Other News In Brief

Belfast Harbour Community Awards Support Groups With Funding Of £80,000 In 2023

A number of charities and community groups across NI have benefitted from the latest round of funding from the Belfast Harbour Community Awards.

The Awards provide community organisations, charities and not-for-profit groups registered in Northern Ireland with an opportunity to apply for individual grants of up to £5,000.

Throughout 2023 groups across Belfast and Northern Ireland applied for the grants, and a wide range of initiatives, including sports clubs, mental health programmes and skills initiative programmes have benefited from funding.

A total of £80,000 was allocated for 2023 and recipients were awarded grants based on how their project would positively impact local communities.

Mike Dawson at Belfast Harbour, said: "Our Community Awards Fund supports organisations across Northern Ireland deliver projects and initiatives which positively impact local communities. With the cost-of-living crisis still at the forefront of conversation we're proud to have been able to support a number of groups in different communities and provide an initiative which supports them.

"We're committed to being a community focused port, supporting great causes and we're very much looking forward to hearing about the impact this round of funding will have on local communities."

Belfast Schoolchildren Meet 'Rabbie' Burns

Belfast primary schoolchildren have met Robert 'Rabbie' Burns at a special event as part of a celebration of the life and works of the Scottish poet and lyricist.

Burns Week runs from 22 - 28 January, and the event in City Hall was organised by the Ulster-Scots Agency in partnership with Belfast City Council.

Belfast has a strong historical connection to Ulster-Scots and a unique relationship with Robert 'Rabbie' Burns. It was the first place outside Scotland where his work was published and was home to members of his family and close friends.

One of the world's oldest Burns clubs – the Belfast Burns Club - was established 151 years ago and Belfast is home of the largest collection of Burns material in the world outside Scotland, which is held at the Linen Hall Library.

SF's Michelle Gildernew To Stand For EU Parliament

Sinn Féin MP and former Agriculture Minister Michelle Gildernew is to stand in the upcoming European elections, representing the Midlands-North West constituency.

Speaking following the announcement, Michelle Gildernew said: "The European Union is crucially important to Ireland. Ireland needs to be the fore in setting the direction of the European Union in the years ahead, and I want to play a role in making that happen by bringing my experience of negotiation and dealing with EU institutions as a former Agriculture Minister to the job of standing up for Irish interests in the European Parliament.

"The European Union played a key role in ensuring Brexit did not create a hard border in Ireland, and I believe the North's future must be within the European Union as part of a United Ireland.

"Ireland needs stronger representatives in the European Parliament. A strong Sinn Féin team will call out the EU when needed if it is not acting in the best interest of the Irish people or when EU office holders overstep their remit as the EU Commission President did in recent months.

"If elected my priorities will include:

• Ensuring the EU gets back to focusing on what matters to workers and families: supporting States in dealing with challenges such as the cost of living, regional development and climate change.

• Ensuring the needs of Irish farmers are at the heart of the next round of CAP negotiations.

• Maintaining Ireland's veto in Foreign Affairs and Defence, protecting Irish neutrality and opposing increased EU military spending.

• Ensuring that the EU is proactive in support of Irish Unity.

"This is a time of huge potential and opportunity for Ireland. If elected as an MEP for the Midlands-North West I want to be part of delivering that positive change that communities, workers and families need."