NEWS

Landowners across Northern Ireland are being encouraged to consider planting new native woodlands with the 2025 Small Woodland Grant Scheme officially open for applications. The announcement was made by Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister Andrew Muir, who confirmed that the scheme will remain open until 7 January 2026 , providing financial support to help establish small-scale native woodland projects. The scheme is designed to support landowners in creating n

Northern Regional College student Luke Kirkwood, who was awarded the Spirit Award at this year’s Study USA graduation ceremony. A Ballymena student who spent an academic year studying in the United States through the Study USA scholarship programme is encouraging other eligible students to consider applying, describing the experience as “an opportunity that can genuinely change your future”. Luke Kirkwood, an Electrical and Electronic Engineering student at Northern Regional

Nominations for the prestigious Mid and East Antrim Sports Awards 2026 will open in early January, offering residents the chance to celebrate the Borough’s outstanding sporting stars, teams, coaches and volunteers. Organised by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, the annual awards shine a spotlight on those who have demonstrated exceptional achievement, dedication and service across the local sporting landscape — from grassroots participation to elite performance. The awards

Mayor of Antrim & Newtownabbey Borough Council, Councillor Leah Kirkpatrick with representatives from Antrim & Newtownabbey Council Labour Market Partnership. A new employment-focused Medical Administration Training Academy is set to launch in Antrim and Newtownabbey in January 2026, offering local residents a direct pathway into administrative roles within GP practices. Following the success of two earlier academies delivered in other council areas, the Northern GP Federatio

John McClintock and Pamela Steele from Northern Regional College; Patrick McNeill, former FutureMakers Academy participant and Clarke employee; MTF chairman David Watson; Logan Godfrey, past FutureMakers Academy participant and Wrightbus employee; Donna McCullough from Northern Regional College; and Donna Morrison from Mid and East Antrim Borough Council A fully funded skills programme aimed at helping people into sustainable employment is offering a new route into manufactur

Laura Harbard taking part from the comfort of indoors Eleanor Bentall (RSPB Images) Hundreds of thousands of people across the UK are being encouraged to take part in the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch 2026, as the world’s largest garden wildlife survey returns at a critical time for nature. Taking place from Friday 23 to Sunday 25 January 2026 , the annual Birdwatch invites people to spend just one hour observing and counting the birds they see in their garden, local green space,

Fionntán McGarvey As the countdown to Christmas begins, one Belfast family is urging people across Northern Ireland to talk openly about organ donation — a conversation they say helped them honour their teenage son’s final wishes and save the lives of others. On Organ Donation Discussion Day, Thursday 11 December, the Public Health Agency (PHA) is encouraging households to take a moment to consider their decision about organ and tissue donation and share that choice with love

Ronny McFall, Community Champion at Tesco Ballymena Tesco customers in Ballymena are being encouraged to help bring festive cheer to local children in need by donating new toys to The Salvation Army this Christmas. Until 15 December, the Tesco Ballymena Superstore is hosting a special collection point for new and unwrapped toys, which will be distributed to families across the local area by The Salvation Army. The organisation supports vulnerable people through homelessness s

Gavin and Elaine Lowry, with sons Timmy (left) and Joshua (right) A Ballymena family is rallying behind a much-loved father, husband, and classroom assistant as they take on an extraordinary endurance challenge to raise awareness of pancreatic cancer and vital funds for the charity NIPANC (Northern Ireland Pancreatic Cancer). The event, organised by Gavin Lowry’s daughter-in-law Megan with support from wider family and friends, has already raised more than £3,000 — with hope

Mayor and Mayoress of Mid and East Antrim, Councillor Jackson Minford and Allison Minford, pictured with a Christmas tree surrounded by toy donations made by the residents of Mid and East Antrim. Christmas generosity is already shining across Mid and East Antrim as residents rally behind the Borough’s seventh annual Pre-Loved Toys Scheme, donating nearly two tonnes of toys in just the first weeks of the initiative. Since opening on Monday 27 October, dedicated Christmas toy c

Tesco customers across Northern Ireland are being urged to help families facing hunger this winter by donating long-life essentials as part of the supermarket’s 13th annual Winter Food Collection. Running from 24–29 November in Tesco Express stores and 27–29 November in larger stores , the UK’s biggest seasonal food drive will support FareShare and the Trussell community of food banks, both of which are preparing for unprecedented levels of demand. Last year alone, generous

The Housing Executive’s Ballymena office is opening its doors to the local community this December for a special coffee morning and donation drive in support of Homelessness Awareness Week. Locals are invited to Twickenham House on Monday 1st December, from 10am to 2pm , for a warm drink, a slice of cake, and an opportunity to show support for individuals experiencing homelessness. As part of the initiative, staff will also be collecting non-perishable food items, toiletries,

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

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

We've made it to 'V' for Victoria Sponge - SAVE this all time classic, failsafe recipe. This is a recipe you should have up your sleeve for birthdays and celebrations - everyone will love you! Sometimes the classics are just the best. I went for a flavoured vanilla cream but you could also use buttercream. I guarantee this will go down well. Only 4 more recipes to complete the A-Z! Jill Stewart ( @jillbakes_ ) INGREDIENTS… Serves 12-14 For the sponge: 225g butter or spread, s

The British Heart Foundation Northern Ireland (BHF NI) is calling on the Ballymena community to don their elf hats and lend an “elfing” hand in their local charity shop this festive season. As Christmas approaches, the charity is seeking volunteers – or “elves” – to help bring festive cheer while supporting life-saving heart research. From decorating the shop and sorting donations to chatting with customers, volunteers can make a real difference in their local community this

Alix Mulholland, Co-founder of Co. Down-based home fragrance company FieldDay, joins Dawn Miskelly, CEO of Ulster Wildlife, and Maureen Carvill, Wildlife Gardening Officer at Ulster Wildlife, to celebrate a new partnership to inspire 5,000 households across Northern Ireland to make space for nature in their garden Local County Down fragrance company FieldDay has joined forces with conservation charity Ulster Wildlife to inspire 5,000 households to take part in the Let Nature

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Councillor Jackson Minford is pictured with Isobel Kerr, ReStore Manager for Habitat for Humanity, launching the Mid and East Antrim Borough Council's Pre-Loved Toys Scheme. Mid and East Antrim Borough Council is once again calling on local residents to donate their pre-loved toys this festive season as its much-loved Christmas Toy Scheme returns for the seventh year running. The initiative, which runs from Monday 27 October to Friday 12 December

Alliance MLA for East Antrim, Stewart Dickson , has delivered a powerful appeal in the Northern Ireland Assembly for increased research...