Take a look through our monthly News sheet, Community Matters
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 Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon Borough Age Friendly Survey
Are you aged 50+ and living in the Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon Borough? If you answered YES to both these questions, we want to hear from you.  Our vision is to make this Borough a place where you can live a full, active, valued and healthy life. 
Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon Borough Council are beginning the process of developing an Age Friendly Strategy & Action Plan.  In order to draw up this strategy we need you to tell us how Age Friendly your area already is and some suggestions on how you think we can improve it to promote active ageing. By taking the time to fill in the survey you will have your views heard and help us to ensure this is a great place for all our citizens to live and grow old in.
The Age Friendly Programme is funded through the PHA and led by ABC Age Friendly Alliance.
Open until Tuesday 31 August 2021, you can complete the survey  online here: https://armaghbanbridgecraigavon.citizenspace.com/environmental-health/abc-age-friendly-survey/
or you can request a hard copy by contacting Stephanie Rock, Age Friendly Officer on 07825 010 630 or Stephanie.Rock@armaghbanbridgecraigavon.gov.uk.

This is the single most important policy that will affect your community group over the next number of years.
 
Summary
The Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) have published a consultation on the Rural Policy Framework for Northern Ireland (NI) and look forward to hearing your views. They are interested in your feedback on whether or not the proposed Rural Policy Framework for NI is a relevant and appropriate means of creating a sustainable rural community where people want to live, work and be active. This exercise will inform the Rural Policy Framework for Northern Ireland and the subsequent interventions and Programme of support stemming from it.
The Framework has provided an opportunity to review the approach to rural policy and what is needed to support rural communities in the context of the following main strategic drivers:

• The impact of COVID-19 on rural communities, in particular the need for flexibility to respond quickly to emerging needs;
• Green Growth including the need for access to nature whilst ensuring sustainability in a post COVID-19 era;
• Opportunities for new ways of working and funding post Priority 6 funding under EU Rural Development Programme;
• The priorities set out in the draft Programme for Government; and
• The New Decade, New Approach Deal.

There is a short survey ( please see links below) and you will also have an opportunity to have your Rural Voice heard through face-to-face discussion and  online engagement with members of the Rural Policy and Delivery team within DAERA.
The review of Rural policy and an analysis of what are the key challenges and opportunities that face rural people and communities is paramount to setting out future funding policy and direction for community and voluntary organisations like yours so it’s really important to feed into this consultation. Through community involvement in rural policy consultation in the past you were definitely able to shape and form programmes and funds which many of you have since availed of.
The Framework aims to create a sustainable rural community where people want to live, work and be active and this will be your chance to influence it’s shape .  Any questions you may have in advance of you completing the consultation response via the online survey should be put to the officials through any of the virtual consultation events as listed below.
DAERA would welcome any comments you wish to make on all of the proposals or on those issues that are of particular interest to you in the consultation. If you wish to take part in the consultation, once you have considered the proposals, you should respond online, through the survey which can be accessed here:
Full consultation details are available at:  https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/consultations/rural-policy-framework-northern-ireland-consultation
A copy of the survey is also available for you to download at the following link: https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/sites/default/files/consultations/daera/20.21.042%20Rural%20Policy%20Framework%20NI%20-%20Response%20Template%20final.PDF
Virtual Consultation Events
Overview of Rural Policy Framework for NI Monday 19 July at 7pm
Thematic Pillar 1: Innovation & Entrepreneurship Tuesday 27 July at 7pm
Thematic Pillar 2: Sustainable Tourism Wednesday 4 August at 7pm
Thematic Pillar 3: Health and Wellbeing Thursday 12 August at 7pm
Thematic Pillar 4: Employment Tuesday 17 August at 7pm
Thematic Pillar 5: Connectivity Wednesday 25 August at 7pm
Recap of Rural Policy Framework for NI Tuesday 31 August at 7pm
The consultation will run for an 8 week period from Wednesday 7 July 2021 and the deadline for responses to this consultation is Monday 6 September 2021.
Please see attached letter from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, advising you of the launch of this Consultation: Rural Policy Framework for Northern Ireland.
Attachment:  Consultee Engagement Letter - Rural Policy Framework for NI.pdf

​Interim arrangements have been introduced by the Department of Health to allow people to travel before official COVID-19 vaccine certification comes into place later in July.
You can find out below how to apply for a document to prove you have been vaccinated.
 
Each person applying must create an account and apply for themselves. You cannot apply for others. 
You must apply at least three days before your departure date so that certificates can be manually produced and made available for collection.
 
This written confirmation is only available to people who:

• received two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine in Northern Ireland

and

• can provide proof of holiday or flight bookings (up to and including 19 July 2021) to only countries abroad that require verification

This document will only be valid until 11.59 pm on 31 July 2021.
 
The document can be collected from one of three sites across Northern Ireland:

• Foyle Arena 2, Limavady Rd, Derry/ Londonderry, BT47 6JY
• South Lake Leisure Centre, 1 Lake Rd, Craigavon, BT64 1AS
• SSE Arena, 2 Queens Quay, Belfast, BT3 9QQ

 
If you have travel plans after 19 July 2021 you should wait for the official vaccination certification to become available later in July.
https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/services/coronavirus-covid-19-interim-proof-vaccination-document
 
Beware of Fake sites charging people for these documents - always use the nidirect.gov.uk site

​Orange Heritage Workshop
Presented by CACD in conjunction with Forsythe Consulting
Traditions and History of Orange Arches with  Dr Jonathan Mattison
on Thursday 8th July at 8.00pm
 
Please register with admin@cacd.org.uk for zoom details

See below for a news sheet with lots of useful information.

Did you know individuals over the age of 60 are more likely to be targeted by cyber-criminals?
To promote awareness of this threat, a team of passionate cybersecurity employees at Allstate developed a programme for older adults, to help them navigate the internet safely and with confidence.

A number of Allstate Cyber Safety for Older Adults training sessions are coming up in July and August.

Individuals interested in FREE cybersecurity training can contact: AllstateCyberSafety@allstate.com
or write to Victoria Logan, Cybersecurity Awareness and Communication Specialist, Allstate Information Security, 10 Mays Meadow, Belfast, BT1 3PH.
victoria.logan@allstate.com or check the link here:
https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=5zG0iCrPqUO9AIFEH1wtPC8hj3_ MIWpMtJqedZEmjx9URUJKTzFBQlZGSDQ3V0ZUR1FSVFJTVEhUTS4u

CANVASS 2021 IS HERE!
It's time to register.
It only takes 5 minutes to register. Go online today to secure your right to vote www.gov.uk/register-to-vote.
PLEASE NOTE: you can opt for the register that allows you to keep your address private, especially relevant to survivors of domestic abuse, stalking etc
PLEASE NOTE: households where existing electors are aged 75 or over will receive paper canvass registration forms for all electors at that address by post.
Canvass information page - how to register
https://www.eoni.org.uk/Register-To-Vote/Canvass-2021

23/06/2021

​Take a look at our July News sheet

Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council Farmers Survey - Agriculture Strategy - opens Friday 11 June to Friday 2 July 2021
 
The Agriculture Industry in our Borough accounts for 13% of farming in Northern Ireland with a diverse range of farming enterprises, with 3245 registered farm businesses in 2019 and employing 7205 people
Consultation at the farm level is valuable in developing Councils Agriculture Strategy and provides farmers with an opportunity for input, leading to the development of creative and realistic recommendations to address opportunities and challenges for the industry within our Borough.
You are invited to take part in an online consultation which is open from Friday 11 June to Friday 2 July 2021.  We would be grateful for your feedback and to this opportunity to input, share your ideas and suggestions on the agriculture industry in our Borough.
To access the survey please follow this link: https://armaghbanbridgecraigavon.citizenspace.com/regeneration/farmers-survey/
 
All those who take part in this survey will be entered into a raffle to win a £150 voucher, which can be used with any animal feed supplier of your choice. 
Please allow 20 - 25 minutes to complete this survey.