NEWS

Communities Minster Gordon Lyons (right) pictured with (left to right) Kevin Curran (Northern Ireland Housing Executive), Paula Craig-Peratt (Falkirk City Council), Stephanie Toghill (Tenancy Fraud Forum UK), Katrina Robinson (Tenancy Fraud Forum UK) and Tracey Ellis (Northern Ireland Federation of Housing Associations). Housing Minister Gordon Lyons has pledged a tougher stance on social housing tenancy fraud, warning that those who abuse the system are “taking a lifeline f

The Silnavogie Sheepdog Trial organisers and committee presenting a cheque to Air Ambulance NI The annual Shilnavogie Sheep Dog Trial once again united competitors, families, and supporters on Saturday 13 September, raising an impressive £1,502.50 for Air Ambulance NI. Held at the farm of Mr John Davison in Shilnavogie, the friendly, strictly amateur event drew 25 competitors and their highly trained dogs for a day focused on skill, participation, and community spirit. Despit

The Northern Health and Social Care Trust is now looking for new Community Health and Wellbeing Champions to join its volunteer community. The Northern Health and Social Care Trust has launched a new volunteer drive, appealing to members of the public with a passion for improving health outcomes in their local communities. The Trust is now seeking Community Health and Wellbeing Champions who will work alongside staff to help share information, services and resources aimed at

Randalstown ARCHES Association has unveiled the Randalstown Community Calendar 2026, marking the organisation’s 30th anniversary with a project designed to celebrate local heritage while raising vital funds for two well-loved charities. The calendar, priced at £10, was officially launched during this year’s Christmas Lights Switch-On and will be available to purchase from ten outlets across Randalstown from Monday. Created to honour the town’s “community spirit, heritage, an

Revised draft byelaws aimed at tackling long-running concerns over loud buskers and street preachers in Belfast city centre have been agreed by councillors — with a proposed 70-decibel noise limit and fines of up to £500 for anyone who breaches the rules. The new regulations, years in development and shaped by extensive public consultation, are designed to address amplified noise that has been a growing issue in the city centre for more than a decade. For context, 70dB is rou

HEMS pilot, consultant and paramedic on their way to an emergency mission Air Ambulance Northern Ireland has issued an urgent Christmas appeal as the charity prepares for what could be one of its busiest festive seasons yet, expecting to be tasked over 60 times this December alone. While families across Northern Ireland decorate their homes and make festive plans, the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) will continue operating every single day throughout the holidays

(L-R) Denise McVeigh from Mid and East Antrim Borough Council's Parks and Open Spaces team, PSNI Inspector Colin Ash, PCSP Chair Cllr Lauren Gray, PCSP Vice Chair Sharon Maxwell, and Local Neighbourhood PSNI Officer Julie McKeown. (Images: Steven McAuley) Women across Mid and East Antrim are being encouraged to take part in a special night-time personal safety walk in Larne this December, as part of a partnership initiative between the borough’s Policing and Community Safety

L-R Health Minister Mike Nesbitt; Dr Eddie Gibson, Consultant Radiologist & Clinical Director;  Lynne McCartney, Director of Surgery and Clinical Services (Interim). Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has officially opened a new state-of-the-art MRI scanner unit at Causeway Hospital, marking a major milestone in diagnostic services for the North Coast. The investment will significantly increase imaging capacity across the Northern Health and Social Care Trust, enabling faster diagn

Classroom Assistants at Castle Tower School, Hong Cassley, Gemma Moore and Vicky Balmer, with Maggie Anderson, team leader at SPAR Grove Road, Steven Henry, store manager at SPAR Grove Road and assistance dogs Percy and Nico.   SPAR Grove Road has continued its commitment to supporting local education by donating 165 chocolate bars to Castle Tower School in Ballymena as part of its Classroom Assistant Appreciation Day celebrations. The gesture is the latest in an ongoing part

North Antrim MLA Paul Frew at Chestnutt Hall North Antrim MLA Paul Frew has welcomed the completion of long-awaited road and footpath works at the Chestnutt Hall development in Ballymena, following concerns raised by local residents. Mr Frew said he had been approached by a number of homeowners in the estate who reported issues including raised ironworks and incomplete road and footpath surfaces. After visiting the site, he said it was clear the situation was causing difficu

Farmers’ Choir at their 2024 Christmas Concert The Farmers’ Choir is set to bring festive cheer to communities in Kilrea and Ballymena this December, as it prepares to deliver two special Christmas performances filled with music, Scripture and seasonal celebration. The Choir will open its December schedule with a traditional Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols on Tuesday 2 December at 8pm in St Patrick’s Church, Kilrea . Audiences can expect a reflective and uplifting evening

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Councillor Jackson Minford, pictured with Galgorm Golf Club representatives and junior players. The Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Councillor Jackson Minford , has hosted a special reception recognising the outstanding achievements of Galgorm Golf Club’s junior players following a record-breaking season for the club. Junior representatives from the Ballymena club were welcomed to The Braid after two Galgorm teams – the Junior Cup side and the Fred

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is urging parents and guardians across Northern Ireland to ensure their children receive the seasonal flu vaccine, as the latest surveillance data shows influenza activity on the rise — with the highest positivity rate recorded in children aged 5–14. All pre-school children and those in primary school up to Year 12 are eligible for the free flu vaccine, delivered as a simple nasal spray. Dr Amanda McCullough, Specialty Registrar in Public Health

L-R Claire McNair, Ballyclare Ladies Farm Forum, Ashleigh Magee, Gillian Dawson, Suzanne Pullins, Interim Chief Executive, NHSCT, Yvonne Carson, Rural Health and Wellbeing Manager, NHSCT and Anna Simms, Ballyclare Ladies Farm Forum, More than sixty women from across rural communities gathered at Gleno Young Farmers Hall to mark the International Day of Rural Women, at an event organised by the Northern Health and Social Care Trust (NHSCT) in partnership with Ballyclare Ladies

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, Councillor Jackson Minford pictured with Ballymena woman Caitriona Lennox FIH, Head of Springboard Northern Ireland The Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, Councillor Jackson Minford , has officially welcomed Ballymena woman Caitriona Lennox FIH , Head of Springboard Northern Ireland , to his parlour at The Braid to celebrate her receiving the Institute of Hospitality’s prestigious Fellows’ Outstanding Contribution Award

A Northern Ireland school will receive an extra-special festive surprise this December as local Full Fibre broadband provider Fibrus launches its new ‘Christmas Classroom’ competition. The initiative invites schools across Northern Ireland to nominate their Primary One, Primary Two, or P1/P2 composite classes for the chance to win a magical Christmas visit from Santa and the Fibrus Tinsel Team. The winning classroom will be treated to a sack filled with some of the most sough

Braid Ulster Unionist Councillor Alan Barr at the newly resurfaced car park in Broughshane Braid Ulster Unionist Councillor Alan Barr has welcomed the completion of resurfacing works at the Knockan Road car park in Broughshane, describing the upgrade as a “long-overdue improvement” that will enhance local amenities for families and the wider community. The car park, which provides key access to the village play park and the popular Buttermilk Bridge Riverwalk, had deteriora

Jonny Spiers, Customer Service Agent and Airport Autism Champion alongside Christine Kearney, Director of Development at Autism NI and Niall McElkearney, Terminal Operations Manager. Belfast International Airport has been recognised for its commitment to improving accessibility for neurodiverse passengers, after receiving the prestigious Autism NI Impact Award. The accolade highlights the airport’s efforts to create a more inclusive and supportive environment for autistic and

Cranmore’s James Galbraith pictured with Cranmore’s two awards for Young IT Professional of the Year and Mobile App of the Year. A software developer from Broughshane has secured one of Northern Ireland’s top technology honours after being named Young IT Professional of the Year during the 2025 Belfast Telegraph IT Awards. James Galbraith, aged 25, took home the coveted award at the high-profile ceremony held in The MAC, Belfast, on Friday 14 November. The Cranmore developer

The Mayor of Mid & East Antrim Cllr Jackson Minford joins with Women’s Aid CEO Gillian Creevy and St Colmcille’s Primary Vice Principal, Miss Catherine Stewart to launch Women’s Aid Heading For Healthy Relationships Primary School programme funded by the EVAWG Change Fund. A new preventative education initiative aimed at helping young people build healthy, respectful relationships has been launched at St Colmcille Primary School in Ballymena. The Heading For Healthy Relations