Enrol now for 'Get on Board'  -  01/12/2008 _____________________________________________ Women and in particular, rural women are currently under-represented in public and political life. NIRWN's aim is to 'amplify and articulate the voices of rural women at strategic level' and one way in which we are currently working towards this is, by supporting women to avail of the 'Get on Board' training course. What is 'Get on Board'? 'Get on Board' is a short course designed to break down many of the barriers to the appointments process. It is aimed at people who are interested in serving on the boards of public bodies and having their voices heard at strategic level. The course is well recognised, being the only one of its kind in the UK and is supported by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments in Northern Ireland. The course provides participants with a clear understanding of what it takes to be successful both during the appointments process and while serving on a Board. Past participants Students who have previously availed of NIRWN supported 'Get on Board' training and NIRWN mentoring are now holding Board positions in a variety of organisations and institutions from 'Community Change', The Livestock and Meat Commission to local DPPs. Helen Wilson who completed the course in Ballyclare commented: 'This course was exactly what I needed to motivate me and give me confidence to apply for a public position. Highly recommend the course'. What does the course cover? The course covers the following topics: Understanding the roles & responsibilities of public bodies and board members The appointments process Running effective Board meetings Decision-making Understanding the management of public funds The 'Get on Board' course is a good mix of theory and practice, for example, one week you might examine a case study and the next be in a Boardroom observing a real life public board meeting. You will study theory and practice, examine case studies observe a real life public board meeting, review the principles of public life, gain an understanding of how the appointments process works and explore what it means to be a board member on a public body in Northern Ireland. Who is delivering the course? The course and its content belong to Belfast Metropolitan College and will be delivered by their tutors. NIRWN, in addition, will provide mentoring support for any woman who completes the course. How long does the course last? The course lasts for 10 weeks beginning on Monday January 12th - Monday March 9th 2009 Sessions take place from 10.00am - 1.30pm Where is the course held? The next course is being held at Fermanagh House, Enniskillen Is the course accredited? The course is accredited through the Northern Ireland Open College Network at Level 2. Are there any entry requirements and how much does the course cost? There are no entry requirements and the course is FREE. How do I book a place? Places are allocated on a first come, first served basis ________________________________________________________________ For further information or to book your place contact Louise Coyle at NIRWN Tel: 028 86 769191 Mob: 07894291816 Email: louise@nirwn.org.uk