Discover more about the inspiring work of our resident member organisations, their impact and the difference they make to communities across the country. Our featured story is Heart Children Ireland.
Heart Children Ireland is a support group for parents and families of children with a Congenital Heart Disorder(CHD).
Who we are and what we do:
- We are a nationwide organisation with over 1,000 member families.
- We were founded in 1990 and are a registered charity.
- We are a completely voluntary group and currently receive no government funding.
- We depend on our own fundraising and donations from individuals and businesses.
- In the first 28 years of our existence, we raised over €2.5 million for the Children’s Heart Centre at Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin.
- IT IS FREE TO JOIN HEART CHILDREN IRELAND- you are welcome to contact us!
We offer support in many ways. Here are some examples:
- We hold social events where families can meet, for example, coffee mornings, parties and picnics.
- We hold information days for families around the country focusing on cardiac topics of interest.
- We provide a Family Psychology Support Service free to all members. Individuals of all ages with congenital heart conditions, family members and bereaved families access this service.
- We hold an annual conference with keynote speakers from the world of congenital cardiology.
- We have purchased equipment for both the Children’s Heart Centre at Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital and the Adult Congenital Unit at The Mater Hospital. For example, we purchased the first ECMO machine for the Intensive Care Unit at Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital. This machine is saving lives on a daily basis.
- We work hard to raise awareness of the issues relevant to our members by representing them in relevant forums.
- We have provided a dedicated clinic room for the Adult Congenital Unit at the Mater Hospital to facilitate our teenagers transferring from Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital.
- Through our News Briefs, we provide updates about Heart Children Ireland services and supports, as well as relevant information about health service matters.
- We are privileged to manage The Blue Ribbon Fund on behalf of the Moran family. This fund provides assistance to families on the transplant journey with their child. This fund is in memory of Elaine Moran.
- Margaret, CEO, and Linda, Administrator, provide a listening ear should you wish to contact them.
Help us to continue to support our families, children and adults. To support Heart Children Ireland, just click on the “donate now” button on the website www.heartchildren.ie.
Development Trusts Northern Ireland (DTNI) is hosting professional facilities management (FM) training events this spring, one of these events is in collaboration with Carmichael in Dublin. The FM course will follow the Institute for Workplace and Facilities Management professional standards framework and cover the fundamentals of health and safety, energy, contract management and much more. Click on the link below for full details.
DTNI Facilities Management Training
Pobal, on behalf of the Department of Rural and Community Development (DRCD) are inviting applications for funding from eligible organisations under the Scheme to Support National Organisations (SSNO) 2019-2022. Details about the new programme and the application process is available on https://www.pobal.ie/programmes/scheme-to-support-national-organisations-ssno/. The closing date for receipt of applications is 3pm on Thursday 31st January, 2019.
Carmichael are participating in the ‘Developing effective and accountable nonprofits’ seminar to be held on the 6th of March 2019 (9am – 1pm) in Technology University Dublin, Blanchardstown Campus.
Irish Nonprofit organisations are facing unprecedented challenges, with increased demand, difficulties in raising funds, increased regulation and reduced trust in the sector. This seminar will explore how the sector can respond through improved governance standards and greater accountability through the provision of performance information. Speakers include Professor Noel Hyndman, Professor Emeritus in Accounting at Queen’s University Belfast, Diarmaid Ó Corrbuí, CEO, Carmichael, Dr. Francis McGeough, Lecturer in Accounting, Technology University Dublin and Ms. Assumpta Harvey, Head of School of Business at Technological University Dublin. The seminar is free of charge but prior registration is necessary. For more details and to register for this seminar see Eventbrite ‘Developing effective and accountable nonprofits‘.
Google.org is contributing €1M to 15 organisations dedicated to tackling important social issues and creating opportunity for Dublin. Local nonprofits and social enterprises are invited to submit innovative proposals and 15 finalists will receive €50,000 grants, training and volunteer support from Google. Applications due December 6 2018. For more information visit https://impactchallenge.withgoogle.com/dublin2018.
Congratulations to all the winners for the 2018 Good Governance Awards!! A big thanks to everyone who submitted their entries this year, keep up the good work.
For the Annual Report & Financial Statements Awards:
Category 1 Winner – Care Alliance
Category 2 Winner – Aidlink
Category 3 Winner – Camara Education
Category 4 Winner – CMRF Crumlin
Category 5 Winner – Trócaire
For the Best Governance Improvement Initiative Awards:
Category 1 Winner – Proudly Made in Africa
Proudly Made in Africa implemented a series of measures to improve its governance: an enhanced accounting system, governance handbook, governance training, establishment of a governance sub-committee to oversee a range of governance reviews and updates, and the redesign of the annual report.
Category 2 Winner – Irish Girl Guides
Irish Girl Guides implemented an updated financial reporting system to produce consolidated accounts for its 570 units across the country.
Category 3 Winner – The Care Trust
The Care Trust designed and developed a new Risk Register Dashboard to enhance the Board’s oversight of the organisation’s risk management.
Category 4 Winner – Extern Ireland
Extern Ireland developed and implemented a new Governance Action Plan to improve its governance.
Category 5 Winner – Central Remedial Clinic
Central Remedial Clinic developed and implemented of a new stakeholder engagement programme ‘Keeping Connected’’.
Charity Trustees’ Week aims to recognise and celebrate the key role which volunteer charity trustees play in the governance and leadership of charities across Ireland. Charity Trustees’ Week is organised by a steering committee which includes Boardmatch Ireland, Charities Institute Ireland, Carmichael, Charities Regulator, Dóchas, Volunteer Ireland and The Wheel.
For Charity Trustees’ Week, Carmichael will be hosting a number of workshops and events:
13th November – Board Roles and Responsibilities workshop
14th November – Introduction to Risk Management Webinar (Closed session.)
14th November – Carmichael Board Chairs’ Network event (Fully booked.)
15th November – The Role of the Company Secretary workshop Fully booked.)
15th November – Good Governance Awards Night (By invitation only.)
The list of events for the week is available to view https://www.charitiesregulator.ie/en/information-for-charities/charity-trustees-week-2018.
The Charities Regulator has published the Charities Governance Code which can be downloaded here. Further information can be found on https://www.charitiesregulator.ie/en/information-for-charities/charities-governance-code.
Our CEO Diarmaid speaks with Dublin City FM about the new Carmichael Brand