Nominations Open For 2023 Belfast Sports Awards

Belfast Lord Mayor, Christina Black, and two-time Commonwealth Games medallist, Carly McNaul, have announced the official opening of the nomination process for the Belfast Sports Awards.

The Awards shine a spotlight on the sporting achievements of local athletes at the very top of sporting competition to grassroots level.  It also offers an opportunity to recognise the dedication and commitment of coaches and volunteers who work tirelessly behind the scenes to provide a springboard for their athletes to achieve success.

The Lord Mayor is encouraging everyone to get nominating and is looking forward to a fantastic evening, celebrating Belfast's sporting talent. Councillor Black said: "Belfast punches well above its weight when it comes to sporting success and we want to celebrate all of the many wonderful achievements our local athletes have made over the past year.

"Not only will we celebrate our athletes, but we also want to share the successes of our coaches and recognise the dedication of our wonderful volunteers who sacrifice so much of their own time and effort to help others achieve to their full potential.

"So, I'm calling on all the citizens of Belfast to get nominating and give your sporting idols a night they will never forget."

Previous winners at the Belfast Sports Awards include Dame Mary Peters, Carl Frampton, Dr. Michael McKillop, Wayne McCullough, David Humphries, and George Best (posthumously).

This year, there will be 13 awards presented in total across seven categories. Those categories include Pathway to Clubs, Healthy Lifestyle sponsored by Active Belfast, Coach of the Year sponsored by GLL, Team of the Year sponsored by Decathlon, Sports Personality of the Year sponsored by Commonwealth Games Council and Sports Medicine NI, Volunteer of the Year sponsored by Clubforce and Sporting Hall of Fame sponsored by Belfast City Council.

The closing date for nominations is 12 noon on Friday 10 February 2023. Those shortlisted will be invited to attend the awards ceremony on Friday 10 March 2023 at Belfast City Hall.

Groogan Welcomes Adoption Of Her Proposed 'Pre-Loved' Toys Collection

Green Party Councillor Áine Groogan has welcomed the news that her proposal to allow for 'pre-loved' toys for children in need at Belfast recycling centres.

Four Belfast City Council recycling centres will have specific containers to gather the toys, which will be distributed to approved charity partners. The toys will then either be gifted or sold at a substantially reduced rate to families in need.

Cllr. Groogan first proposed a motion calling for the scheme in November 2020 and later met with council staff to work out details. The report on the pilot scheme was approved by the Council's People and Communities committee.

The pilot scheme will accept a range of pre-loved toys at the Council's recycling centres over a 3-4 week period starting this month (November).

Speaking following the committee meeting, Cllr. Áine Groogan (Botanic DEA) said: "Thousands of families across Belfast are feeling the cost of living pinch, and this scheme will help ensure that kids still get a chance to play with great toys.

"Kids can outgrow bikes, dolls and puzzles quickly. We all remember going through phases when we were young, with different toys for different points in our lives. This scheme will allow kids to share the joy from their toys with others.

"The scheme will also help reduce waste, ensuring that toys go on to be loved and used, not just chucked in the bin.

"Nobody should miss out on the chance to play because of financial uncertainty. This will be a great scheme for Belfast kids. I am really proud of having brought this plan forward, and am grateful to council staff and colleagues for their support."

SDLP: 'Disgraceful' DUP Holding Up Energy Support Payments

SDLP Cost of Living Spokesperson Matthew O'Toole has said it is utterly disgraceful that the lack of an Assembly and Executive is holding up energy support payments.

He was speaking after Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris and Northern Ireland Office (NIO) Minister Steve Baker indicated it would be easier to deliver the payments if an Executive was in place.

Mr O'Toole said the hold-up was the latest evidence of harm being caused to people in the North by the DUP's boycott of the institutions, and urged Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to look again at support for those who use home heating oil.

South Belfast MLA Mr O'Toole said: "Despite the DUP's repeated attempts to deny the harm the lack of an Executive and Assembly is causing to people in the North, here is yet another example of how we could be helping people if they would end their boycott. Across these islands families have been provided with energy payment support, but people in the North are still waiting, with increasing anxiety about how they will pay their bills and heat their homes.

"Both the Secretary of State and NIO Minister have made it clear that it would be easier to get the £400 energy support payment, that we were repeatedly reassured by the DUP was on the way, out to those who need it with Ministers in place. While Stormont does not have a magic wand, the uncomfortable truth for the DUP is that having the institutions in place would be much better for people here on everything from energy support payments to our health waiting lists.

"It's abhorrent that people who have been promised this money, who desperately need it, are still waiting. Many are relying on this £400 to help them through the winter months and for others it won't be anywhere near enough. There has also been a total failure to support families in the North who rely on home heating oil, outside a derisory £100 support payment, which is also still yet to arrive. An Executive would be able to consider proposals like the SDLP's 1000l of home heating oil voucher scheme, and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak needs to look again at what further support can be provided to people here."