonden. The Children’s Cancer Charity. Invited into their Boardroom to receive several presentations to set the scene, we were then invited to discuss this organisation’s structures, fundraising methods, key priorities, successes and future challenges. This visit proved to be a sobering reminder of the impact of cancer on society right across Europe and of our continued collective goal of combating this deadly disease. I was surprised to learn just how much the third sector in our respective countries was leading the way in this endeavour. As it turns out, we had three very accomplished and experienced third sector cancer charity leaders within our cohort and it was a tremendous realisation of just how much in common we had in this area.

After lunch, we moved onto the University of Stockholm for an opportunity to further develop our understanding of the Swedish Civil Society and to undertake a theoretical exploration into new and existing forms of civil engagement and

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social entrepreneurship in Sweden.

Thursday evening, we went to an Italian on Nora’s dinner recommendation, and just like the flavour combinations infused in my venison risotto, the relationships and connections amongst our group were beginning to flourish. It was clear that I was going to enjoy spending the next couple of days learning about this wonderful capital city and its people.

Friday morning arrived quickly, especially for those of us who had decided to take in a little more of what late-night Stockholm can offer. We kick started Friday’s programme of visits with a session that could be best described as a speed dating event at the Ideell Arena Head Office. It is here where we met with a range of Swedish leaders to discuss the finer points of the Swedish Civil Society and how this “society” is woven into the very fabric of Swedish culture.

The concept of the Swedish Civil Society was now firmly beginning to take shape in our minds, but what was also becoming very clear, that on a benchmarking basis, and on reflecting upon impact and outcomes, that we back home, were doing similarly great things in our third sector. Albeit under a different guise, governance, or financial structure. We were not only going to be taking some learning from this trip back home. We had also shared our collective experience and insight with our Swedish counterparts and left with some reassurances that our third sector was one of the best in the world.

Our final afternoon involved an interactive walking tour of the city followed by a session at the Ersta Skondal Bracke University where we developed our theoretical understanding of the subject at hand, eventually closing official business with a round table discussion capturing our thoughts, feelings and observations from the previous two days. This final day pulled together very neatly for me the learning from the previous two days.

We celebrated our final evening together at a traditional Swedish restaurant and on the Saturday morning before departure we took a guided tour of the city, accommodated by the wonderful Marcus Hammer, a former associate of one of our group. This was a great way to round off our “holiday”.

Overall, it was an extremely enjoyable experience and I would highly recommend the CO3 awards programme, if only to earn the chance to avail of this fantastic opportunity.

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Ashley Hunter has recently joined CO3 and is looking forward to the benefits of the membership including networking, training, support and advice. Following completion of an MSc in Executive Leadership Ashley is looking forward to CPD though the CO3 network. Ashley is the Chief Officer for The Canoe

Association of Northern Ireland (CANI) and has been in post for 11 years. Prior to this Ashley has worked in the voluntary sector as youth development coordinator and operations manager for Ocean Youth Trust Ireland and in the outdoor activities sector as a Senior Instructor at the Share Centre. Ashley’s passion is to create opportunities for people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds to experience

outdoor activities. He believes in the benefits and opportunities and experiences that outdoor activities provide. Since joining CO3 Ashley has taken part in a number of networking events, HR training, capacity building and measuring impact. CO3 is providing Ashley with the opportunity to extend his knowledge from the sporting sector to the wider third sector.

Ashley Hunter, CEO, Canoe Association of Northern Ireland

NEW MEMBER PROFILES

Deirdre Robb, Chief Executive, Belfast Exposed

I am the Chief Executive of Belfast Exposed and have over 20 years’ experience working in arts and public sector. Primarily in visual arts and photography, working as a gallery and programme Director & Curator undertaking local, national and international exhibitions, residencies and exchange programmes. Also as an Arts

Administrator, I worked for 9 years in Arts Council Northern Ireland as Visual Arts Development Officer; managing grants, informing policy, strategy and sector development in visual, craft, public art, architecture and support for artists’ development with annual. In Belfast City Council, I worked for seven years as Arts Development Officer and Culture and Arts Manager; managing a culture and arts framework for Belfast City.

I had known about CO3 from working with my clients who used their services for a number of consultants for their strategic development, so I had confidence in the quality of their services.

Upon taking my post in Belfast Exposed, it was a natural choice that I looked to CO3 to support me in my new role that is helping me to be current with good governance and strategic leadership for Belfast Exposed. The added bonus is the networking with other Chief Executives

who have shared of knowledge and understanding challenging issues faced by the third sector in these challenging times.

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GOVERNANCE IN THE THIRD SECTOR IS A MOST PECULIAR BEAST.

The people with complete legal and financial responsibility for the organisation are a group of part-time volunteers, while the people who do the work of the organisation are usually experienced full-time professionals.

Making this relationship work effectively is a major challenge in the sector. Far too often, the quality of governance is poor. New trustees often receive little in the way of induction and there is frequently little in the way of descriptions of the role of the board, or the role of individual board members, let alone that of office-bearers and sub-committees.

Too often trustees stay far too long and fail to bring in new trustees with the governance skills and links to other sectors, the organisation needs.

The level of external compliance required

by third sector organisations is now very substantial, whether it concerns charity or company law, health & safety, GDPR, employment law, avoiding insolvency, or the quality of services. Nor is going for minimum legal compliance good enough anymore. Boards are expected to be aiming for ‘excellence’, for ‘continuous improvement’. It is a far cry from the amateur approach to governance of twenty years ago.

As well as these challenges, there are also positive developments. The Charity Commission, despite being under-resourced, has played an important role in providing a framework for ensuring that charities actually operate charitably, and for concerns to be effectively investigated and addressed. The Code of Good Governance has also helped provide a better understanding of what governance is.

The CO3 Guide to Great Governance now provides more detailed guidance for those tasked with the governance of third sector organisations and chief officers

who support them, including: getting the internal governance function right; complying with charity and company law; setting and monitoring strategic direction; ensuring the quality of services; finance; fundraising; being a good employer; managing the chief officer; the ambassadorial function; communications and data protection.

Hopefully, governance is now just a little less daunting!

Roger Courtney, Courtney Consulting

WHAT A WAY TO RUN A RAILROAD!GOVERNANCE IN THE THIRD SECTOR

If you would like to receive a free copy of the guide please email [email protected].

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WHAT’S NEW AT THE LABOUR RELATIONS AGENCY?

THE LABOUR RELATIONS AGENCY HAS REBRANDED WITH A NEW LOGO AND TWO NEW PHONE NUMBERS FOR ITS MAIN SWITCHBOARD AND A SEPARATE, DEDICATED NUMBER FOR ITS ENQUIRY POINT.

Now, anyone with an employment-related query can speak directly to the Agency’s Enquiry Point team by calling 03300 555 300 or using a new web chat facility on the Agency‘s website www.lra.org.uk. All other contact about the Agency’s dispute resolution services (conciliation, mediation, and arbitration), as well as its document vetting service and seminars team is via its new 03300 552 220 number.

Last year the Labour Relations Agency received over 38,000 individual employment rights claims and over 17,600 calls to its Enquiry Point. Staff also delivered 162 events across Northern Ireland.

Labour Relations Agency Chief Executive, Tom Evans said: “The Agency has a busy programme of work this year too as we continue to support

organisations, individuals and the economy by promoting best practice in employment relations. We also continue to encourage more employers and trade unions to adopt the ‘Model Workplace Policy’, created last year as part of the Joint Declaration of Protection for Dignity at Work and Inclusive Working Environment,” he said.

The Labour Relations Agency was established in 1976. It has two offices: one in Belfast and one in Derry/Londonderry. It is independent and publicly funded. The Agency provides free, impartial and confidential services to employers and employees in Northern Ireland, as well as Trade Unions, HR and legal professionals. These services include advice on good employment practice and the resolution of workplace disputes.

The Labour Relations Agency promotes good employment relations as a key component in productive workplaces and a healthy, thriving economy. It also provides vital support to new and growing businesses in Northern Ireland, such as its free document vetting service, giving organisations confidence that their employment documentation is legally compliant and adheres to best practice. In addition, the Agency offers a wide range of training seminars, briefings and workshops, giving anyone with responsibilities in employment-related issues the latest information on employment legislation and practical skills in line management and handling disputes.

“Support from the Labour Relations Agency can remove a lot of stress and uncertainty for employers and employees alike, who need to check the latest employment legislation or best practice in workplace relations,” added Tom.

For more information contact the Labour Relations Agency on 03300 552 220 or visit www.lra.org.uk.

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THERE IS NO BETTER WAY TO CELEBRATE THE SUCCESSES OF THE THIRD SECTOR IN NORTHERN IRELAND THAN BY RECOGNISING THE PEOPLE WHO ARE INSTRUMENTAL IN ITS WORK.

Ecclesiastical Insurance is delighted to be part of this celebration once again through our partnership and support of the CO3 Leadership Conference and Awards 2019. Supporting the awards reminds us of the essential work going on in the Third Sector to bring help to those who need it most, and it is inspiring to see the amazing changes happening year on year to make the world a better place.

Northern Ireland’s Third Sector continues to provide invaluable services across many areas and it will be no surprise to learn that the unique attributes of the sector also present different insurance

challenges. Thinking of this year’s theme, Making the World a Better Place, we considered the role that insurance can play in making difficult situations a little easier for the Third Sector.

For many, insurance is seen as a necessary, annual expense. We believe that insurance can be more than just a transaction, and at Ecclesiastical we talk about a movement for good. We provide our Third Sector partners with proper and suitable solutions, fair pricing and fair claims. Protecting your organisation against risk and preventing loss, not only results in financial savings but can perhaps save lives, protect reputation and enables growth and investment.

One challenge we encounter is a widespread feeling among charity employees and volunteers that risk management is a high-level function, best left to senior management and trustees. While appropriate leadership is necessary, a change of mindset by all employees is required to ensure that risk management becomes an everyday ‘way of life’ for every charity sector worker and volunteer.

For example, issues have arisen because of improper employee practices, data loss, poor financial controls or injuries in situations where the charity were found liable. Unfortunately, there is evidence that some charities did not prioritise sensible and vital risk management policies and activities until it was too late to avoid such losses. The result is not only damage to the individual organisations involved but also wider reputational damage to the sector.

To support charities in this area we introduced our Risk Management toolkit, available via the Marsh Charity scheme, for all CO3 members. This enables organisations to more easily assess the

wide range of exposures they potentially face. They can then identify which of these has the potential to be a real risk to the successful and efficient running of the charity.

As we continue our work with CO3, it is clear that the challenges facing the Third Sector in Northern Ireland are evolving rapidly. Our purpose, as a company that is owned by a charity, is to contribute to the greater good of society. We work to support charities as they strive to constantly improve their services and deliver real value to the people and communities they serve. At Ecclesiastical, we strive to do the same, and we believe that strong business translates into real benefits for thousands of people in our communities and we translate a substantial proportion of our profit into grants for many deserving causes.

The Third Sector is nothing if not resilient, resourceful and dedicated with standards of governance, transparency, financial control, innovation and risk management, constantly improving. This focus on continuous improvement builds confidence and will be a positive factor in protecting the future for Third Sector organisations and the communities in which they operate.

David Lane, Managing Director, Ecclesiastical Insurance

INSURANCE - ENABLING A BETTER WORLD?

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HOW CAN EMPLOYERS PLAY A GREATER ROLE IN SUPPORTING THE MENTAL HEALTH OF THEIR EMPLOYEES?

Research by the Mental Health Foundation has shown that two thirds of adults experience a mental health problem in their lifetimes. Work is a big part of most adults’ lives – and therefore the workplace is a key setting for understanding and addressing the problem.

Work-related stress, and mental health in general, is a growing concern for employers. Indeed, two fifths of businesses have reported an increase in mental health problems, such as anxiety and depression, among staff.

Yet despite growing awareness of the importance of good workplace mental health and wellbeing, many employees are reluctant to talk about mental health issues. For instance, 45% of employees who take time off work due to their mental health give another reason for their absence. There may, therefore, be a greater need for employers to appreciate how to manage mental ill health sensitively. This requires taking a different approach than they might with other forms of illness. Getting more sleep, improving our diet and taking more exercise can all help us

protect and improve our mental health. But where employers can support and incentivise these activities with employee benefits, it is likely that workplace mental health will improve.

As part of their cover, many ‘employee assistance programmes’ (EAPs) offer cognitive behavioural therapy or counselling to support psychological wellbeing. These programmes can provide invaluable support to those with one or several issues, whether those relate to work, legal matters, relationships, money or health. Moreover, proactive and preventative services provided through EAPs have been shown to be highly effective. Employee benefits provider Unum says that counselling provided through its programme improves mental health for 92% of its users.4 Deloitte calculates that the return on investment in workplace mental health intervention averages £4.20 for every £1 spent.5

Offering this kind of support should be combined with providing managers, and employees themselves, with the skills and autonomy to deal with the causes of stress within their teams, so as to improve employees’ health, job satisfaction and productivity. But perhaps the most important insight for employers to recognise when it comes to the management of work-related stress is that there is no single solution to the problem. No two employees – or indeed organisations – are the same, and therefore responses need to be

tailored to the specific risks and needs of a workforce.

There are several steps employers can take to address the causes and symptoms of stress in the workplace:

CULTURE

• Develop a mental health policy – having a concrete policy reassures employees that their company cares about employee wellbeing.

• Create a culture of openness and awareness by encouraging people to talk about mental health

WORKING PRACTICES

• Encourage staff to take regular breaks away from their desks and get out of the office to reduce stress.

• Review job descriptions to make sure these set out clear and realistic expectations of staff. If not, this gap might contribute to, or even cause, distress amongst employees.

• Where possible, allow flexible working, and accommodations for all staff to work from home – during a period of stress or worry, coming in to the office could aggravate illness. Give employees the option to work from home if they need to be in more relaxed surroundings.

Jim Hughes, Managing Director, Premier Wealth Management Ltd (NI)

STRESS MANAGEMENT

1

2

3

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COMMUNICATION

• Use staff newsletters, posters in communal areas, and other internal communications to raise awareness of mental health.

• Conduct regular staff surveys to take a temperature check on wellbeing and feed back the results and any progress to staff.

• Make sure staff know what support is available through your intranet, noticeboard or employee handbook and find opportunities throughout the year to remind people what is available and how to access it.

MANAGERS

• Provide training and resources for managers or a member of your team to empower them to spot the signs of mental ill health. If employees know someone is knowledgeable about mental health matters, they may feel more comfortable in coming forward to discuss any problems they have at work, or even at home.

• Make sure managers spend time with staff and get to know them – this makes it easier to spot when they’re struggling or behaving uncharacteristically at work.

INTERNAL SUPPORT

• Provide accessible guidance on how to manage stress.

• Create a peer-to-peer support system so people can talk with colleagues about their concerns.

• Consider providing an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) for additional support for staff if they’re having difficulties, whether inside or outside the workplace. EAPs can offer a range of services, often including face-to-face counselling or cognitive behavioural therapy.

For more information on this or other employee benefit matters please contact Jim Hughes at Premier Wealth Management

Premier Wealth Management Ltd (NI)

Office: 02890467466| Mob: 07711669880email: [email protected]: www.pwmni.co.uk

1 Mental Health Foundation, The state of the UK’s mental health, 20172 CIPD, Absence Management, 20163 Mental Health Foundation, Unum and Oxford Economics, Added Value: Mental health as a workplace asset, November 20164 www.unum.co.uk/media/counselling-provided-by-unums-eap-improves-mental-health-for-92-percent-of-users, March 20185 www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/uk/Documents/public-sector/deloitte-uk-mental-health-employers-monitor-deloitte-oct-2017.pdf, October 2017

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24 CO3 Member Magazine Winter 2018/19

• Accelerate your leadership with enhanced self and team awareness• Collaborate and develop a strong network of fellow senior leaders• Gain unique insight into the challenges and experiences of Third Sector leaders• Experience transformational change, from manager to leader• Gain an ILM Level 5 Award in Leadership qualification

Strengthening our Future Exclusively for Third Sector Senior Managers

of previous delegates would recommend this programme

Image: Created by Natanaelginting - Freepik.com

The programme runs over six days: 5 & 6 February | 19 & 20 March | 30 April & 1 May 2019To register or for further information please email [email protected]

BURSARY AVAILABLE

CO3 HAS A BURSARY AVAILABLE OF UP TO £500 FOR THIS PROGRAMME. REGISTER YOUR INTEREST BEFORE FRIDAY11 JANUARY-BY EMAILING [email protected]

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CO3 Member Magazine Winter 2018/19 25

• Accelerate your leadership with enhanced self and team awareness• Collaborate and develop a strong network of fellow senior leaders• Gain unique insight into the challenges and experiences of Third Sector leaders• Experience transformational change, from manager to leader• Gain an ILM Level 5 Award in Leadership qualification

Strengthening our Future Exclusively for Third Sector Senior Managers

of previous delegates would recommend this programme

Image: Created by Natanaelginting - Freepik.com

CO3 HAS BEEN DELIVERING AN EXECUTIVE MENTORING PROGRAMME FOR ALMOST 15 YEARS, AND TO DATE NEARLY 200 CO3 MEMBERS HAVE BEEN SUPPORTED WITH A YEAR’S MENTORING SUPPORT.

Previous mentors have come from a broad range of leaders from across the Public, Private and Third Sector and we are lucky to have been supported by a wide range of bodies including Queens University School of Management, NI Assembly, Halifax and the Police Ombudsman NI to name just a few.

WHAT IS MENTORING?

Mentoring is when a person (the mentor) shares their knowledge, skills and experience to assist another person (the mentee) to progress in his/her current job or career. Mentoring is a really effective personal development tool as it is tailor made to the individual with the opportunity to learn at a time and place that suits them.

People often ask what the difference is between counselling, coaching and mentoring. Whilst there can be overlaps in some of the skills and approaches each are used in very different contexts.

When an individual has a personal or psychological issue e.g. a family relationship breakdown, this is better addressed with a relationship counsellor who is trained to help you deal with emotional issues using talking therapy. Coaching tends to be shorter term and more focused on developing e.g. a certain skill or working towards a specific task such as how to chair a meeting; or handling a difficult conversation with a staff member.

Mentoring uses many of the same skills and approaches as coaching but it is a longer term relationship. The mentee is able to discuss issues/experiences in a safe and confidential environment. The mentor can act as a sounding board, share some of their own successes and failures, and help the mentee to find a way through their respective challenges.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF MENTORING?

If you are looking for someone to give you all the answers then you are going to be disappointed! Similarly if you think it sounds like a novel idea but you aren’t really sure why you want a mentor, then it’s not for you at this time.

The best results from mentoring are when you are very clear about what you hope to gain or change and why. Mentoring has been described as “Food for the Soul” and that’s because that space and ‘time out’ to think and be challenged sets it apart from other development tools in helping you to set your direction, and believe in yourself.

WHO IS THE CO3 MENTORING PROGRAMME FOR?

The CO3 Mentoring programme is designed to support Chief Executives and Senior Managers with a view to further their development and improve their performance. We recognise that many of our members can feel isolated in their respective roles, and it can, at times, be lonely at the top. So the idea behind the year-long programme is to not only to give the individual a trusted confidant and critical friend but also to help them to build a peer network. CO3 also knows that funding challenges have impacted

on member’s training budgets so the CO3 mentoring programme is a very cost effective support and development tool.

The Programme aims to provide mentees with a confidential and safe environment to develop their leadership abilities. Mentors will also benefit from taking part by further enhancing their communication, interpersonal, problem-solving and listening skills.

To be eligible to apply to be a mentee you just need to be a member of CO3.You don’t need to be a CO3 member to be a mentor and in fact we actively encourage people from different backgrounds to get involved! We will be recruiting for mentees and mentors from January 2019, with the next cohort starting in April 2019. We are looking for Mentees (Chief Executives and Senior Managers in the Third Sector) who are facing a “new to them” situation, a specific work issue, or a personal career decision and would like to work this through with the help from a Mentor.

We are looking for Mentors, (Chief Executives and Senior Leaders from the Third, Public and Private Sector) with the following attributes:

• A willingness to listen and to share their knowledge and experience

• A keen interest in others and a willingness to share their successes and failures (i.e. they do not claim to be perfect!)

• An open-minded point of view and enthusiasm to explore new ideas or ways to do things differently.

If you are interested, why not come along to the CO3 Mentoring Information Session to hear about how you can get involved (in either role).

The information session will take place on Tuesday 12 February,11am- 12pm, at the Volunteer Centre, 34 Shaftesbury Square, Belfast.

If you are interested in attending or finding out more about the programme please contact Tracey by email: [email protected] or tel. 02890245356

Tracey McCreanor, Corporate Services Manager, CO3

CO3 MENTORING PROGRAMME- IS MENTORING FOR YOU?

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THIRD SECTOR ORGANISATIONS ARE PARTICULARLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO THE EBB AND FLOW OF NORTHERN IRELAND’S DEVOLVED EXECUTIVE.

At the beginning of the year, most organisations reported they were in receipt of funding from government sources, ranging from sub-20 per cent to the one third (35 per cent) of organisations receiving over 80 per cent of their total income from government. Absence of a functioning Executive has major implications for the sector and the ability of its member organisations to fulfil their remit and continue to deliver vital services. Indeed, as the year progressed there was an evident trend in substantial increases in demand for services, rising significantly every quarter. Furthermore, the lack of an Assembly to legislate has given rise to decision paralysis and mounting frustration within the sector. Normally the New Year is a time of reflection and hopeful anticipation for the year ahead. But sentiment is being clearly overshadowed by political events. In the first quarter, most third sector leaders reported the lack of devolved government was having an adverse effect on their organisation. This remained a common thread throughout the year. In Q2 sector leaders cited the lack of an Assembly was impacting their organisation negatively

in relation to funding, procurement of services, and the ability to drive key legislation and policy changes. Amid the deadlock almost three quarters of sector leaders opted for a shift in the political decision makers, including transferring the responsibility to make decisions about Northern Ireland to the Secretary of State, an NI Citizens’ Assembly and a joint British-Irish intergovernmental conference. This grew ever-more extreme as the year went on with a significant proportion stating their support for a return to direct rule in Q3 – a clear sign of the growing frustration bubbling beneath the surface of an otherwise resilient sector. Two thirds of organisations in each quarter cited a belief that political stability would worsen over the coming 12 months. While this remained consistent quarter-to-quarter it was a very different story being told about the sector’s outlook for the Northern Ireland economy. Hand-in-hand with the low-spirited estimation of our future political stability, sentiment relating to the economic outlook also deteriorated, increasing by almost one fifth (18 per cent) from Q1-Q3. The third sector in Northern Ireland has been spinning plates throughout 2018, responding and adjusting to external pressures beyond its control. These include the enduring Brexit saga and the uncertainty over the status of skilled EU nationals employed in the sector, to preparations for the introduction of the General Data Protection Regulation

(GDPR) back in May and the blow to reputation in the wake of the Oxfam crisis. Skills shortages are being felt across the sector. In the first quarter, 37 per cent reported skills shortages in the previous 12 months in areas including social care, fundraising, finance and administration. One respondent commented, “reduced applications in all advertised posts and less qualified individuals applying.” In Q3 this had increased to half of respondents citing a skills deficit in roles such as marketing and communications, fundraising and operations. Interestingly, during the course of the year there was a significant increase noted in cash flow; perhaps a silver lining for the sector. Though it remains to be seen how this unfolds in the year ahead as the sector continues to respond to increasing demand, exacerbated by skills shortages. Looking to the year ahead, all signs point to the difficulties of 2018 rolling over into 2019 – groundhog year, you might say. “I’m not going to live by their rules anymore,” to quote Bill Murray in the classic hit, Groundhog Day. In the year ahead, the third sector will be considering the sentiment behind this message. Public sector funding will continue to feel the squeeze and uncertainty will almost certainly continue. Securing new avenues of funding to mitigate against reliance on increasingly uncertain public sources will be more important for the sector than ever. Keeping the plates spinning will remain a challenge in 2019.

Richard Ramsey, Chief Economist, Ulster Bank

MORE PLATE SPINNING

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ONE OF THE IMMEDIATE CHALLENGES FACING NORTHERN IRELAND BUSINESSES WHEN IT COMES TO THEIR WORKFORCES AS A RESULT OF BREXIT IS HOW TO ASSIST AND SUPPORT THEIR EU EMPLOYEES LIVING AND WORKING IN NORTHERN IRELAND WHO UNDERSTANDABLY WANT TO KNOW WHETHER AND HOW THEY CAN SECURE THEIR STATUS HERE.

In July this year, the UK government released an ‘employer toolkit’ to equip organisations with the tools and information to support their EU employees. To be eligible for settled status, an individual will need to:

• be an EU citizen, or a family member of an EU citizen

• have been living in the UK continuously for 5 years

• have started living in the UK by 31 December 2020

If they have lived in the UK for less than

5 years, they will generally be eligible for ‘pre-settled status’ instead. Whilst the toolkit is undoubtedly a welcome development, full details of the scheme are still subject to approval by Parliament. That lack of certainty will present challenges for organisations in terms of retaining staff and recruiting. Current ‘right to work’ checks (e.g. EU passport and/or national ID card) will apply until the end of 2020 and we understand that there will be no change to the rights and status of EU citizens living in the UK until 2021. Employers are not expected to pay/support the cost of the EU Settlement Scheme application for their EU employees but are welcome to do so at their discretion. EU workers will not need to apply if they hold Irish citizenship or have indefinite leave to remain, but their family members from outside the UK and Ireland will. The scheme will be open fully by March 2019 and the deadline for applications will be 30 June 2021. EU workers may be able to apply after this date if they are joining a family member in the UK.

It remains open to eligible EEA nationals to apply for permanent residence if they have been living in the UK for five years or indeed for a Registration Certificate if they have been resident for less than

five years. Whilst the government has taken the view that those documents should become invalid after Brexit, the finer details still form part of the Brexit negotiations. Against the backdrop of ongoing uncertainty, it is understandable that many EEA nationals may find it useful and reassuring to have a formal record of their continuous residence in the UK and their existing right to live and work in the UK.

Louise McAloon is a Partner in Worthingtons Commercial Solicitors specialising in employment law. She can be contacted on 028 9043 4015 or [email protected].

Louise McAloon, Partner, Worthingtons Commercial Solicitors

BREXIT: ‘EMPLOYER TOOLKIT’ TO SUPPORT EU WORKERS

LIVING AND WORKING IN NORTHERN IRELAND

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WHAT IS THE CO3 TRUSTEE NETWORK?The Trustee Network is a unique support service. We facilitate a range of themed networking events for Trustees (also known as Directors) on a monthly basis, to share information and experiences amongst their peers. We bring in a range of experts to speak on a variety of topics that sit under the broad theme of corporate governance. The purpose of the Third Sector Trustee Network is to inform, support and connect Trustees.

THE BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP• Peer Support• Advice and guidance• Networking• Capacity building and skills development• Advertising board vacancies

As a member of the CO3 Trustee Network you will have access to a free consultation on Corporate Governance issues through Virtus Consultancy.

CHAIRS’ FORUMWithin the Trustee Network we have created a Chairs’ Forum. We offer opportunities for Chairs, Vice Chairs and incoming Chairs to come together and share experiences and learning at a range of events. TREASURERS’ FORUMWithin the Trustee Network we have created a Treasurers’ Forum. We offer opportunities for Treasurers and incoming Treasurers to come together and share experiences and learning at a range of events.

THE THIRD SECTORTRUSTEE NETWORK FOR NORTHERN IRELAND

BOARD VACANCIESSince we launched the Trustee Network in March 2016 we have been advertising Board vacancies for Members, to date we have advertised close to 100 vacancies.

Feedback on this service has been very positive with Members getting a good response and high quality Board members through this service.

This service is available to all CO3 Trustee Network members as part of their Membership, both to receive the notifications of Board vacancies and to advertise any Board vacancies they might have through the Network.

Should members require additional support, CO3 offer a paid-for Board recruitment service, See page 7 for further information.

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UPCOMING TRAINING:WHAT EVERY TRUSTEE SHOULD KNOW

The role of a Trustee is important and rewarding. It is extremely important that anybody who is or is considering becoming a Trustee is fully aware of their roles and responsibilities. The three workshops provide you with this knowledge, as well as providing you with the opportunity to learn from your peers and form new connections. The training session broken into three workshops will focus on:

Session 1 (14 February, 5.30pm – 8.00pm)• Role of the Board• Role of trustees• Good board structures & systems

Session 2 (21 February, 5.30pm – 8.00pm)• Giving strategic direction• Ensuring the quality of services

Session 3 (28 February, 5.30pm – 8.00pm)• Managing resources• Managing risk• Being a good employer

Registration

To register please email [email protected] or Tel: 028 90 245 356.

Cost

£75 per session or £200 for all three.

JOIN TODAY!Membership of the Trustee Network is £60 per annum.

Discount is available for organisations that would like to sign up more than two Trustees.

For further information and to register for the Trustee Network, please contact: CO3, Chief Officers 3rd Sector Rachel Cooley [email protected] 028 90 245 356

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INTERIM EXECUTIVE TRAINING PREPARES INDIVIDUALS TO WORK WITH A THIRD SECTOR ORGANISATION ON A SHORT TERM BASIS, HELPING ORGANISATIONS TO EITHER MANAGE A GAP IN PERMANENT LEADERSHIP AND/OR TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT TO A CHIEF EXECUTIVE AND THE SENIOR MANAGEMENT TEAM IN TIMES OF NEED.

The bespoke training programme is available to Executives who have built up extensive experience working at a Senior Management level. We are looking for people who demonstrate strong leadership, management, organisational development experience and the ability to analyse and effectively deal with organisational challenges. THIS COURSE WILL CONSIDER:

• The role and skills required of an Interim Executive• What to consider about taking up such a role• Contracting with an organisation• Assessing an organisation• Supporting good governance

WHO IS THIS COURSE FOR:

• Current and former CEOs or Directors with experience in Third Sector leadership and management who are considering a career as an Interim Leader.

• Current and former CEOs or Directors with experience in Private & Public leadership and management whose expertise and experience would add value to the Third Sector.

• Former Chief Officers who have experience of working as an Interim Leader however, would benefit from more specialised training and placement opportunities.

• Mid-to-late career individuals who were once CEOs or Directors and now have independent consulting practices.

• Organisational Development Consultants and other senior professionals who want to increase their knowledge of interim leadership and management and learn how to more effectively address the leadership challenges within a transitioning organisation without necessarily wanting to serve as an Interim Leader.

DATE: 3 & 4 April 2019TIME: 9am - 5pm Day 1 and 9am - 3.00pm Day 2FEE: £495

This is a 2 day back-to-back training programme.

To register please submit a cover letter and CV indicating your relevant experience to [email protected] .

CO3 INTERIM EXECUTIVE TRAININGFACILITATED BY ROGER COURTNEY3 & 4 APRIL 2019 | £495 | CO3 OFFICES

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Open College Network NI, an educational charity and an Awarding Body that advances education by developing nationally recognised qualifications for adults and young people throughout NI. They will stage their first Learner Awards ceremony at Stormont Buildings (Long Gallery) on 5th March 2019. The Recognising Learning Endeavour Awards 2019 will cover a range of categories including schools, further education and voluntary sector learner of the year, an inspiring tutor/teacher award, health & wellbeing learner award and an educational provider award.

(Left to right; Roger Talbot, Vice Principal of Malone Integrated College; Michelle Simpson, Lecturer NWRC; Martin Flynn, Chief Executive OCN;

David Babington, Chief Executive Action Mental Health)

OCN NI Celebrating Success

Martin Flynn, the CEO of Open College Network NI (OCNI) said: “At OCN NI, we are continually inspired by the hard work, perseverance and accomplishments of our learners and approved centres. The Awards will recognise the achievements of learners who seek to achieve their goals in life and work and their tutors/teachers and educational providers who help enable them to succeed. OCN NI look forward to celebrating at the awards, especially with those candidates who have overcome significant social, economic or educational barriers that were preventing them from realising their full potential.”

Chief Executive of Action Mental Health, David Babington added: “AMH have been a longstanding provider of OCN qualifications, which have acted as a catalyst for participants to engage in other service programmes with the ultimate goal of improving their well-being and quality of life. We’re delighted with these inaugural awards and look forward to celebrating the achievements of our learners. Supporting this event helps us contribute to realising our vision - a society which actively values and supports people on their journey to positive mental health.”

Hosting the Awards is an important milestone in the ongoing development of OCN NI. The awards underscore their commitment to ensuring that as many people as possible, irrespective of their background have an opportunity to advance their knowledge and skills in their chosen field of endeavour.

Tel: 028 90 463 990Email: [email protected]: www.ocnni.org.uk Advancing Education Awarding Qualifications