Action Group News - May Edition
- benmcgurk
- May 1
- 5 min read
Welcome to the latest edition of ROCNI's Action Group News!
It's a new month, the sun is shining (typical school exam weather!!) and we have much to celebrate. Firstly, thank you to everyone who got behind our 'Small Gift, Big Change' fundraising campaign. Your kindness and generosity will enable us to continue the important work of 'empowering people of goodwill to work together for safer, stronger communities'. Each donation goes a long way in making a difference. Whilst the campaign has now come to an end, like all charities, the fundraising continues- so scroll down for Amy's recent fundraising update.
In April, we completed two Community Safety Project Can Do programmes in Ligoniel Primary School and Shankill Methodist Church, and started another two with the Vine Centre's Health & Wellbeing Group and in Harmony Primary School. We also have updates on our upcoming School Uniform Projects - summer 2025 is set to be the biggest year yet!
Scroll down for all the details as well as updates on our other ROC initiatives.
Once again thank you for your continued support of ROC's work in Northern Ireland.
With thanks
Keeva
Northern Ireland Development Manager
Celebrating Faith-Based Community Work in Northern Ireland
On 2nd April, Keeva was on the panel at the 'Celebration of Faith-Based Community Work in Northern Ireland Event' organised by the Community Faiths Forum. The event, held in The Duncairn centre in North Belfast, gathered over 65 faith-based community practitioners providing an unique opportunity to reflect on how much the faith sector has grown as well as acknowledge and celebrate their vital work delivering essential services across Northern Ireland. The event gave space for attendees to network and it was good to catch up with many of ROCNI's church and faith-based organisation partners.
Keeva was joined on the panel with Bill Shaw (174 Trust), Edwin Graham (Baha'i Community) and Rachael Power (Rural Community Network). It was certainly an opportunity for Keeva to get out of her comfort zone as the panel considered some tough questions around impact, change and pushing new boundaries.
Thank you to Lynda Gould from NICVA and the Community Faiths Forum for giving the opportunity to be part of the event and contribute in a small way.
Check out the NICVA website and the NICVA Faith in Community Facebook page for more details on upcoming events around Northern Ireland celebrating faith-based community work.
Since 2019, ROCNI's School Uniform Projects have supported over 3,000 children across Greater Belfast with new and pre-loved uniform items. Last summer, the School Uniform Project took place in seven locations and we're now planning our 2025 projects.
There are various ways to partner with us on this community initiative:
- host a school uniform project in your church or community centre
- become a donation point for a local initiative
- volunteer at a local project
- donate uniform and/or stationary items
- promote the projects on your socials
With the cost of living continuing to impact family finances initiatives like the ROC School Uniform Project will be needed in communities across Northern Ireland. Get in touch for further details on how you can get involved this summer.
Fundraising Update
This month has marked our first ever fundraising campaign – Small Gift, Big Change! We are extremely grateful for all your support! To those who have liked, shared and donated – thank you.
Just because the campaign is over, doesn’t mean our fundraising is, so please do donate if you are able. As we head into the summer months, it is School Uniform Project season at ROC, which means all hands on deck! This year we are running the largest number of School Uniform Projects yet, and we really do need your help in collecting and sorting uniforms. If you are able to donate uniforms, want to hold your own collection or are interested in giving a few hours volunteering with us this summer, please do get in touch with us!
In the meantime, we have lots of exciting news to share throughout May, so keep your eyes on our socials for that. Thank you once again to all who supported our Small Gift, Big Change campaign – I look forward to sharing with you the difference these donations have made.
Project CAN DO! Health & Wellbeing Programme
Since 2023, ROC have facilitated five health and wellbeing themed Project Can Do programmes in Ballyclare, Larne, Newtownabbey and Shankill supporting over fifty people of all ages and backgrounds. Project Can Do! health and wellbeing community project is a comprehensive six-week programme, including five workshop sessions and one concluding event. The programme covers a range of topics aimed at enhancing community connection and personal wellbeing.
Based on the Take 5 Steps to Wellbeing, each week focuses on a different theme: Connect, Be Active, Keep Learning, Give to Others, and Take Notice. Participants are able to engage in a wide variety of interactive activities designed to promote mental and physical well-being, encourage continuous learning, foster a sense of community, and enhance mindfulness and present-moment awareness.
Would you be interested in running a Project Can Do Health and Wellbeing Programme in your school, church or community organisation? We're welcoming bookings to deliver programmes in late 2025 and 2026. Get in touch with Keeva at northernireland@roc.uk.com for further details.
Project CAN DO! Community Safety Programme
We're coming to the end of our pilot Community Safety Project Can Do programme for parents of primary school aged children in North Belfast. Thanks to funding from the Northern Ireland Police Property Fund, we have been able to facilitate the five-week programme in nine primary schools and groups. The programme in partnership with the North Belfast Neighbourhood Police Team explores various community safety topics including keeping your property safe, keeping safe online as well as keeping safe in your community.
In April, we completed a further two programmes in Ligoniel Primary School and Shankill Methodist Church with the final three programmes completing later this month. Thank you to all the participants who have taken part and for the schools and groups who have hosted us. The Community Safety Project Can Do programme is making a difference with participants commenting:
'Everything explained so simple so I could understand everything even with my language barrier. Thank You.'
'It was very educative and engaging. I now understand much better how to confidently protect my home.'
The Community Safety Project Can Do! programme completes at the end of May with two Community Safety Events showcasing the wide range of community safety support in North Belfast and beyond. Both events are open to the wider public, whether you have taken part in the programme sessions or not. So if you're in the North Belfast area, please pop in and meet a wide range of organisations, get some freebies as well as important information and advice. If your group or agency providing services and support around community safety, we have some availability in our exhibition zones - get in touch with Keeva (northernireland@roc.uk.com) for more details.
Join us for the 2025 ROC National Conference: Go Together, a transformational event designed to equip churches and Christian-led organisations to hear God's heart and serve their communities effectively.
📅 Date: Thursday 20th - Friday 21st November
📍Venue: High Leigh Conference Centre, Lord Street, Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire, EN11 8SG
🎟️Tickets: £50 - £175 (Includes accommodation & meals)
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