Oct 26
0

NI Youth Forum launches new Covid survey ‘Our Voices – Speaking Truth To Power’

By | General, News, Newsroom

Young people in Northern Ireland were today urged to take part in a new survey to express their views as strict new restrictions were introduced by the Stormont Executive to combat Covid-19.

The Northern Ireland Youth Forum launched its third pandemic consultation ‘Our Voices – Speaking Truth to Power’ to consult with young people on the impact of COVID 19 and to hold decision makers to account.

Two previous surveys held in March and May each attracted more than 1,000 responses and the views expressed by young people were used to inform a series of ‘Zoom meetings’ with the Health Minister, Robin Swann, Education Minister Peter Weir and with a panel of MLAs supporting youth concerns.

Chris Quinn, NIYF Director said: “It is vitally important that young people have their say on this really important issue. We have already conducted two successful consultations on Covid-19. Young people told us that they want their views to be heard therefore we are putting the call out again to provide a direct link between young people and our politicians in relation to combatting Covid-19 within the backdrop of these heightened restrictions”.

Adam Crothers, one of the young members involved with the NI Youth Forum, said that it was vital that politicians listened to the views of young people, whose education and mental health has been severely impacted by the pandemic.

He said: “These surveys have been remarkably successful in facilitating the voices of over 1,000 young people from NI to be heard – but we want more. Our third survey aims to build on this success and use the responses to inform decision makers within government to ensure young people are represented.”

Adam pointed out that in one of the previous surveys 80% of respondents said that those in power were not listening to them.

He added: “Now is their opportunity to be listened to as this pandemic is irrevocably altering young people’s futures. I would call on young people across Northern Ireland to participate in this survey so we can project your views, speak truth to those in power and move forward with decision makers in a spirit of co-operation”.

To take part in the ‘Our Voices: Speaking Truth To Power’ survey go to: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/GZ3CGBJ

To watch a special video about the survey go to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLOu8Qx–lg

Ends

Oct 26
0

Children encouraged to take the Film Buff Challenge!

By | Charities, Creative Industries, Film, News

Northern Ireland’s movie-loving schoolchildren are being encouraged to take up the Film Buff Challenge, a new online educational activity that can be completed in school or at home.

Education charity, Into Film’s latest free educational resource, encourages young people to watch ten short, thought-provoking films and review or respond to them to earn silver, gold or platinum certificates. The Challenge offers ten very short films primary school aged 7–11 and another ten for secondary school pupils aged 11–14.

Sean Kelly of Into Film said the new resource is aimed at helping teachers stimulate young people’s imaginations and improve their  literacy skills by offering a resource that is flexible and easily accessed.

“Film is a powerful teaching resource that stirs young people’s sense of wonder, introduces them to new cultures and different worlds. Because it’s all online, teachers can use the Film Buff Challenge as an educational activity in the classroom or at home if children are self-isolating or if the schools close for a significant period,” he said.

The films include animation, live-action, documentaries, foreign language or world cinema and Black and White and silent movie. There are even youth made films included in the specially curated film list.

Into Film have been putting the finishing touches to the online learning materials and workbooks and children at Cliftonville Integrated Primary School in North Belfast were the first school to get a look and try out this exciting new Challenge in their school film club

Teacher Michelle McAlonan said: “Completing the Film Buff Challenge in school during these uncertain times has given me the opportunity to engage in meaningful discussions with my new pupils. Their literacy skills were enhanced with pupils being encouraged to share and value the opinions of their peers. As the clips were short it was very easy to manage in a busy classroom. The whole challenge was thoroughly enjoyed by me and the pupils and we are glad to have participated.”

To access the Film Buff Challenge go to: wwwintofilm.org/filmbuff

Ends

Oct 12
0

Ards Business Hub helps new companies emerging from Covid-19 pandemic

By | Business

Ards Business Hub has met the challenge of Covid-19 by providing expert advice to entrepreneurs determined to launch new businesses during the pandemic.

Despite the nationwide lockdown, the Newtownards-based enterprise hub supported 60 clients with virtual delivery of its ‘Go For It’ business support programme.

Chief Executive Nichola Lockhart said: “Our small businesses continue to be the backbone of the local economy and it is their spirit of enterprise and innovation that will help spur an economic recovery from the effects of the pandemic.”

The work of its business advisers during lockdown resulted in the launch of new enterprises, including iFogg Ltd, set up to provide sanitation to small businesses, churches, community centres, sports clubs and gyms.

Company Director Ryan Connolly and his brother Brett began looking at the idea for a new business back in January when the spread of a new strain of coronavirus led to lockdown in the Chinese city of Wuhan. After a period of initial research, he signed up for the Go For It Programme of which Ards Business Hub is a delivery agent.

Ryan said: “During lockdown we had seen China using fog machines to sterilise premises and thought this was a way of making people feel confident about returning to the High Street. After completing the Go For It programme and Covid-19 awareness courses we opened our doors on June 10.”

The brothers have concentrated in building up their client base and are hoping to generate enough work to take on employees to do the cleaning work while they focus on growth.

Opening a new wedding business in the middle of a pandemic might be a risk but Jean Michel and Lisa Pascal, the couple behind Craic ‘N’ Campers have built up a solid base of bookings kicking off with their first wedding on September 25.

Jean Michel and Lisa had to postpone their own wedding which had been due to take place in July. Undeterred they now provide transport for other couples on their big day in their vintage VW Campervan called Gino and a Beetle called Bella. The VW Campervan can also be hired as a Campervan Photo booth.

Jean Michel said: “Starting a business during lockdown isn’t easy but our business adviser from the Go For It Programme was extremely helpful in formulating a strong business plan and explaining the legal aspects of the market.”

Lisa, a professional photographer, said that they were already looking ahead with plans to buy another campervan and VW Beetle.

“Our bookings are so strong for next year that we are looking for other vehicles to meet demand. This will depend on circumstances of course and we are monitoring the Covid-19 situation,” she said.

Another business supported by Ards Business Hub is #Goals, a new coaching and personal development consultancy run by Niamh Crawford-Walker.

Niamh works with millennial women to help them gain clarity in their career goals, unlock their true potential and build a career that fulfils them. She specialises in career coaching for women to help them build up the confidence to start their own businesses.

Before Covid-19 she had been running a series of small casual workshops, but lockdown gave her the incentive to bring all her content together online and create her own business.

She said: “I decided during lockdown that I wanted my future to be helping other young women fulfil their potential. I got in touch with the Go For It programme which enabled me to put together a business plan, learn about financial projections and the administrative side of things. It was helpful to have an advisor show me how to create a solid online business. I began the programme in June and got my logo sorted and website up and running and hosted my first online workshop on September 2.”

For more information about the support offered by Ards Business Hub email info@ardsbusiness.com or call 028 9181 9787.

Oct 12
0

Belfast woman appointed as UN Youth Delegate

By | General, News, Newsroom

A young Belfast woman is the first person from Northern Ireland to be appointed as a Youth Delegate to the United Nations.

Tara Grace Connolly will assist the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in a year that Ireland has been elected to the UN Security Council.

The 22-year-old law graduate, who has just completed her Masters’ degree in International Relations at Queen’s University, said it was a great honour to be selected.

“It’s a real privilege to be the first person from the north to be picked for this role. I got the confirmation at the beginning of September and had to keep the secret for three weeks until it was formally announced by the Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney.”

Tara Grace and her fellow delegate, Conn McCarrick from Dublin, will spend the year working with the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Permanent Mission to the UN to represent the views of young people.

Simon Coveney, speaking after a virtual meeting with the two young delegates said that during their term, they would be working on issues affecting young people in co-operation with fellow youth delegates from around the world.

He added: “Their contribution, whether virtual or in person, will be vital over the coming year in ensuring that young people are represented in Ireland’s engagement at the UN. As Ireland prepares to take its seat on the UN Security Council in January 2012, they will also play an important role in building awareness of the work of the UN and the role Ireland plays on the global stage.”

Originally from West Belfast, Tara Grace has been working on human rights and youth participation since the tender age of nine.

She said: “I wrote a letter to Al Gore when I was nine complaining about climate change and the melting of the polar ice caps and have been working on issues that affect young people ever since.”

Tara served as chairperson of the Northern Ireland Youth Forum and the Belfast Youth Forum and is a graduate of the Washington Ireland Program Class of 2017. She spent two months in Washington DC working in the Northern Ireland Bureau.

Chris Quinn, Director of the NI Youth Forum, said the organisation was so proud of Tara Grace and grateful for her commitment over the past eight years.

He added: “During this time, she championed speaking truth to power and taking a lead on campaigning for social justice and equality. Young people from the island of Ireland are sure to benefit as I am sure that she will reinforce this message directly to the UN.”

She co-founded the youth anti-Brexit campaign ‘Our Future Our Choice Northern Ireland’, addressing a million people at the March for a People’s Vote rally in London in October 2019.

“That was a surreal experience. It was on my birthday and the crowd sang Happy Birthday to me,” she added.

Tara Grace has presented at the UN Committee of the Rights of the Child in Geneva as a peer advocate with the Children’s Law Centre and is a member of the US Embassy Dublin Young Leaders Council.

She was named Belfast’s Celebrated Citizen in 2015 and was awarded the 2016 Voice of Young People Award. She has also been active in campaign work with Trócaire, Friends of the Earth and the Irish Development Education Association (IDEA) and has been active in Queen’s University’s Students’ Union and debating society.

She is looking forward to a busy year ahead: “A lot of our work will be around peace and security and sustainable development. I am representing the whole island, but I will be giving a northern perspective on things, redefining what it means to be a young person in Ireland.”