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12/10/2026

“People thrive because of the power of people”

Today we hope you’ll join us in congratulating Bangor man Ken Carson on the recognition of his achievements - in raising awareness of what is needed for local blind and partially sighted people to thrive and giving such time and effort in being part of the solution, and someone other people with sight loss can look to for advice and inspiration.

Ken was asked to become RNIB’s newest Ambassador at a special event in Bangor Castle marking this year’s World Sight Day. Ken has been working tirelessly in the Ards and North Down area to connect people to events, activity and support need for them to build their confidence, independence and enjoyment of life following sight loss for many years now, since his own eyesight starting to deteriorate significantly in his 40s.

Ken is currently chair of the Bangor SIGHT group (Sight Impaired Group Helping Transformation), working with Ards and North Down Council to transform it into Northern Ireland’s first ‘Visually Aware Borough’.

Speaking of progress made in accessibility in recent years, including the recent installation of the Bangor Ring Road, making navigating so much safer with sight loss, Ken said:

“Patience and positivity pays off. I wouldn’t be standing here today without the support of the likes of RNIB and sensory support, and the benefits of peer support groups and being able to try something new. RNIB opened all of the doors for me and I chose to walk through them.

Losing your sight is a grieving process, often of something you’ve taken for granted. I’d like to thank my wife Joanne, daughter Jenna, sister Christine, and last but by no means least my mum Shirley. We’d be nothing without her. And of course, Waffle with me here today, who didn’t even need any hair and makeup she’s such a stunner. All of their support has been a game changer.”

Image description: Ken and guide dog Waffle pictured on steps of Bangor Castle with Mayor of Ards and North Down Councillor Craig Blaney, and RNIB NI Director Robert Shilliday, accepted glass ‘RNIB Ambassador’ award

05/10/2026

Sandra McCartney from Derry/Londonderry was on holiday in Spain when she suffered a massive heart attack followed by a cardiac arrest. Fit and healthy with no warning that anything was wrong, Sandra never imagined that she would face a life-changing heart condition.

After spending weeks in hospital, being ventilated and undergoing further treatment, Sandra returned home facing a long and difficult recovery. She was later diagnosed with heart failure and continues to live with the effects of her heart attack and cardiac arrest.

Through Northern Ireland Chest Heart & Stroke, Sandra found support through the Heart Strong Education Programme, which helped her feel less alone and connect with others who understood what she was going through.

Sandra says, “Going to Heart Strong made me feel like I wasn’t alone and I got the support I really needed. I wanted to give something back for the help I received from NICHS, so I now volunteer... It’s great to be able to help people and give them hope, to show them their life might be different now, but it can still be good and have positives.”

Read Sandra's Story: https://nichs.org.uk/about-us/news/sandra-story-whd

28/09/2026

Have your say: share your experience of electricity costs, supplier communication, digital access, and support needs 🔌

Complete Age NI and Power NI 's anonymous survey here: ageni.org/electricitysurvey

24/09/2026

Childline Turns 40 next month !

Every call, email or message board post we receive is a young person bravely asking to be heard. Thanks to you, we can be here however children need us.

We've been here however children need us. For Zain who needs to talk, and Lauren who wants a distraction. This year we're celebrating our 40th anniversary. But we're not counting candles, we're counting connections.

More than 6.3 million children have reached out since we opened our phone lines in 1986. Every call, email or message board post we receive is a young person bravely asking to be heard.

Whether they come to our websites for advice, call us because they need support, or text because talking's too hard, you're helping us be there for them.

Our Childline Turns 40 activity pack helps young people explore the Childline website in a fun and engaging way. By becoming familiar with the site, they can learn more about the support available and know where to turn if they ever need help.

Inside, you'll find the “Childline Challenge”, an interactive online hunt, alongside a creative bunting activity. Young people can design and decorate their own bunting and send it to a Childline base to help brighten our 40th anniversary celebrations.

The activity pack is free and available for young people aged 5 to16 years old. It’s a great activity pack to use during the summer break and accessible for professionals in various provisions over the summer.

Download the CL40 Schools Activity Pack here

21/09/2026

RNIB NI is on the Move!
RNIB Northern Ireland has now moved out of its Victoria House office in Gloucester Street Belfast.

We’re still here for everyone affected by sight loss in NI, we’re just on the move!

We are working hard to find our new Belfast office space and want to ensure it is designed with inclusivity and accessibility at its core.

Our Products and Advice Centre appointments will continue as normal but delivered via phone or video call.

Our other services and support, including our Community Connect activity groups, will continue to function as normal.

If you have any questions about activities or services you use, please contact your preferred RNIB NI team.
Email: [email protected].
Alternatively, you can call our Helpline on: 0303 123 9999.

Image shows a group of RNIB NI volunteers and campaigners posing for a photo in Belfast city centre. There are 13 people, guide dog Wallace and four white canes

17/09/2026

Cancer Can't Wait - Sign the Petition!
We are calling on elected representatives to prioritise cancer. Our online petition enables people across Northern Ireland to contact their MLA directly and urge them to ensure cancer remains at the forefront of the next Stormont mandate.
Sign the Petition at: https://secure.cancerfocusni.org/page/196622/petition/1

14/09/2026

Huge thanks to the amazing group from DAC Beachcroft who came in to volunteer at our Skainos Day Centre last week!
Learn more about volunteering with Age NI here: www.ageni.org/volunteer

10/09/2026

I had family to talk to, but having someone that understands what you’re going through was so important. Someone too, who would chat to Barney and help him as much as I could.”

Barney was nine when he was diagnosed with a cancerous tumour in his lung, for which chemotherapy was not an option. The growing tumour was causing a blockage in his left lung and needed to be removed. The surgeon described it as a complex operation that was so rare he had never performed it on a child. Led by a surgery team experienced in adult procedures, the operation took almost seven hours.

Phoebe, Barney’s mum said, “Barney was scared when they put the mask on him. I held him, and remember this heavy, floppy weight on me and you just think ‘it’s not a normal sleep’ it felt really weird - just a horrible feeling knowing you then had to say goodbye to your child not knowing what the outcome of the surgery would be.”

Barney spent 24 hours being monitored in intensive care after the operation before being moved to a ward, and he was home in five days. Lots of return visits to the hospital followed for further MRI, PET scans, X-rays. Barney missed a lot of time from school, and his Young Lives vs Cancer specialist social worker, Sarah, helped his family to manage his return and getting him the support he would need.

“It’s a type of cancer that can come back but removing the lung reduces that chance. Because chemotherapy isn’t an option, they took tumour cells to create a medicine so if it spreads anywhere, they have a targeted treatment to use,” Phoebe explained.

Barney’s parents were able to share his diagnosis with him in a way that made it understandable without being scary, but his brother was emotionally affected: When Barney was in hospital he kept a little teddy privately in his school bag. He didn’t want to see his brother with wires and tubes, or his surgery scar. Both children are facing their new ‘normal’.

Cancer doesn’t affect just one person. This Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, we're highlighting why no child, young person or family should have to face cancer alone.

07/09/2026

September is Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Month – one of the many respiratory conditions that Northern Ireland Chest Heart and Stroke work to support.

Pulmonary fibrosis means scarring (thickening) of the tissue of the lung.

Scarring is part of the body’s repair process and can help to heal injured areas. However, scar tissue can stop the lungs doing their job effectively. Not enough oxygen is passed into the blood, leading to breathing difficulties brought on by simple activities such as walking and talking.

Pulmonary fibrosis may be associated with a separate underlying disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis. When there is no known cause for its development, it is termed ‘idiopathic’. Don’t brush off the signs—see your GP if you notice any symptoms.

If you or someone you love are living with pulmonary fibrosis, support is available from Northern Ireland Chest Heart and Stroke can support you. Visit https://nichs.org.uk/care-and-support/chest-support for more inf

27/08/2026

NSPCC Northern Ireland's Childline service is here this summer, and beyond, to support children on body image issues and eating disorders. We're here to support children via phone, email or 121 chat.

Young people say influencers and trends such as calorie counting videos are affecting their body image.

Support from Childline about body image issues and eating disorders peaked over the summer months last year, with the service delivering almost 1,000 counselling sessions across June, July and August. That compares to 3,364 counselling sessions to young people about these problems from April 2025 to March 2026.

The summer months can be a particularly challenging time for children and young people struggling with their body image or their relationship with food.

They speak to Childline about their fears of wearing certain clothes, including swimsuits, and how they feel under pressure to look a certain way.

Children and young people also mention comparing themselves to influencers they see online. Some spoke to Childline about watching what I eat in a day and calorie counting videos, which often promote unhealthy habits such as extreme calorie restriction.

One young person, aged 16, told the service: “I’ve had to delete social media; it was controlling my life comparing myself to others for hours. I couldn’t stop looking up weight loss videos on YouTube or weight loss transformations on Instagram.” *

Another girl, aged 12 said: “This girl at school would always call me fat. My friends are all skinny, the girls I see on TikTok are skinny. I started purging and skipping meals last year and I’m finally skinny, but mum finally noticed and gets angry when I don’t eat properly. I can’t go back to eating 3 meals a day again, I can’t go back to being fat.” *

Shaun Friel, Childline Director, said: "With the warm weather continuing, young people might be finding themselves in positions where they feel anxious about their body.

“To cope, some young people are taking drastic measures, such as restricting their food intake or, in some instances, developing disordered eating behaviours. Children are also telling us that unrealistic beauty standards are affecting their wellbeing and self-worth, with many comparing themselves to others, particularly influencers on social media.

"Childline wants every young person to know that whatever they're going through our trained counsellors are here to listen without judgment. Seeking help is always a sign of strength, not weakness."

Help for adults concerned about a child: Call NSPCC on 0808 800 5000

Help for children and young people: Call Childline on 0800 1111

[Image shows a boy with red and brown hair wearing a rusty red hoodie sitting at a bus stop looking down, contemplatively]

Address

40/44 Eglantine Avenue
Belfast
BT96DX

Telephone

+442890680745

Website

https://nicharitiestogether.org.uk/

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