www.rdc.org.uk/news/?itemid=4Ireland, UK and International IT news en-gb 20/05/2013 01:16:15 1 http://www.rdc.org.uk/news/default.asp?ID=1241&itemId=4&topicId=&va=0 Social Development Minister, Nelson McCausland has launched the Housing Executive’s action plan for tackling the housing needs of people in rural areas at the Balmoral Show. http://www.rdc.org.uk/news/default.asp?ID=1239&itemId=4&topicId=&va=0 Social Enterprise NI has organised a seminar to explore further the idea of Social Farming as a social enterprise. http://www.rdc.org.uk/news/default.asp?ID=1240&itemId=4&topicId=&va=0 A group of teachers, classroom assistants and afterschool leaders are among the first to be trained under the new Rural Respecting Difference Programme (RRDP). The training programme has been held recently in both Truagh and Newry. http://www.rdc.org.uk/news/default.asp?ID=1237&itemId=4&topicId=&va=0 The Big Lottery Fund have announced details of a unique partnership tasked with delivering more than £15 million lottery cash to bring communities in Northern Ireland together by making better use of local spaces and places. http://www.rdc.org.uk/news/default.asp?ID=1238&itemId=4&topicId=&va=0 One of the world’s oldest YMCA groups today unveiled a new state-of-the-art £1.2million facility in Carrickfergus. http://www.rdc.org.uk/news/default.asp?ID=1235&itemId=4&topicId=&va=0 Community relations and youth work in general was given a £1.7 million boost in Lurgan with the opening of the town’s new state-of-the-art YMCA building. http://www.rdc.org.uk/news/default.asp?ID=1236&itemId=4&topicId=&va=0 Community, church and business leaders came together to officially open a new £800,000 hub for peace building and community work in Maghera. http://www.rdc.org.uk/news/default.asp?ID=1234&itemId=4&topicId=&va=0 The Rural Network NI/Northern Ireland Rural Development Council has joined forces with international organizations The Associació d’iniciatives Rurals de Catalunya (ARCA), Associazione dei GAL Toscani and Fundatia Alternative Romania to organize a Seminar on ‘rural youth migrations and employment’ which will take place from 21st-24th May 2013 in Solsona (Spain). http://www.rdc.org.uk/news/default.asp?ID=1233&itemId=4&topicId=&va=0 New Zealand Dairy Careers offers a practical two-year residential dairy university programme based in New Zealand that pays you top money to learn from the best farmers in the world. http://www.rdc.org.uk/news/default.asp?ID=1232&itemId=4&topicId=&va=0 A new, thought-provoking multi-media advertising campaign designed to dramatically ramp up awareness of farm safety has been unveiled by the Farm Safety Partnership. http://www.rdc.org.uk/news/default.asp?ID=1231&itemId=4&topicId=&va=0 Join the Social Enterprise NI for live ideas exchange session. http://www.rdc.org.uk/news/default.asp?ID=1229&itemId=4&topicId=&va=0 RDC has issued its response to the Consultation on NIHE: Draft Rural Action Plan 2013-2015 http://www.rdc.org.uk/news/default.asp?ID=1230&itemId=4&topicId=&va=0 Agriculture Minister Michelle O’Neill has launched a new series of on-farm safety awareness sessions. Aiming to reach 3,000 participants in its first year, FarmSafe Awareness, is designed to make people more aware of the risks that exist on farms. http://www.rdc.org.uk/news/default.asp?ID=1227&itemId=4&topicId=&va=0 Last week saw the launch of the Rural Respecting Difference Programme, involving the Northern Ireland Rural Development Council, Early Years – the organisation for young children and the Border Counties Childhood Network. The announcement was made at a major International Childhood Development conference hosted by Early Years in the Europa Hotel, Belfast. http://www.rdc.org.uk/news/default.asp?ID=1228&itemId=4&topicId=&va=0 Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster has announced a new £5million NI Small Business Loan Fund as part of Invest Northern Ireland’s Access to Finance Strategy.