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08/12/2022
Other News In Brief
Council Welcomes Success Of Reuse IT Scheme
Belfast City Council has welcomed the success of a Reuse IT Scheme, which sees donated tablets and laptops refurbished and redistributed.
15 devices have been refurbished in phase 1 of the scheme and delivered to the Belfast Intercultural Romanian Community and the Conway Education Centre for use by the after-school club working with refugees and asylum seekers.
Pauline Kersten, programme manager at the Conway Education Centre is delighted to receive devices from the council.
She said: "This is such a wonderful initiative that the council is delivering. The impact this will have on our ability to deliver quality online learning for our students is immeasurable.
"Many of our students have limited access to online learning which seriously impacts their ability to fully benefit from our programmes in the Conway Education Centre. These new devices will enhance our current resources and improve our offering as a key learning provider within the local community."
The council is working in partnership with Ignite IT. Ignite IT complete the technical checks on devices. If a device is suitable for reuse, Ignite IT repair or replace parts, wipe all personal data from hard drives and install new software.
Chair of Belfast City Council's People and Communities Committee Councillor Micky Murray is encouraging more people to get involved in the scheme. He said: "It's fantastic to see devices being distributed back into communities following phase 1 of our Reuse IT pilot project. Giving a new lease of life to our old laptops and tablets is a fantastic example of our circular economy in action and helps us reduce the amount of waste we're sending to landfill. So, if you have an old device sitting at home that's no longer in use, have a think about donating it to our Reuse IT scheme."
The Reuse IT has added social and economic benefits, delivering devices to individuals and organisations most in need.
Phase 2 of the scheme is now live and unused household laptops and tablets can be donated at Ormeau Household Recycling Centre.
People Need Detailed Welfare Advice – SDLP
People need detailed welfare advice, SDLP Social Justice Spokesperson Daniel McCrossan has said.
He was speaking after the Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman ordered the Department for Communities to pay a taxi driver more than £11,000 after not advising him of the impact of a Universal Credit application on his working tax credits.
Mr McCrossan said that it was vital that everyone is made aware of the welfare payments they are entitled to and given thorough advice when applying.
West Tyrone MLA Mr McCrossan said: "It's shameful that a taxi driver in the North lost out on over £11,000 over a four-year period after being badly advised when seeking help applying for welfare. It's impossible to calculate the impact this has had on the life of the man involved, particularly given the financial pressures facing families across the North, but I am deeply concerned that many other people could be in a similar position.
"Applying for welfare can be a painstaking and lengthy process and it's vitally important that people receive meticulous advice with dedicated care and attention provided to each and every case. I know that the vast majority of our welfare advisers go above and beyond to help people accessing the system, but it's important to remember that behind these applications is a person, with families and responsibilities and any mistake could have serious consequences for the applicant.
"I will be seeking reassurances from the Department for Communities about the training put in place for staff and to ascertain what action they will be taking as a result of this case to ensure nothing similar happens in future. We also need to see a greater effort to make the public aware of what benefits they are entitled to, as we know that many people are missing out and now more than ever people need every penny just to get by."
More Conversations Are Needed On Homelessness – Armstrong
More conversations are needed on homelessness in an effort to raise awareness on familial homelessness, Alliance Communities Spokesperson and Vice-Chair of the All Party Group (APG) on Homelessness Kellie Armstrong MLA has said.
Speaking during Homelessness Awareness Week (HAW) – a week of social and educational events which aims to raise awareness of the reality of homelessness in Northern Ireland. Held annually, it seeks to challenge stereotypes around homelessness and highlight the invaluable work of the homelessness sector here.
The theme of this year’s HAW is 'Have the Conversation'.
Kellie Armstrong said: "The timing of this week of awareness couldn’t be more apt in the run-up to Christmas, as many families are experiencing some tough circumstances this year in particular, among them being those facing homelessness.
"Between October 2021 and September 2022, 4,820 families presented to the Housing Executive as homeless in NI, a number that represents a heart-breaking number of men, women, and children in dire circumstances and faced with specific and unthinkable challenges. To be clear, homelessness is not just about sleeping rough, but also about people who live in temporary or overcrowded accommodation as well.
"Whilst the work of support organisations here such as Homeless Connect, the Simon Community, Ark Housing and Women’s Aid, among many others, is invaluable and we’re very grateful for all they do, we as legislators still have much to do in terms of tackling homelessness in NI. The APG on Homelessness will continue to push for a Housing Outcome that will include cross-cutting actions to prevent homelessness here.
"Alliance believes it is critical that we have safety nets in place for those who unfortunately fall on hard times and stand at risk of homelessness. We continue to push for the implementation of the proposed Homelessness Strategy 2022-27, look into the feasibility of a Preventing Possession Fund similar to those in operation in Scotland and England, and making affordable credit facilities more accessible, for example by encouraging new initiatives involving social housing providers and credit unions.
"Any person or family could be only a couple of pay cheques or an unexpected financial hurdle away from facing homelessness. Together, we must recognise and acknowledge our responsibilities to those in hardship, listen to their stories, and work to provide them with the help and resources needed to both lift them out of these situations and prevent it from happening in the first place."
Belfast City Council has welcomed the success of a Reuse IT Scheme, which sees donated tablets and laptops refurbished and redistributed.
15 devices have been refurbished in phase 1 of the scheme and delivered to the Belfast Intercultural Romanian Community and the Conway Education Centre for use by the after-school club working with refugees and asylum seekers.
Pauline Kersten, programme manager at the Conway Education Centre is delighted to receive devices from the council.
She said: "This is such a wonderful initiative that the council is delivering. The impact this will have on our ability to deliver quality online learning for our students is immeasurable.
"Many of our students have limited access to online learning which seriously impacts their ability to fully benefit from our programmes in the Conway Education Centre. These new devices will enhance our current resources and improve our offering as a key learning provider within the local community."
The council is working in partnership with Ignite IT. Ignite IT complete the technical checks on devices. If a device is suitable for reuse, Ignite IT repair or replace parts, wipe all personal data from hard drives and install new software.
Chair of Belfast City Council's People and Communities Committee Councillor Micky Murray is encouraging more people to get involved in the scheme. He said: "It's fantastic to see devices being distributed back into communities following phase 1 of our Reuse IT pilot project. Giving a new lease of life to our old laptops and tablets is a fantastic example of our circular economy in action and helps us reduce the amount of waste we're sending to landfill. So, if you have an old device sitting at home that's no longer in use, have a think about donating it to our Reuse IT scheme."
The Reuse IT has added social and economic benefits, delivering devices to individuals and organisations most in need.
Phase 2 of the scheme is now live and unused household laptops and tablets can be donated at Ormeau Household Recycling Centre.
People Need Detailed Welfare Advice – SDLP
People need detailed welfare advice, SDLP Social Justice Spokesperson Daniel McCrossan has said.
He was speaking after the Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman ordered the Department for Communities to pay a taxi driver more than £11,000 after not advising him of the impact of a Universal Credit application on his working tax credits.
Mr McCrossan said that it was vital that everyone is made aware of the welfare payments they are entitled to and given thorough advice when applying.
West Tyrone MLA Mr McCrossan said: "It's shameful that a taxi driver in the North lost out on over £11,000 over a four-year period after being badly advised when seeking help applying for welfare. It's impossible to calculate the impact this has had on the life of the man involved, particularly given the financial pressures facing families across the North, but I am deeply concerned that many other people could be in a similar position.
"Applying for welfare can be a painstaking and lengthy process and it's vitally important that people receive meticulous advice with dedicated care and attention provided to each and every case. I know that the vast majority of our welfare advisers go above and beyond to help people accessing the system, but it's important to remember that behind these applications is a person, with families and responsibilities and any mistake could have serious consequences for the applicant.
"I will be seeking reassurances from the Department for Communities about the training put in place for staff and to ascertain what action they will be taking as a result of this case to ensure nothing similar happens in future. We also need to see a greater effort to make the public aware of what benefits they are entitled to, as we know that many people are missing out and now more than ever people need every penny just to get by."
More Conversations Are Needed On Homelessness – Armstrong
More conversations are needed on homelessness in an effort to raise awareness on familial homelessness, Alliance Communities Spokesperson and Vice-Chair of the All Party Group (APG) on Homelessness Kellie Armstrong MLA has said.
Speaking during Homelessness Awareness Week (HAW) – a week of social and educational events which aims to raise awareness of the reality of homelessness in Northern Ireland. Held annually, it seeks to challenge stereotypes around homelessness and highlight the invaluable work of the homelessness sector here.
The theme of this year’s HAW is 'Have the Conversation'.
Kellie Armstrong said: "The timing of this week of awareness couldn’t be more apt in the run-up to Christmas, as many families are experiencing some tough circumstances this year in particular, among them being those facing homelessness.
"Between October 2021 and September 2022, 4,820 families presented to the Housing Executive as homeless in NI, a number that represents a heart-breaking number of men, women, and children in dire circumstances and faced with specific and unthinkable challenges. To be clear, homelessness is not just about sleeping rough, but also about people who live in temporary or overcrowded accommodation as well.
"Whilst the work of support organisations here such as Homeless Connect, the Simon Community, Ark Housing and Women’s Aid, among many others, is invaluable and we’re very grateful for all they do, we as legislators still have much to do in terms of tackling homelessness in NI. The APG on Homelessness will continue to push for a Housing Outcome that will include cross-cutting actions to prevent homelessness here.
"Alliance believes it is critical that we have safety nets in place for those who unfortunately fall on hard times and stand at risk of homelessness. We continue to push for the implementation of the proposed Homelessness Strategy 2022-27, look into the feasibility of a Preventing Possession Fund similar to those in operation in Scotland and England, and making affordable credit facilities more accessible, for example by encouraging new initiatives involving social housing providers and credit unions.
"Any person or family could be only a couple of pay cheques or an unexpected financial hurdle away from facing homelessness. Together, we must recognise and acknowledge our responsibilities to those in hardship, listen to their stories, and work to provide them with the help and resources needed to both lift them out of these situations and prevent it from happening in the first place."
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Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:Rain clearing away east by early evening with some clear spells but a few showers likely to affect the North coast and other areas towards dawn, remaining breezy and mild overnight. Minimum temperature 9 °C.
