There is a shortage of available organs in the UK. Have you considered signing up to the NHS Organ Donor Register (ODR)?
Friday 12 March 2010
Northern Ireland’s freephone 24/7 crisis service, Lifeline (0808 808 8000), has opened new regional offices in Belfast. The building includes a new therapy centre designed to help people in crisis or despair.
Friday 12 March 2010
A campaign to highlight the dangers of underage drinking is under way. ‘You, your child and alcohol’ stresses the importance of talking to your children about alcohol before they are introduced to it by someone else.
Thursday 11 March 2010
Recovery from the economic downturn may have begun, but people in Northern Ireland are still facing real money problems. If you are having trouble paying your mortgage, and are maybe at risk of having your house repossessed, help is available.
Thursday 11 March 2010
The icy conditions over the winter has led to an increase in potholes throughout Northern Ireland. If you see a hole in the road, you can report it online.
Wednesday 10 March 2010
It’s No Smoking Day 2010, and if you smoke, have you thought about taking the first step towards quitting? Smoking is the single greatest cause of preventable illness and premature death in Northern Ireland. Kicking the habit now could add years to your life.
Wednesday 10 March 2010
From 1 April, the cost of a colour television licence will be £145.50 and a black and white licence will be £49.00. Find out more about buying your TV licence online, or how to get one for free or at a discount.
Tuesday 9 March 2010
Reported crime across Northern Ireland has fallen each consecutive month from October 2009 to January 2010. Latest figures show that reported crimes are down from 9,626 to 7,742 - a decrease of 1,884 or 19.6 per cent.
Tuesday 9 March 2010
A poll to determine the views of the general public on the Executive at Stormont and on the level of support / opposition for the transfer of policing and justice powers is now available.
Monday 8 March 2010
You can have your say on plans to improve the quality of your local environment. A public consultation on cleaning up neigbourhoods begins today and runs until 23 April 2010.
Monday 8 March 2010
A new office for those seeking jobs and those claiming benefits has opened to the public in Ballymena. The new facility brings together the services previously provided by the Social Security Agency (SSA) and the Department for Employment and Learning’s (DEL) JobCentre.
Monday 8 March 2010
A new campaign urges you to ‘Rethink Waste’. It aims to raise awareness of the simple steps that you can take to help reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill, helping improve our environment for future generations.
Monday 8 March 2010
There is a week-long programme of events across County Fermanagh to help people make the most of their money. Money Week 2010, from 6 to 12 March, offers a range of free financial advice at a number of events, including money makeover surgeries, workshops and budgeting sessions.
Friday 5 March 2010
If you’re a gardener, be aware of the dangers of planting invasive aquatic plants in your pond. These plants can quickly choke others by overgrowing and spreading to other areas. They tend to be species of plant which are from other countries and have been brought into Northern Ireland.
Friday 5 March 2010
There were 288 people in Northern Ireland registered as addicted to controlled drugs in 2009. In 2008, there were 281 registered. Of those, 83 per cent were male, with more than three quarters of addicts aged 30 or over. If you, or someone you know, has a drugs problem, help is available.
Thursday 4 March 2010
There will soon be a general election to elect a new government at Westminster. To be able to vote, you must be included on the Register of Electors in Northern Ireland.
Thursday 4 March 2010
Pregnant women should avoid close contact with sheep during the lambing season. Infections that can occur in some ewes can risk the mother-to-be’s health and that of her unborn child.
Thursday 4 March 2010
Authorities in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland can now share the details of drivers who ignore parking penalties or toll charges. A new cross-border pilot agreement means all parking offenders can be tracked.
Wednesday 3 March 2010
Preliminary figures show there were no deaths on Northern Ireland roads in February. This is the first time that there has been a fatality-free month since the police started keeping electronic records in 1986.
Wednesday 3 March 2010
A new rates deferment option will be made available from 1 April 2010 for pensioners who own and live in their own homes. It will apply to anyone over the age of 60 who is ineligible for rate relief or rate rebate.
Wednesday 3 March 2010
Reports from Chile suggest a rising death toll in the powerful earthquake which struck on 27 February, 285 miles south west of the capital, Santiago. If you are worried about someone, or are intending to travel to the country, advice is available.
Wednesday 3 March 2010
There will be another round of Cold Weather Payments in some parts of Northern Ireland due to sub zero temperatures during the past few weeks. The additional £25 payment, from the Department for Social Development, will be paid automatically by the Social Security Agency to qualifying groups.
Tuesday 2 March 2010
Young people are being encouraged to ‘think it through’ before deciding to have sexual intercourse. A campaign, targeting 16 to 25 year olds, aims to promote respect within relationships and help young people to delay having sex until they are ready.
Tuesday 2 March 2010
If you live in the Belfast City Council area, and have a brown bin, you can now recycle food waste. Small food 'caddies' and a supply of biodegradable bags have been delivered to the 55,000 homes able to take advantage of this new waste collection service.
Monday 1 March 2010
Reforms to the State Pension system in Northern Ireland will soon make it easier for more people to qualify for a full State Pension. The reforms will be introduced on 6 April 2010. They will make the system fairer for both men and women, in particular those with caring responsibilities.
Monday 1 March 2010
According to the Organised Crime Task Force (OCTF), criminal gangs are making huge profits by trafficking people into Northern Ireland for labour and sexual exploitation. The Blue Blindfold campaign raises public awareness on this important issue.
Thursday 25 February 2010
If you’re a woman aged 30 to 59, you should be aware of the link between drinking alcohol and breast cancer. A campaign is underway to encourage women to think about how much alcohol they are drinking and the serious impact this can have.
Thursday 25 February 2010
If you are struggling to pay your rate bill, find out about the range of financial assistance available. There are a number of rate reliefs and entitlements for pensioners and those on a low income.
Friday 19 February 2010
Be on your guard against criminals looking to con you during Scams Awareness Month. Every day hundreds of people are being targeted by scammers. Within the last 12 months it is estimated that one in 25 adults have responded to a scam, and around half of those scammed have lost more than £50.
Wednesday 17 February 2010
There will be a ‘Big Change’ in how gas safety is checked in Northern Ireland. A new awareness campaign has begun to help people better understand the switch over from the CORGI to the Gas Safe Register scheme for gas installers.
Wednesday 17 February 2010
Credit card interest rates are at their highest level for 12 years, according to new research. Part of the reason given for the rise is that companies fear borrowers may be less able to clear their debt. If you have money worries, there is plenty of information available on nidirect.
Tuesday 16 February 2010
You can work out the benefits to which you may be entitled online at a time that suits you with the Benefits Adviser Service. The comprehensive free benefit calculator for Northern Ireland can be used 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Tuesday 16 February 2010
A UK-wide public consultation on the labelling of alcohol, launched by the Department of Health in London, has been extended to Northern Ireland. It deals with information provided on bottles, cans and containers. The consultation closes on 9 May 2010.
Monday 15 February 2010
All local councils in Northern Ireland have struck their district rates for the 2010/2011 financial year. This year the district rates show increases of between zero per cent and 8.4 per cent, when compared with 2009/2010.
Monday 15 February 2010
Students in Belfast could be in the money by going ‘green’. The city council is running a recycling ‘competition’ in which young people could win £2,000 for making the most of their waste. The best-performing houses in the city's student areas will get a share of a £6,000 prize fund.
Monday 15 February 2010
Motorcyclists have been urged to ‘bike safely’. There is a big difference between the speed a motorcycle can reach and the ability to ride it safely on public roads. On the road, speed kills and wrecks lives.
Friday 12 February 2010
The Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) could allow your pet to avoid long quarantine periods when you return to Northern Ireland. Find out more on the arrangements for pets travelling into and leaving Northern Ireland
Tuesday 9 February 2010
It’s Safer Internet Day (9 February), and a new campaign has been launched to try and keep young people safe online. The Click Clever, Click Safe code identifies things to remember that can help keep young people safe when they visit their favourite websites.
Tuesday 9 February 2010
Free face-to-face advice on Tax Credits and Child Benefit will be available in Ballymena next week (17-18 February). Teams from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) will be offering help and guidance.
Monday 8 February 2010
You can view the Agreement at Hillsborough Castle (5 February 2010) on nidirect at the following link.
Friday 5 February 2010
Planning for retirement can be daunting. But, help is at hand with nidirect's new 'Build a better future' section. It can get you thinking about retirement and help you to take your first steps towards a better future.
Thursday 4 February 2010
Over the next few weeks parents of P7 children will be meeting with their primary school principal to help choose the post primary school their child will attend from September 2010.
Wednesday 3 February 2010
If you travel to work by bus, you could make savings with a new annual bus travel card from Translink. Available through an employer salary sacrifice scheme, the new TaxSmart travel card allows you to save money on both Income Tax and National Insurance contributions by paying for bus travel directly from your salary.
Wednesday 3 February 2010
A 24-hour freephone service can help you check up on unexpected callers to your house. If you are worried that someone may be not be who they claim to be, phone QuickCheck on 0800 013 2290.
Tuesday 2 February 2010
If you think you have the qualities needed to provide a home for a child who cannot live with their parents, why not consider fostering? Foster carers help some of the most vulnerable children and young people in Northern Ireland.
Thursday 28 January 2010
A new law to keep disqualified drivers off UK and Republic of Ireland roads comes into force today. It is the first practical step to recognise driving disqualifications in Europe under the terms of the 1998 European Convention on driving disqualifications.
Thursday 28 January 2010
If your child has left full-time education and their Child Benefit has stopped, you must notify your local Social Security Office/ Jobs and Benefits Office about any changes in their circumstances.
Tuesday 19 January 2010
The Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) has announced a 1.9% rent increase for tenants in 2010/11. The increase will amount to, on average, less than £1 per week for people living in NIHE accommodation.
Tuesday 19 January 2010
If you have recently been in hospital or a care home, and are in receipt of Attendance Allowance, you must notify the Social Security Agency's Disability and Carers Service.
Monday 18 January 2010
On 12 January an earthquake of magnitude 7.2 struck Haiti.You can help by making a tax-free donation to the Disaster Emergency Committee.
Friday 15 January 2010
Unemployed graduates in Northern Ireland could benefit from a unique initiative, the Graduate Acceleration Programme (GAP). It offers a work placement alongside further study, and it is hoped GAP will help them secure long-term employment.
Wednesday 13 January 2010
An initiative aimed at helping to reduce levels of self-harm and suicide has been launched today. The ‘Card Before you Leave’ scheme’s aim is to ensure that anyone leaving hospital in distress with an ongoing mental health issue does not feel isolated, alone, ignored or forgotten.
Wednesday 13 January 2010
It’s not just those seriously injured or killed on our roads whose lives are changed forever in a crash - everyone suffers. This is the message of the latest road safety television campaign launched today, ‘Crashed Lives’.
Friday 8 January 2010
During cold weather, inconvenience and damage as a result of burst pipes is a real possibility. Potential repairs alone can run into many thousands of pounds, as seen throughout Northern Ireland in recent weeks. However, with some simple precautions the risk can be reduced.
Thursday 31 December 2009
The Department of Education (DE) has published a second leaflet to guide parents through the process of choosing a post-primary school.
Wednesday 16 December 2009
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