Advice NI

13/10/2026

🌱 DO YOU HAVE AN IDEA FOR A SUSTAINABLE ENERGY PROJECT IN YOUR COMMUNITY?

💚 Funding is available - and we want to help you explore the possibilities!
Advice NI’s Sustainable Energy Communities NI team has been appointed by Great British Energy to support community organisations across Northern Ireland with advice and guidance on the Great British Energy Community Fund.
Whether you represent a community centre, sports club, charity or another eligible community organisation, this could be an opportunity to explore how clean energy could benefit your community.

💷 WHAT FUNDING IS AVAILABLE?
🔹 Stage 1: Up to £40,000 for feasibility studies
🔹 Stage 2: Up to £100,000 for project development
🔹 Stage 3: Up to £3 million towards eligible capital costs, covering a maximum of 50% of eligible project costs.

☀️ Projects could include eligible solar, wind and other renewable energy generation technologies, with battery storage where the fund’s requirements are met.

💻 JOIN ONE OF OUR UPCOMING ONLINE INFORMATION SESSIONS!
Our team will explain the fund, discuss the types of projects that may be eligible and answer your questions about taking an idea forward.

📅 Friday, 16 October 2026
📍 Online via Zoom
👉 Register for the 16 October session: https://ow.ly/Iyje50ZXcq1

📅 Friday, 23 October 2026
📍 Online via Zoom
👉 Register for the 23 October session: https://ow.ly/PPQi50ZXcq2

📧 Have a question? Contact us at [email protected].

13/10/2026

We’ve created a special Autumn Bundle, bringing together three of our most popular online courses in Employment, Disability and Human Rights Law for just £99.

You’ll receive 3 months’ access to all three e-Learning courses and also have the opportunity to earn 9 CPD credits! 👏

👉 REGISTER FOR THE AUTUMN BUNDLE HERE: https://ow.ly/3wXt50ZVSKk

Employment Law – 3 CPD Credits: https://ow.ly/NQxk50ZVSKf
Build your understanding of employment rights and responsibilities in the workplace.

Disability Law – 3 CPD Credits: https://ow.ly/5Qfk50ZVSKi
Explore disability legislation, rights, health and social care, benefits and financial support.

Human Rights Law – 3 CPD Credits: https://ow.ly/Xj4P50ZVSKm
Understand the fundamental principles of human rights and how they apply in advice work.

🎉 3 Courses • 9 CPD Credits • £99

‼️Important: To take advantage of the special £99 bundle price, you must register using the special bundle link included here. The individual course links are provided so you can view the course information. Please do not register through the individual course links, as the £99 bundle price will not apply ‼️

12/10/2026

Have you heard the great news? Advice NI is helping bring new clean energy opportunities to communities across Northern Ireland! We’re delighted that Advice NI, through our Sustainable Energy Communities NI team, has been appointed by Great British Energy to support organisations in Northern Ireland with advice and guidance on the Great British Energy Community Fund.

This is an exciting opportunity for community organisations to explore renewable energy projects, reduce energy costs and develop solutions that deliver lasting benefits for local people.

We’re already getting started! We recently welcomed representatives from community organisations to our offices for our first information and support session. We’re also reaching out to organisations across Northern Ireland to help them understand the opportunities available and explore how they might benefit from the fund.

✅ Funding is available!
Stage 1: Up to £40,000 for feasibility studies.
Stage 2: Up to £100,000 for project development.
Stage 3: Up to £3 million towards eligible capital projects, covering a maximum of 50% of eligible capital costs.

📅 Join our next online information session - Friday 16 October 2026 - 10:00

If your organisation has an idea for a sustainable energy project, or you’d like to learn more about the funding available, we’d love to hear from you!

🔗 Register for our information session and subscribe to our mailing list to hear about future funding opportunities:

👉 Eventbrite Registration: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/sustainable-energy-communities-ni-sec-ni-information-session-tickets-2002134258463?aff=oddtdtcreator

👉 Join our mailing list: Sign up to Receive our Newsletter: https://confirmsubscription.com/h/y/8996F6F8BFFB6747

✉️ Contact our Sustainable Energy Communities NI team at [email protected].

Northern Ireland has the ideas, the community spirit and the potential to make a real difference. Let’s work together to make sure our communities receive their fair share of these exciting funding opportunities!

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Paul Turnbull, Olivia Dath, Brian Rankin, Stephen Hunter, Leigh Anderson, Paul Madden, Marianne Cushley and Yani Garib for attending our first information session in Belfast. We appreciate you taking the time to join us and your interest in the initiative.

09/10/2026

Advice NI is extremely concerned about amendments to the Holiday Hunger Bill tabled at the last possible moment by the Education Minister. The proposed changes put the implementation timetable in the control of the Minister and the Department. As a result, parents and children would have no guarantees about when, if ever, payments might begin.

In response, we and others are calling on all political parties and all MLAs to reject the amendments tabled by the Education Minister and support the Bill as it currently stands. Read our joint press release at https://www.adviceni.net/about/news/families-distraught-holiday-hunger-bill-jeopardy.

07/10/2026

Last week we were so proud to launch Advice NI's latest research: “Delay Action: Debt Advice, Shame and Effective Messaging.” Thank you so much to the Money Guiders NI Network for hosting the launch of our report at the "Understanding Debt in Northern Ireland" event in the MAC Belfast Theatre.

The research looks at why people can delay seeking debt advice and, importantly, what we can do differently to make that first step feel easier. From the frontline, we know debt is about far more than numbers on a page. It can affect someone’s confidence, relationships, mental wellbeing and their sense of control.

One thing is clear: how we talk about debt really matters. This research gives us important insights into how we can challenge shame, reduce the stigma around debt and make our messages more effective in reaching people who need support.

A huge thank you to Ilias Lambrou, a PhD student, Queen's University Belfast, who carried out the research. Thank you to our amazing Debt team Sinéad Campbell, to Samantha Scullion, Janine Maher, and all the team at the Money Guiders NI Network and Money and Pensions Service for hosting the launch. Also, thank you to the speakers Graham Smith from Utility Regulator NI and Ivan Minnis from Consumer Council for Northern Ireland, who also commissioned the resesearch.

The research is available from our website: https://www.adviceni.net/policy/publications/delay-action-research-debt-advice-shame-and-effective-messaging

Please get in touch if you would like to discuss the findings with our team further.

29/09/2026

Kevin Higgins, Head of Policy for Advice NI, spoke to Cool FM news about the support offered by the Executive to households through the £100 Home Heating Oil Support Scheme. However, as Kevin points out, Local government and National government bodies will have to continue to do more to support people in the face of a worsening cost of living crisis due to the recent oil price hikes.

You can read more about the scheme and the application process here: https://www.adviceni.net/cost-living/home-heating-oil-scheme

Michelle O'Neill Emma Little-Pengelly MLA Naomi Long MLA Jon Burrows MLA

29/09/2026

It's the start of the new school term, with many settling in to new courses and in many cases a new place to live, but with costs rising - student fees and debt can be a big influencing factor on peoples future decisions.

Head of Money, Debt and quality at Advice NI, Sinéad Campbell, spoke to BBC Ulster on Saturday morning about the potential financial difficulties and financial decisions students must navigate.

Advice NI's Money and Debt services are here to provide free, independent and non-judgmental advice if you are struggling. You can listen to the full interview here (⏰ story segment begins at 00:26:00): https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m00323rd

Freephone advice helpline: 0800 915 4604

Email us for advice: [email protected]

For contact information for your local advice centre, go to: https://www.adviceni.net/money-debt:

The savings scheme rewarding low-income earners with a 50% bonus.

25/09/2026

Advice NI and the Living Wage NI team attended the CO3 Conference yesterday in the La Mon Hotel. It was a fantastic event, with a real buzz, great conversations and lots of interest in the Living Wage Accreditation.

It was lovely to get seeing some of our Living Wage Employers there

The National Lottery Community Fund EY Disability Action Northern Ireland Work West

23/09/2026

In case you missed it this week, the Northern Ireland Assembly discussed the latest developments for the Holiday Hunger Bill in the Assembly:

https://aims.niassembly.gov.uk/officialreport/report.aspx?&eveDate=2026/09/21&docID=498919 #5723435

It was heartening to see MLA's using the research Submission provided by Advice NI's Policy & Information Team. You can read the full report here: https://www.adviceni.net/policy/publications/call-evidence-education-holiday-meal-payments-bill

Consideration Stage of the ' ' Bill moved by
Danny Baker MLA

Nick Mathison MLA Feeding Britain Northern Ireland Anti-Poverty Network Women's Support Network

https://aims.niassembly.gov.uk/officialreport/report.aspx?&eveDate=2026/09/21&docID=498919 #5723435