School Uniform Recycling Toolkit 2025

Graphic with text - Southern Area School Uniform Recycling Toolkit

Graphic with text – Southern Area School Uniform Recycling Toolkit

 

 

The Southern Area School Uniform Recycling Toolkit is a FREE resource for any school, community organisation or group to use to help set up a recycling scheme.

Including editable flyers, checklist templates and evaluation tools, this resource can be used across Northern Ireland and is available to download NOW!

For anyone who wishes to use the Toolkit, or for further information, e-mail localityplanning@ci-ni.org.uk, as we aim to track all usage of the resource to demonstrate the impact of this initiative.

YGam Free Training

Graphic with 1 person and text - FREE online specialist gaming and gambling harm prevention workshops in Northern Ireland

Graphic with 1 person and text – FREE online specialist gaming and gambling harm prevention workshops in Northern Ireland

Do you work with children & young people in Northern Ireland? Learn about the blurred lines between gaming and gambling harms and how you can help safeguard the young people you work with.

Education/ professionals working with CYP

 

Graphic with 2 people and text - FREE gaming and gambling harm prevention workshop for Healthcare professionals in Northern Ireland

Graphic with 2 people and text – FREE gaming and gambling harm prevention workshop for Healthcare professionals in Northern Ireland

Healthcare professionals

Mental Health Champion visit to Ebrington – May 2025

Pictured at the roundtable event are (from left), Lorna Ballard, Louise Kearney, Siobhan O’Neill, Donna Downey and Bronwyn Campbell.

Pictured at the roundtable event are (from left), Lorna Ballard, Louise Kearney, Siobhan O’Neill, Donna Downey and Bronwyn Campbell.

 

Mental Health Champion for Northern Ireland, Professor Siobhan O’Neill, recently visited Ebrington, Derry~Londonderry, to hear first-hand how Family Support Hubs are supporting local people.

 Organised by the Western Health and Social Care Trust and chaired by Action for Children, a roundtable discussion on Thursday 8 May was designed to showcase the work of the eight Family Support Hubs from across the Western Trust.

Donna Downey (Western Trust) and Bronwyn Campbell (Strategic Planning and Performance Group, Department of Health) introduced the background and context of Family Support Hubs. Essentially, a Family Support Hub is multi-agency network of statutory, community and voluntary organisations that provide or signpost to early intervention services. Hubs are a part of the Children and Young People’s Strategic Partnership (CYPSP).

Each of the Hubs gave a short presentation on their area, including the challenges they face and as examples of success stories they are proud of.

Attendees then had an opportunity to hear from Ms O’Neill herself. She said she was ‘really struck’ by the ‘passion and commitment’ of the Hubs’ staff and was moved by the case studies they shared with her.

She echoed the presenters’ concerns about the rates of poverty in Northern Ireland and how that underpins so many aspects of people’s lives, including their mental health.

Ms O’Neill also answered a number of questions, including how to make government understand the needs of people on the ground.

She said: “There’s this misguided idea that if we could just get more people back to work then there would be more money in the economy and everything would be fine – that’s just wrong.

“What we really need first and foremost is a healthy population that are fit and well. The cost of poor mental health is £3.4 billion annually here. We’re fighting a battle against short-termism – early intervention, parenting support, Sure Starts and so on is where money needs to be going.”

 Other questions included Ms O’Neill’s position on linking and utilising key pieces of legislation, including a Mental Health Strategy and an Anti-Poverty Strategy for Northern Ireland. She agreed that policies and strategies need to be aligned and actually implemented, and she said she would be seeking a meeting with the Department of Health to raise a number of the issues that were highlighted at the event.

Speaking after the event, Donna Downey (WHSCT) said: “It was a pleasure to meet with Siobhan O’Neill and share the innovative work the Family Hubs. It is an opportunity to acknowledge the professionalism and commitment of all of the staff who work collaboratively with families every day.”

Louise Kearney (Action for Children) added: “In the North-West the statutory and community and voluntary sectors work ‘hand in glove’ to make sure that vulnerable children, young people and families are supported and given the chance to thrive.

 “Mental health underpins so much of the work we do so we’re delighted that Ms O’Neill has been able to hear about the challenges we face, and also learn about the stellar work that’s happening. Family Support Hub model has potential for further growth and development to support more people in local communities.”

 

Bridging Pathways: A Taster Day in Game Design & Development

Ulster University, in collaboration with Kippie, is hosting:
Bridging Pathways: A Taster Day in Game Design & Development
Monday 12th May 2025
⏰ 9AM – 5PM ( lunch included)
UU Game Studios (MH Building, Derry Campus)
If you’re 16–24, living in the North West, and not currently in education, employment, or training (NEET), this is your chance to dive into the world of Game Design & Development!
✅ Explore our state-of-the-art Game Design Studio
✅ Try hands-on activities
✅ Find out more about career pathways into games!

Only 30 places available — don’t miss out and register here now!!!
https://forms.gle/wifBhoFyaKoW9AkP8

 Additional Resources:
Take a virtual tour of the studio
https://www.ulster.ac.uk/virtualcampus/derry-londonderry/game-design-studio
Learn about the degree:
https://www.ulster.ac.uk/courses/202526/games-design-and-development-37247
Watch the promo video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mok_qJoyb_c

Connect North Drop-in Sessions

Image with text- Connect North Your Pathway to Wellbeing and Libraries NI

Image with text- Connect North Your Pathway to Wellbeing and Libraries NI

Connect North can connect you to beneficial services and supports within your local community to address your practical, social or emotional needs. (You must be over the age of 18 and live within the Northern Health and Social Care Trust area)

Connect North Drop-in Causeway Coast and Glens dates

Connect North Drop-in Antrim and Newtownabbey dates

Connect North Drop-in Mid & East Antrim dates