Issue 161 – Southern Area FYI – 29 January 2026

Welcome to Issue 161 of our fortnightly newsletter, ‘FYI’ (For Your Information).

A promotional graphic for the Southern Area Locality Planning Groups’ “FYI – For Your Information” newsletter, Issue 161 dated 29 January 2026. The left side shows illustrated hands holding a tablet displaying the FYI logo. The right side features the CYPSP (Children & Young People’s Strategic Partnership) logo and a grid of icons, including an email envelope, a phone, a globe, and a person with a checkmark.

A promotional graphic for the Southern Area Locality Planning Groups’ “FYI – For Your Information” newsletter, Issue 161 dated 29 January 2026. The left side shows illustrated hands holding a tablet displaying the FYI logo. The right side features the CYPSP (Children & Young People’s Strategic Partnership) logo and a grid of icons, including an email envelope, a phone, a globe, and a person with a checkmark.

Download Issue 161

(Note: Newsletter will download directly to your device.  Look out for the pop-up box and click on open file when it appears) 

 

Another jam-packed edition and thanks to all who submitted flyers on upcoming training opportunities, events, parenting programmes, youth programmes, resources, funding opportunities and surveys for inclusion in this issue.

Please continue to share these important details with us, so that we can further spread the word to practitioners, parents & carers working across / living in the Southern Trust Area during 2026!

Locality Development Team, Southern Area

Schools Networking Event – Newry, Mourne & South Armagh – 4 February 2026

Upcoming networking event for schools in the Newry & Mourne and South Armagh areas, with the aim to raise awareness of local support services in this area with school staff, including services for children, young people and families/parents/carers.

📅 Wednesday 4th February
⏰ 2.00pm–5.00pm
📍 Newry High School

Over 30 services will be attending, hosting information stalls and sharing details of supports available to schools and families. 

School staff are invited to drop in at any time to get information as well as some light refreshments.

If you are a service provider, register your information stall for FREE here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PNMGDBB

Download Information Flyer

A promotional flyer for a “Networking Event – Connecting Schools with Local Support Services.” The flyer invites school staff from primary and post‑primary schools, along with local service providers, to attend a networking event about support available for children, young people and families in Newry, Mourne and South Armagh. The event takes place on Wednesday 4 February 2026, from 2pm to 5pm, at Newry High School. Light refreshments will be available. There is a button labelled “Register to Attend,” with instructions for service providers to register stalls via a link and for school staff to email localityplanning@ci-ni.org.uk. Logos of CYPSP and Newry, Mourne and Down District Council appear at the bottom

 

Youth and Future Talent Awards (YAFTAs) 2025-26

A banner featuring three logos. On the left, the YAFTAs logo with a large gold star and smaller stars, and the text “YAFTAs” in elegant script, followed by “Youth and Future Talent Awards” in smaller print. In the center, the Education Authority logo with a green and blue abstract shape and the text “ea Education Authority.” On the right, the Newry, Mourne and Down District Council logo with a green and blue design and text in both Irish and English: “Comhairle Ceantair an Iúir, Mhúrn agus an Dúin” and “Newry, Mourne and Down District Council.”

A banner featuring three logos. On the left, the YAFTAs logo with a large gold star and smaller stars, and the text “YAFTAs” in elegant script, followed by “Youth and Future Talent Awards” in smaller print. In the center, the Education Authority logo with a green and blue abstract shape and the text “ea Education Authority.” On the right, the Newry, Mourne and Down District Council logo with a green and blue design and text in both Irish and English: “Comhairle Ceantair an Iúir, Mhúrn agus an Dúin” and “Newry, Mourne and Down District Council.”

 

Newry, Mourne & Down Youth Voice are a district wide consultative group under the Northern Ireland structure of Youth Voice which gives young people the opportunity to engage with decision makers and have a say on local issues. The group is supported by the Education Authority.

 

The Awards

The Youth and Future Talent Awards (YAFTAs) were created in 2012 by the Newry & Mourne Youth Council to help raise the positive profiles of the work young people are involved in across our district. The aim was to highlight the “unsung heroes” who don’t normally receive recognition. This year will be the ninth awards ceremony and they will be hosted within the council area. All aspects of this programme have been designed and managed by young people for young people. An independent panel will shortlist the nominations, without knowing names of nominees or nominator, so they cannot be influenced with their decisions.

YAFTAs nomination invitation letter 

YAFTA categories and how to nominate 

Stronger Together: Information Day for Children with Additional Needs

Save the date for Stronger Together: Information Day for Children with Additional Needs.

Thursday 12 March, 9.30 – 3.30pm in Armagh City Hotel

RSVP to Mark Irwin  02837 564330 / Mark.Irwin@southerntrust.hscni.net 

 

A colorful event flyer for the Southern Health & Social Care Trust. The top section reads “Save the Date” in large blue decorative text. Below, the event title says: “Stronger Together: Information Day for Children with Additional Needs.” The flyer mentions that the event will feature stalls and presentations from statutory, community, voluntary, and independent sector agencies. Three illustrated stalls are shown in the center. Event details: Thursday, 12 March, 9:30 AM–3:30 PM at Armagh City Hotel, Friary Road, Armagh. Lunch and light refreshments provided. RSVP to Mark Irwin with contact details: T: 02837 564330, E: mark.irwin@southerntrust.hscni.net. The bottom includes logos for Southern Health and Social Care Trust and a small illustration of diverse children. Decorative elements include banners, a coffee cup, and a “Join Us!” graphic

A colorful event flyer for the Southern Health & Social Care Trust. The top section reads “Save the Date” in large blue decorative text. Below, the event title says: “Stronger Together: Information Day for Children with Additional Needs.” The flyer mentions that the event will feature stalls and presentations from statutory, community, voluntary, and independent sector agencies. Three illustrated stalls are shown in the center. Event details: Thursday, 12 March, 9:30 AM–3:30 PM at Armagh City Hotel, Friary Road, Armagh. Lunch and light refreshments provided. RSVP to Mark Irwin with contact details: T: 02837 564330, E: mark.irwin@southerntrust.hscni.net. The bottom includes logos for Southern Health and Social Care Trust and a small illustration of diverse children. Decorative elements include banners, a coffee cup, and a “Join Us!” graphic

 

Issue 160 – Southern Area FYI – 8 January 2026

Welcome to Issue 160 of our fortnightly newsletter, ‘FYI’ (For Your Information).

A digital graphic for the Southern Area Locality Planning Groups newsletter, Issue 160 dated 8th January 2026. The top left features a blue banner with white text reading “Southern Area Locality Planning Groups” and two blue arrows pointing right. The top right displays the CYPSP logo with the tagline “Children & Young People’s Strategic Partnership.” Below, there are colorful square icons in purple, green, and blue, representing communication methods: an envelope with an @ symbol, a telephone handset, a globe, and a person with a checkmark. On the left side, a hand holds a tablet showing a circular logo with “FYI For Your Information” in purple and green. At the bottom left, green text reads “Issue 160” and purple text below states “8th January 2026

A digital graphic for the Southern Area Locality Planning Groups newsletter, Issue 160 dated 8th January 2026. The top left features a blue banner with white text reading “Southern Area Locality Planning Groups” and two blue arrows pointing right. The top right displays the CYPSP logo with the tagline “Children & Young People’s Strategic Partnership.” Below, there are colorful square icons in purple, green, and blue, representing communication methods: an envelope with an @ symbol, a telephone handset, a globe, and a person with a checkmark. On the left side, a hand holds a tablet showing a circular logo with “FYI For Your Information” in purple and green. At the bottom left, green text reads “Issue 160” and purple text below states “8th January 2026

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Download Issue 160

(Note: Newsletter will download directly to your device.  Look out for the pop-up box and click on open file when it appears) 

 

Happy New Year to all and we look forward to sharing information, resources and opportunities with you in 2026.

As always, we welcome those who wish to attend our Locality Planning Group meetings, so feel free to get in touch and we can set up a quick Zoom meeting to tell you all about them, how they operate, and how important they can be to you & your organisation/service/group.

It’s a lengthy edition to kick off the new year… Lots going on across the SHSCT Area, so keep the information coming!

Locality Development Team, Southern Area