Next Monthly Meeting
Causeway U3A
Next Monthly Meeting
This will be on Thursday, February 1st in the Lodge Hotel, Coleraine.
Tea and coffee will be available from 10.30am and the meeting starts at 11am, cost £1.00 (please try to have correct change). Car sharing is advised where possible.
The main speaker is Brian Mullen of BBC Radio Foyle and the title of his talk: "A Shared Heritage".
Brian Mullen is from Derry City and is a highly respected singer of traditional Irish song. He has been broadcasting since 1984 when he presented “Mullen’s Folk” on BBC Radio Ulster which featured traditional musics of the world. He has also acted on stage and on television and provided voiceovers for television documentaries and corporate videos. He went on to become BBC Northern Ireland’s first full-time Irish language radio producer and helped to set up Radio Ulster’s Irish Language Unit in 1987. He has since returned to the microphone and currently presents “Caschlár” which features an eclectic, not to say eccentric, selection of music.
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Don't Forget - Cuppa and Chat - new venture starting in February
This new social group, similar to our summer coffee mornings, will meet for the first time at the Lodge Hotel, Coleraine on Thursday Feb 8th from 10.30am to noon. The group will be hosted by Mary Farrell and a Committee Member will attend each month to update you on plans and to discuss your ideas and suggestions.
All members welcome; the only cost is for whatever refreshments you order.
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Causeway U3A Activities
'79th Ballymoney Drama Festival - an introduction.
The 79th Ballymoney Drama Festival takes place from Mon 5th to Sat 10th March 2018.
This is the oldest Drama Festival in NI and as usual it offers a wide range of plays. They include a new play 'Seduction and Murder at the Red Barn and associated events' by Sean Treanor performed by Newpoint Players, an Ibsen play 'John Gabriel Borkman' performed by Clarence Players and also the Irish classic 'Dancing at Luganasa' by Brian Friel performed by Lifford Players.
On Thursday 22nd Febuary, in the Cromore Halt Hotel,158 Station Rd., Portstewart, at 2.30pm, Dr Terry Hunter will give an introductory talk on each of the six plays in the Festival.
Dr Hunter has a special interest in Irish theatre and has a background in play direction and in teaching.
As payment for the venue please bring along £3.50 and you will receive tea/coffee and biscuits to accompany Dr Hunter's informative talk.
Come along to hear about the plays, then attend your selection and contribute to keeping amateur drama alive and well in Ireland.'
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Local Activities
Wellbeing in Winter
Once again Community Navigator for Older People, COAST and PCSP are coming together to deliver Wellbeing in Winter for Older People in the Coleraine area. This will be a fantastic fun-filled event full of useful Health, Wellbeing and Safety related information. Book your place soon to avoid disappointment.
The date is Thursday 22nd February from 10am until lunch at 12 in Windyhall Community Centre. To reserve a place, contact Bronagh at 028 276 65068 or .
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Alzheimer’s Society Carer Support Groups
People caring for someone with dementia are being offered support and advice at monthly carers groups being run by Alzheimer’s Society in Causeway.
The Alzheimer’s Society carer support groups provide opportunities for carers to ask questions and learn from the experiences of others within the group. Trained Alzheimer’s Society staff are on hand to provide information about dementia and practical tips about coping with the condition.
Coleraine - meets the first Tuesday of each month (next date is Tuesday 6 February) 7.30pm – 9pm, in the new venue of Coleraine Rugby Club (Please use the entrance at the side of the Clubhouse)
For further details contact Aoife McMaster on 028 7035 8887.
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Zomba Action Project - Invitation to a meeting in Limavady
You are invited to a presentation on behalf of the Zomba Action Project (ZAP) at Roe Valley Arts and Cultural Centre, O’Hampsey Studio, at 7pm on 21st February. ZAP is a registered Charity endorsed by the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council in support of its connection with Zomba City Council in southern Malawi.
The recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two Councils marks the revival of a relationship initiated by the legacy Coleraine Borough Council in 2002.
The activities that will flow from the MOU will be shaped by the fact that Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council cannot use ratepayers’ money for projects in Zomba. Zomba Council is also constrained by its limited resources as a developing world council. ZAP’s role will be to extend the relationship between the two Councils into their respective communities.
In this role ZAP will encourage our community to take an interest in what life is like in Zomba and will assist our community to identify how it can alleviate hardship in the Zomba community.
We are seeking cross community interest and support from people with all or any of the following characteristics; interest/experience/curiosity re the developing world/Malawi; enthusiasm and energy; experience of fund raising; good community networks; teachers/classroom assistants; farmers; health workers. In other words, the invitation is open to everybody, so if you are at all interested, come along and find out what it is all about.
Over the past 14 years, some £700,000 has been contributed through ZAP for small projects in Zomba; there is much more to do.
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Volunteers Wanted
Would you like to have a say about inclusive and accessible transport?
IMTAC (The Inclusive Mobility and Transport Advisory Committee) is looking for new members who are passionate about making the transport system in NI inclusive and accessible to all.
Members aren’t paid but receive expenses including travel costs. IMTAC actively seeks involvement from older people.
If you are interested or have any further questions, please contact Michael Lorimer at IMTAC on / 028 9072 6020.
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Opportunities to become a School Governor
The Department of Education (DE) and the Education Authority (EA) have launched a recruitment exercise to reconstitute Northern Ireland schools’ Boards of Governors during 2018.
Boards of Governors are reconstituted on a rolling basis, usually every four years. The aim is to ensure that the membership of Boards of Governors have the skills and experience to enable them, with the necessary training and support, to fulfil their responsibilities in relation to their schools.
School governors play a pivotal role in our education system. The Board of Governors of a school provides strategic management, constructive challenge and accountability, and as such, hold the school Principal to account for the day to day management of their school and for maintaining high standards of education for the children and young people within their school.
Voluntary service as a school governor provides an opportunity for individuals to make an important contribution to their local community and to develop a variety of skills which could be of benefit in a number of other situations.
Governor appointments are open to individuals from all walks of life; all that is required is an interest in education and an ability to work as part of a team. Training will be provided.
Information on the role of the school governor, along with a short promotional video, is available on the Department’s website -
Application forms for school governor are also available on the Department's website of from the School Governance Team on 028 9127 9404 or by e-mail at .
If you would like to discuss any aspect of this, please contact Michael Ferguson on 028 9127 9997 or Jenny Jackson on 028 9127 9927.
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