NEWS

Aerial views of the proposed new leisure centre in Ballymena Plans for a long-awaited £25 million leisure, health and wellbeing centre in Ballymena have been formally approved by councillors, marking a significant milestone in efforts to replace the town’s ageing Seven Towers Leisure Centre. Mid and East Antrim Borough Council’s Planning Committee gave the green light on Thursday 15 January 2025 for the major development, which will be located on 1.7 hectares of land at the S

Northern Ireland’s Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has acknowledged continued pressure on cancer waiting times while insisting that early signs of improvement are already emerging following the introduction of a new regional breast assessment service. Newly published cancer waiting time statistics for July to September 2025 capture what the Minister described as “an early stage in the transition” to the regional model, the first quarter in which all five Health and Social Care (

Minister Muir was speaking at Primrose Cottage Social Farm, where he presented their grant aid Letter of Offer for £4,960 to Anne Brown. More than £120,000 in funding has been awarded to Social Farms across Northern Ireland under a new capital grant scheme aimed at improving accessibility, inclusion and wellbeing for some of society’s most disadvantaged people. DAERA Minister Andrew Muir MLA today announced that 15 eligible Social Farms have received funding through the Depar

Local UUP Councillor Brian Thompson with Rosie Orr and a number of other local residents launch Stop The Build Community Group as they deliver a strongly supported petition and letters of opposition to council’s planning director at Ardeevin, Ballymena. Opposition is continuing to grow against a proposed housing development close to the Braid River Walk in Ballymena, with residents from across the wider Tullygarley and Galgorm Road areas joining forces to protect what they de

Domestic abuse-related calls to the Police Service of Northern Ireland increased over the Christmas and New Year period, reinforcing concerns that the festive season remains one of the most dangerous times of year for victims. New figures released by the PSNI show that between 20 December 2025 and 2 January 2026, police received 1,407 domestic abuse calls, an increase on the 1,290 calls recorded during the same period in 2024–2025. The data highlights sustained demand for pol

(L-R): Health Minister Mike Nesbitt; Sandra McAllister, Consultant Plastic Surgeon and Regional Multidisciplinary Team Lead for Sarcoma; Professor Mark Taylor. Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has welcomed leading figures from Northern Ireland’s sarcoma community to Stormont following their national recognition in Sarcoma UK’s 2025 Shining Star Awards, which celebrate excellence in care, advocacy and patient support across the UK. The meeting, held at Parliament Buildings, brough

A new doctor-led medical weight management service has officially launched in Ballymena, bringing clinically supervised weight loss care to the heart of the local community. Weight Loss Clinic NI , founded by local GP Dr McCandless , has expanded its services with a new Ballymena branch located within Highway Health on Broughshane Street. The expansion aims to improve access to safe, evidence-based weight management for people whose weight is affecting their health, wellbeing

Parents across Northern Ireland have welcomed a move by the Department of Education to formally endorse the Parent Pact, a voluntary initiative encouraging families to delay giving children a smartphone until at least the age of 14. The Department has written to all school principals in Northern Ireland to raise awareness of the Parent Pact, developed by Smartphone Free Childhood, a grassroots parents’ movement representing more than 350,000 families across the UK. Launched i

Chickenpox vaccination is to be added to Northern Ireland’s childhood immunisation programme from January, offering thousands of children protection each year against an illness that, while often considered mild, can lead to serious and even life-threatening complications. The Public Health Agency (PHA) confirmed the move will mark the first time children in Northern Ireland can receive free protection against chickenpox through the routine childhood vaccination schedule. Hea

Severe winter weather has placed intense pressure on road services across North Antrim, with local MLAs raising concerns over grit shortages, untreated roads and the Department for Infrastructure’s preparedness following heavy snowfall. Large parts of rural North Antrim have been affected by snowfall of between six and eight inches over the past two days, leaving some roads difficult to access and heightening safety concerns for residents, commuters and emergency services. TU

A yellow weather warning for ice has been issued for Northern Ireland, with hazardous conditions expected to develop overnight as temperatures fall and wintry showers move across the region. The warning is in force between 6:00pm on Tuesday 6 January 2026 and 11:00am on Wednesday 7 January 2026, with icy patches likely to form on untreated surfaces, increasing the risk of travel disruption. Forecasters say that after a day that has been less cold than recent days, conditions

Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) is urging households to make fire safety a year-round habit rather than a short-lived New Year’s resolution, as new figures highlight the continued risk of accidental house fires during the winter months. The appeal follows a series of tragic house fires in December and comes as data shows winter remains one of the most dangerous times of year for accidental dwelling fires, with cooking, electricity and smoking materials the lead

As cold weather warnings are issued by the Met Office across Northern Ireland, Dogs Trust Ballymena has issued a stark warning to dog owners, urging them to keep their pets well away from frozen lakes, ponds and waterways. While many dogs enjoy swimming, the charity warns that familiar splash spots can become extremely dangerous during freezing conditions. Ice may appear solid, but in most cases it is not strong enough to support a dog’s weight. If it breaks, dogs can plunge

Parents of around 3,000 children across Northern Ireland have joined forces to delay giving their children smartphones until at least the end of Year 10, amid growing concerns about the impact of early smartphone use on mental health, wellbeing and childhood development. The families are among a rapidly growing number signing up to the Smartphone Free Childhood Parent Pact, a digital tool launched by the grassroots movement Smartphone Free Childhood (SFC) , which now counts a

The UK’s first children and young people’s bereavement charity, Winston’s Wish , has launched a new text-based support service designed to make grief support more accessible to young people who may struggle to speak about their feelings out loud. The new service will allow bereaved young people aged 13 to 25 to access specialist support through WhatsApp or SMS, offering what the charity describes as “grief support in your pocket”. Available weekdays from 3pm to 8pm , excludi

Marks & Spencer Food has unveiled a new “Nutrient Dense” range aimed at tackling widespread nutrient deficiencies in the UK, as figures show 96 per cent of the population are failing to meet the recommended daily intake of fibre. Launching in M&S Foodhalls from 5 January 2026, the Nutrient Dense range brings together 20 products spanning salads, meals, snacks, drinks and bakery items, all designed to deliver high levels of fibre, vitamins and minerals without excessive calori

Ballymena Runners have announced the return of their popular Cosy Sofa programme for 2026, offering local people the chance to take their first steps into running in a friendly, supportive and community-focused environment. The eight-week programme will run from Tuesday 6 January to Tuesday 3 March 2026 , with weekly sessions beginning at 7:00pm in the Sports Zone Hall at Northern Regional College (NRC), Ballymena. Parking will be available at the Ballymena Showgrounds, acces

L-R Suzanne Kennedy, Elizabeth Craig and Mandy Corr Members of the Causeway Hospital Partnership Board have praised the success of a community-based model of care that is delivering joined-up, neighbourhood services for people across the Causeway Coast and Glens area. At its latest meeting, the Board received an update on the work of the Causeway multidisciplinary team (MDT), a partnership initiative jointly run by the Northern Health and Social Care Trust and the Causeway GP

Farmers’ Choir members who participated in the Life Beyond Service. The past year has proved to be both memorable and deeply fulfilling for the Farmers’ Choir, as its 55 members came together through music, friendship and a shared commitment to supporting rural communities across Northern Ireland. Under the leadership of Musical Director Barkley Thompson, the choir enjoyed a packed programme of concerts, community events and media appearances, reinforcing its role as an impor

Stephen Fillis with his younger brother Jonathan. For many families, navigating adulthood can be challenging. For those supporting a loved one with a learning disability, those challenges are often accompanied by uncertainty, concern and difficult questions about the future. A powerful personal account from Coleraine is now shining a light on how the right support can transform not just one life, but an entire family. Stephen Fillis has shared his family’s journey as part of