Other News In Brief

Sinn Féin Welcomes Launch Of The 'Live Better' Initiative

Sinn Féin MLA, Liz Kimmins, welcomes the launch of the 'Live Better' initiative aimed at improving community health and wellbeing.

The party's health spokesperson said: "This is a positive initiative which is clearly about improving health and wellbeing in communities by ensuring people have access to support and resources. It is crucial that it also focuses on improving health services for patients and works to increase preventative and early intervention measures within communities, and earlier interaction with health teams can help to manage conditions.

"Community and voluntary organisations have a key role to play in rolling out this project in helping ensure this reaches the people who need it most. I look forward to reading the full details of the Live Better initiative and I welcome the progress that has been made to date."

Alliance Selects Michelle Guy As Its New MLA For Lagan Valley

Alliance has chosen Michelle Guy as its new MLA for Lagan Valley, succeeding Sorcha Eastwood, who was elected as Lagan Valley MP.

Michelle Guy, aged 45, has been a Lisburn and Castlereagh City Councillor since 2019, including a stint as Deputy Mayor in 2022. She will step down from her council role before assuming the MLA position, following her selection by local Alliance association members.

Michelle said she was honoured to be taking on the position as MLA. She stated:

"I am absolutely delighted to have been selected by Alliance members in Lagan Valley as the new MLA for the area. It is truly an immense honour to represent the constituency where I live in this role,” she said.

"I look forward to getting straight down to work. Sorcha Eastwood leaves huge shoes to fill with her history-making election but I will continue to work closely with her as the new MP, as well as my constituency colleague David Honeyford MLA. I look forward to building on their work and mine as Councillor to serve the people of Lagan Valley on the issues that matter to them.

"As a team, we will continue to advocate for positive change in Northern Ireland and its institutions. The people of Northern Ireland deserve to have a functioning government, and Alliance believes that reforming our institutions is the right way forward. No single party should have the power to bring down our Assembly and Executive.

"Lagan Valley is an increasingly diverse constituency as symbolic of the new Northern Ireland. Alliance continues to grow here, as the positive and progressive voice people know they can trust, and that has been evidenced across several elections now."

Alliance Leader, Naomi Long MLA, commented: "Michelle has been a dedicated and passionate Alliance elected representative for many years now and I am delighted she is strengthening Alliance’s Assembly team by joining it. Alongside David and Sorcha, as well as our local Councillors, Michelle will be a key part of our growing Lagan Valley team, who aim to deliver the Alliance vision of a fairer and better community for everyone across the entire community."

Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council Reopens Rural Shopfront Scheme

Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council has launched another funding round for its Rural Shopfront Scheme.

This initiative is designed to assist eligible businesses in making minor alterations or repairs to their shopfronts or enhancing their facades for the summer season through activities such as painting or installing new window boxes.

The Rural Shopfront (Minor Works) Scheme forms a part of the council's COVID-19 Recovery Small Settlements Regeneration Programme, supported by funding from the Department for Communities, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, and the Department for Infrastructure.

Speaking about this new round of the Rural Shopfront Scheme, DAERA Minister, Andrew Muir said: "My Department through the Covid Recovery Small Settlements Regeneration Programme continues to work in partnership across central and local government to deliver partnership projects which are helping to regenerate rural villages and town centres.

"This partnership approach to delivery has a catalysing effect on rural settlements, creating additional opportunities for increased social interaction and economic regeneration, which in turn benefits our economy and helps address social isolation issues in rural areas. I am delighted that the rural shopfront scheme is continuing to support our rural businesses by providing funding for projects that improve the visuality of buildings in rural areas hence creating a more vibrant and welcoming place for residents and visitors to come and enjoy."

Alderman Amanda Grehan, Regeneration & Growth Committee Chair stated: "The results of existing investment from the Small Settlements Programme have been very welcome and the results are clear to see. This is the third round of Rural Shopfront Scheme funding for our small towns and villages. I would encourage any interested business to consider taking up this opportunity for financial support towards shopfront improvements."

To be eligible for a Small Settlements Rural Shopfront (Minor Works) grant, a business must be located within one of the following villages: Aghalee; Annahilt; Ballinderry; Dromara; Drumbeg; Glenavy; Maghaberry; Milltown or Moneyreagh.