YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago’s Post

CHILDREN’S WEEK 2024 It’s not too early to start planning what your organisation will do for Children’s Week this year. Children’s Week will happen this year in Term 4, Week 2 (18-27 October). The simplified 2024 Children's Week National Theme is: Children have the right to a clean and safe environment. GRANTS: Through sponsorship from the ACT Government and the private sector, ACT Children’s Week Inc is able to provide small grants to Canberra-based individuals, organisations and communities to support Children’s Week-related events and activities. ONLINE GRANT APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN – till 15 September.   AWARDS: If someone in your organisation or community makes a difference for children and young people in the ACT, why not recognise their efforts through an ACT Children’s Week Award? ONLINE AWARD NOMINATIONS ARE NOW OPEN – till 15 SEPTEMBER. You can also Like / Follow us on Facebook: Children’s Week ACT For more information, go to: actchildrensweek.org:

Empowering young minds with entrepreneurial skills is key to unlocking not only the individuals full potential but can also lead to fostering stronger communities. By equipping our young people with the ability to learn and investigate entrepreneurship, we're encouraging and nurturing individual experimentation and creativity, and going beyond learning about business acumen. It will allow our young people to overcome challenges, build a problem-solving mindset, learn how to deal with setbacks and appreciate success once it is achieved. These qualities empower young people to adapt, innovate, and contribute meaningfully to society. As they learn to navigate challenges, set goals, and take initiative, they become drivers of positive change. Fostering entrepreneurial skills among the youth has a ripple effect on communities. It helps to create a culture of collaboration and resourcefulness. Young entrepreneurs often identify and address local needs, leading to the development of community-centric solutions. In essence, investing in the entrepreneurial education of young individuals isn't just an investment in their personal success; it's an investment in building dynamic, resilient, and interconnected communities that thrive together.

Webinar on the #CostOfLivingCommunityFund Details below to learn about how to access, who is eligible and opportunity to meet the funders and ask questions.

Ringfenced funding needed for community education organisations in Northern Ireland. In survey responses in our Northern Ireland Community Education Census, the number of funders per organisation varied between one and eleven. However, 50 different funders were identified across both accredited and non-accredited courses. Six government departments fund community education. The top three funders for accredited learning are the Department for the Economy, the Department for Communities, and the National Lottery Community Fund. For non-accredited courses, local councils provide most of the funding alongside the Department for Communities and the National Lottery Community Fund. In order to continue to sustainably provide the services and supports that learners really need, reliable ringfenced, multi-annual funding is urgently required for community education organisations in Northern Ireland. For more: https://bit.ly/3sUJ3OI

📢 Attention all members and potential members! The Membership and Fundraising Committee is meeting today, so don't miss out. But don't worry if you can't make it, this committee meets every 3rd Thursday of each month at the same time. 🤝 This committee plays a vital role in identifying and recruiting new members, engaging and retaining current members, providing support and input on policies, and handling any disagreements that arise. Plus, they work hard to design membership levels and secure funding for the coalition. 🙌 Want to make a difference and join this committee or any others? Sign up now at https://conta.cc/3mXx6VJ. #unlockhighereducation #EducationEquity #CollegeInPrison #PellGrants #CollegeBridgePrograms #Survey #MakeYourVoiceHeard #EmpoweringEducation #IncarceratedEducation #AccessToOpportunity #SupportingOrganizations #InspiringBooks #TransformativeReading #UncoverYourPurpose #JoinUs #MakeADifference #UnlockHigherEducation #CommunityImpact #TogetherWeRise #Empowerment #OperationRestoration #EducationMatters #InspiringStories #EmpowerChange #LifeLongLearning #UnlockHigherEd, #HigherEducation #collegeinprison #collegenotcages #AccessToEducation #CollegeAffordability #HigherEdForAll

From little things…what started as an idea, a dream, is now a reality. Anyone who lives in country towns knows if you want something done, you get in, volunteer, get a team on board and work hard to make it happen. The old tennis courts in Binnaway had seen better days, not used much, weeds growing through the cracks you know the deal…I asked around, got a couple of people keen, slowly we built to having regular social tennis. There were holes in the old nets, the balls would hit the cracks in the surface but it brought people together and gave them much needed social connection and exercise in the middle of the drought. Slowly, we built a committee, applied for grants, improved the lighting, painted the amenities and cleaned, mowed, got new nets and whipper snipped. We held BBQs, fundraised or funded ourselves to keep it going and now have regular free kids coaching clinics in the school holidays. We dreamt of resurfacing: made a plan, got quotes, lobbied, held meetings, consulted, added a multipurpose court, persisted through the many challenges and finally…it happened! Lessons: 1. Do it yourself: you can sit around, whinge and wait or make a plan and make it happen 2. Volunteers are key to rural community resilience: the more we and particularly government at all levels can support volunteer community groups and their efforts the better. 3. It takes a team: everything is better when you can share it. Others will bring fresh ideas, perspectives and skills and of course it is crucial for that joint sense of ownership and achievement. Thanks to The Coonabarabran Times for their cover and volunteers everywhere for what you do 😊 🎾☀️

This is local action. Our local authority went bankrupt because they lost public money. The Council made cuts so we lost our local bus services. On Friday 15the December, in my capacity as Vice-Chair of our village forum (a recognized citizen's sub council body), I joined a group of residents to meet up with two senior council officials to walk the route of the main buses that serviced the village. My daughter (who I've posted about before on here) was available to participate too. The group was originally started by elder residents last year when the loss of the local bus service was announced. They used the bus for essential trips around the area, and for reaching train stations (our village is rural). I brought my daughter along to highlight that children, youths and young adults were now unable to use the service too. I regularly travelled on the buses before I could drive, and my wife and I used them whilst courting. The group walked a mile down the hill, on an untreated muddy minor road, with little street lighting, toward a pedestrian bridge, which leads to the only bus stop which hosts a bus service near the village. We conversed openly with the council officers; sometimes the exchanges were robust. The officers openly chatted with us, and admitted it was about prioritising budget concerns. We argued that resident safety was our main issue, and the loss of independence (in some cases leading to a sense of isolation for some). Personal vehicles, relatives or friends are the only way for some to get out and about at the moment. We walked back up our hill and went our separate ways. My daughter (who has mobility issues) was very tired, but stated that children like herself wanted to be safely conveyed home; all secondary school children attend an establishment in the town which is a further half a mile from the bridge we crossed. Our group had timed the visit to coincide with the local children making the long walk up into the village. We returned home hoping the two hours we spent would create something positive. It may be a small step, but our local bus service is very important to us, and we will fight for it. #activism #localauthoritycuts #community #leadership #citizenship #makingyourvoiceheard #whatidowhenawayfromwork #volunteering

📚 LEARNING FOR LIFE | High Life Highland supports adults with various learning needs. Whether improving job performance, learning English, working toward qualifications, or understanding household bills, our staff and volunteers are here to help. 💫 Learn more: https://hlh.scot/4dO197V #MakingLifeBetter #LearningForLife