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05/12/2022
Other News In Brief
City Hall Hosts Special 'Employability for Everyone' Event
Belfast City Council has hosted an International Day for People with Disabilities special event at City Hall today, Monday 05 December, highlight 'Employability for Everyone' initiative.
Among the speakers were Sean Fitzsimons, a disability rights champion whose work has cut across public, private, third sector and political spheres - positively challenging the barriers that disabled people face.
Edyth Dunlop from the NI Union for Supported Employment spoke on the role of the organisation in representing the disability employment sector which assists people with disabilities to find and to stay and to progress within employment. The organisation works with member organisations and other government departments and agencies such as the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland.
Welcoming the speakers and attendees to the event, Lord Mayor Councillor Tina Black, said: "It's a privilege to be able to welcome everyone to City Hall today to celebrate International Day for People with Disabilities.
"We are delighted to be hosting this special event - a UN sanctioned day that aims to promote an understanding of people with disability and encourage support for their dignity, rights and well-being. The day also seeks to increase awareness of the benefits of the integration of people with disability in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life.
"In Belfast, Council is committed to improving the quality of living for people with disabilities and this includes making sure our premises and services are accessible for all.
"Our community plan, the Belfast Agenda, is seeded within the ambition to continually strive to have a city that is safe, fair, welcoming and inclusive - ensuring we have a city of scale with growth and opportunities for all including people with disabilities."
At the event, attendees were also informed about the work of Council in supporting people with disabilities into work. This included delivering recruitment campaigns and ringfencing some employment positions to those that were long-term unemployed and including people with disabilities.
Staff from the council's Human Resources and Employability and Skills teams worked in partnership with disability organisations and the Belfast Works project to secure nominations for training programmes. The programmes included classroom-based learning, on the job training and work experience.
Adjustment requests were facilitated to ensure participants could fully engage in the programmes and throughout the recruitment process. Examples of this included provision of a sign language interpreter, extra time to complete a computer-based skills test and for interview.
SDLP Welcomes Funding To Connect Wild Atlantic Way And the Causeway Coastal Route
The SDLP has welcomed the announcement of funding to connect the Wild Atlantic Way and the Causeway Coastal Route.
€7.6m funding from the Irish Government's Shared Island Unit was announced for the project as part of a tourism marketing initiative.
Ms Hunter said the move would be a huge boost to the North Coast's tourism offering.
East Derry MLA Cara Hunter said: "I'm delighted that Taoiseach Micheál Martin has announced funding to link the Wild Atlantic Way and Causeway Coastal Route through the Shared Island Unit. This is something the SDLP and people in this area have long campaigned for, recognising the potential benefits to our tourism sector when we work together and highlight everything our island has to offer.
"We are so lucky on this island to have some of the most beautiful coastline found anywhere. The Causeway Coastal Route is famous for its fantastic views, beaches, seaside towns and villages and it perfectly complements the Wild Atlantic Way in providing people with a fantastic experience while travelling around Ireland, exploring what we have to offer and our wonderful natural resources.
"Our tourism offering is a focal point of life in this area, we have built on the success of the Open at Portrush and look forward to its return and the extension of the Wild Atlantic Way will allow us to keep growing in the future. Tourism is so important to our economy, bringing much needed investment and jobs and today's announcement is a real opportunity to expand cross border cooperation when it comes to our tourism industry and we need to grab it with both hands."
SF 'Shocked And Deeply Concerned' About Youth Service Cuts
Sinn Féin MLA Ciara Ferguson said she is "shocked and deeply concerned" about Education Authority plans to cut vital youth services.
Ciara Ferguson said: "I have met with youth providers across Derry who have shared their concerns with me about cuts to youth services which the Education Authority is imposing on them.
"The impact of these cuts will be devastating for youth providers, for youth services and ultimately for young people.
"The news of the cuts has come as a shock to the groups and people who supply these services such as outreach services to some of our most vulnerable young people.
"They told me they were unaware that funding would be cut this year.
"I have written to the Education Authority to raise serious concerns, and opposition, to these cuts.
"These cuts come hot on the heels of Tory cuts announced here following the DUP’s boycott of our Assembly and Executive.
"People are struggling with the cost of living and our health service is under huge pressure and now youth and education services are being targeted for cuts.
"The DUP should get back to work around the Executive table with the other parties to get locally elected ministers in place and support the public against unbridled Tory cuts."
Belfast City Council has hosted an International Day for People with Disabilities special event at City Hall today, Monday 05 December, highlight 'Employability for Everyone' initiative.
Among the speakers were Sean Fitzsimons, a disability rights champion whose work has cut across public, private, third sector and political spheres - positively challenging the barriers that disabled people face.
Edyth Dunlop from the NI Union for Supported Employment spoke on the role of the organisation in representing the disability employment sector which assists people with disabilities to find and to stay and to progress within employment. The organisation works with member organisations and other government departments and agencies such as the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland.
Welcoming the speakers and attendees to the event, Lord Mayor Councillor Tina Black, said: "It's a privilege to be able to welcome everyone to City Hall today to celebrate International Day for People with Disabilities.
"We are delighted to be hosting this special event - a UN sanctioned day that aims to promote an understanding of people with disability and encourage support for their dignity, rights and well-being. The day also seeks to increase awareness of the benefits of the integration of people with disability in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life.
"In Belfast, Council is committed to improving the quality of living for people with disabilities and this includes making sure our premises and services are accessible for all.
"Our community plan, the Belfast Agenda, is seeded within the ambition to continually strive to have a city that is safe, fair, welcoming and inclusive - ensuring we have a city of scale with growth and opportunities for all including people with disabilities."
At the event, attendees were also informed about the work of Council in supporting people with disabilities into work. This included delivering recruitment campaigns and ringfencing some employment positions to those that were long-term unemployed and including people with disabilities.
Staff from the council's Human Resources and Employability and Skills teams worked in partnership with disability organisations and the Belfast Works project to secure nominations for training programmes. The programmes included classroom-based learning, on the job training and work experience.
Adjustment requests were facilitated to ensure participants could fully engage in the programmes and throughout the recruitment process. Examples of this included provision of a sign language interpreter, extra time to complete a computer-based skills test and for interview.
SDLP Welcomes Funding To Connect Wild Atlantic Way And the Causeway Coastal Route
The SDLP has welcomed the announcement of funding to connect the Wild Atlantic Way and the Causeway Coastal Route.
€7.6m funding from the Irish Government's Shared Island Unit was announced for the project as part of a tourism marketing initiative.
Ms Hunter said the move would be a huge boost to the North Coast's tourism offering.
East Derry MLA Cara Hunter said: "I'm delighted that Taoiseach Micheál Martin has announced funding to link the Wild Atlantic Way and Causeway Coastal Route through the Shared Island Unit. This is something the SDLP and people in this area have long campaigned for, recognising the potential benefits to our tourism sector when we work together and highlight everything our island has to offer.
"We are so lucky on this island to have some of the most beautiful coastline found anywhere. The Causeway Coastal Route is famous for its fantastic views, beaches, seaside towns and villages and it perfectly complements the Wild Atlantic Way in providing people with a fantastic experience while travelling around Ireland, exploring what we have to offer and our wonderful natural resources.
"Our tourism offering is a focal point of life in this area, we have built on the success of the Open at Portrush and look forward to its return and the extension of the Wild Atlantic Way will allow us to keep growing in the future. Tourism is so important to our economy, bringing much needed investment and jobs and today's announcement is a real opportunity to expand cross border cooperation when it comes to our tourism industry and we need to grab it with both hands."
SF 'Shocked And Deeply Concerned' About Youth Service Cuts
Sinn Féin MLA Ciara Ferguson said she is "shocked and deeply concerned" about Education Authority plans to cut vital youth services.
Ciara Ferguson said: "I have met with youth providers across Derry who have shared their concerns with me about cuts to youth services which the Education Authority is imposing on them.
"The impact of these cuts will be devastating for youth providers, for youth services and ultimately for young people.
"The news of the cuts has come as a shock to the groups and people who supply these services such as outreach services to some of our most vulnerable young people.
"They told me they were unaware that funding would be cut this year.
"I have written to the Education Authority to raise serious concerns, and opposition, to these cuts.
"These cuts come hot on the heels of Tory cuts announced here following the DUP’s boycott of our Assembly and Executive.
"People are struggling with the cost of living and our health service is under huge pressure and now youth and education services are being targeted for cuts.
"The DUP should get back to work around the Executive table with the other parties to get locally elected ministers in place and support the public against unbridled Tory cuts."
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A very mild, but mostly cloudy day, although with some bright or sunny spells. It will be mostly dry in the morning, but a little patchy light rain or drizzle at times in the afternoon. Maximum temperature 14 °C.Tonight:A band of heavier rain will move east during the evening before clearing eastwards after midnight. then mostly dry through the early hours, but a little rain towards dawn. Minimum temperature 8 °C.
