Community Notes

Art Society

Class

Londonderry Art Society will host an exhibition of watercolour and oil paintings in Central Library, from Saturday past, January 24 to January 31. The exhibition is open from 9.30am to 4.30pm. Everyone welcome to view the work of local artists.

Concert

Institute FC

Institute Football Club has announced that the hugely successful ‘Country Comes to the City’ event will be returning to Londonderry this year.

The club will be holding a promotional event at 2pm on Friday, January 30, in the City Hotel ahead of the return of ‘Country Comes To City’ this summer.

The concert is scheduled to take place on July 4, 2015 in Ebrington Square and will feature Derek Ryan, Lisa McHugh, Liam Kelly and David McNamee as well as Jason Hughes and DJ Stephen Doherty.

Institute is running this event in association with Foyle Hospice and the Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice.

Tickets are on sale at various stores across Londonderry.

RNIB

Yoga

Yoga classes have been running at RNIB since September. Next week begins the final term so if you have been putting off coming along to yoga this year, why not take up this invitation to join us as we begin the course which will last from February until the end of May. Class is facilitated by experienced tutor Julie Brown who delivers a gentle and appropriate variety of postures and movements which leave the body feeling awake and alive for the day and week ahead.

The full term, which will last 16 weeks, will cost only £20 (payable to RNIB). Seven people have committed to attend but we would prefer to have 10 participants to make the class worthwhile. This course is open to sighted friends and supporters of RNIB.

Class begins at 9.15am every Friday morning at the Embassy Building. It lasts until 10.30am and includes relaxation session.

Coeliac Group

Monthly meeting

The North-West Coeliac Group monthly meeting will be held on Thursday, January 29 at 8pm. in the MDEC Building, Altnagelvin Hospital. A cookery demonstration will be provided by Catherine McIlvenna from ‘Glutafin Gluten Free Foods’ with refreshments to follow.

Those newly diagnosed are most welcome.

Charity

Collection

A Bag pack Collection in Tescos Superstore at Altnagelvin on Saturday has raised £1,134.12 for the British heart Foundation.

The event was held in memory of Andrew Duncan and was organised by the late Mr Duncan’s wife, Suzanne, who had thanked everyone who helped or donated money.

Planning advice

Community Place

Free planning advice events will take place at 10 to 14 Bishop Street on Wednesday February 4 and Wednesday March 4, between 1pm and 4pm. At the events Community Places will be offering free advice to groups and individuals on any planning issue. People are welcome to drop in at any time to speak to one of the fully qualified planners, or, alternatively, telephone 02890 239444.

Community places is a charity that provides free, confidential independent advice to people who cannot afford a planning consultant.

Advice

Community/voluntary

Members of community and voluntary groups in Londonderry and Strabane areas are being encouraged to attend a series of free information clinics to make them aware of new legislation relating to charity law.

Organised by Derry City Council’s Community Relations team, the awareness sessions have been set up to assist groups understand how changes to Charity Law impacts them. All community and voluntary groups are now required to register with the NI Charity Commission. The commission is gradually requesting all groups to demonstrate their good governance and the public benefit that they have. As all local groups will be responsible for this process wit was decided that advice clinics would be beneficial in providing assistance and guidance.

The information sessions will be held at 30 minute intervals between 9am and 5pm on Tuesday, February 3m at the Shared Future Centre. All sessions must be booked in advance.

Sue Divin, Community relations officer with the City Council said it was important as many community and voluntary sector groups availed of this opportunity. Places are issued on a first come first served basis and booking is by advance registration only. The deadline for bookings is today, Wednesday, January 28. To book a slot email [email protected] tel: 71365151 ext 8223.

Road works

City centre disruption

A £120,000 improvement scheme for Carlisle Road and Ferryquay Street in Londonderry is scheduled to begin on Saturday next, January 31.

The resurfacing scheme will extend for around 450 metres from the Ferryquay Street and Carlisle Circus junction to the Diamond and is aimed at improving the safety, strength and surface quality of the carriageway.

To minimise disruption to businesses most of the work has been scheduled to be delivered at night over three weekends, however, some daytime working will be unavoidable.

Work is scheduled to start on Saturday,1 January 31, at 6.30pm and will continue through Sunday, February 1, until 6.30pm. A similar work pattern will be required on the following two weekends. The improvements are expected to be substantially complete by Saturday, February 14.

As with all improvements of this type, scheduled dates are subject to favourable weather conditions. TransportNI has carefully planned the works operations and traffic management arrangements to minimise inconvenience to the public, however, drivers should expect delays and are advised to allow additional time when travelling in the area. To help ensure the safety of drivers and contractors, well signposted diversions will be in place via: Abercorn Road and Bishop Street for traffic using the upper deck of Craigavon Bridge. Traffic using the lower deck are advised to use the signed diversion via Foyle Road, Foyle Embankment, Water Street and Shipquay Street.

Newbuildings

Health and wellbeing

A health & wellbeing event will be held in Newbuildings at the Community Centre on Saturday morning, January 31, at 11am.

There will be a number of guest speakers, talking mainly about issues that cause stress and the various supports available to people who may be worrying or are concerned about others. The speakers will include The Samaritans, Citizens Advice and Rural Support. Along with the speakers there will be a number of Information Stands and opportunities for health testing and sampling of various alternative therapies and stress management techniques.

If you can’t make Saturday morning then you will have an opportunity to attend other events in Floyd’s Ballymagorry on February 9 and Donemana on February 17. This series of events is funded by PHA and are designed to provide information, help and support on a range of health issues.

More information is available from The Villages Together on 02871 841735 or through the TVT Bready Facebook page.