Northern Ireland Humanists

07/10/2026

We're gutted that after thousands of belly-laughs over nearly 30 years, Tim McGarry's Give My Head Peace and The Blame Game are ending. We’re losing two locally-produced programmes which helped many people engage with our society and politics.

Tim is our patron and he's been a great ambassador for humanism in Northern Ireland. He previously said: "I live by the ethos of treating people well, a fair society, critical thinking, rational thought and kindness." Well done to Tim for his amazing comedy career which has shown time and time again the power of the arts to bring people together and speak truth to power. Tim is an incredible comedian and a force for good in this country and we're incredibly proud to work with him.

07/10/2026

Parents are asking for their children to learn together, yet applications for new integrated schools keep being turned down. This is because the diversity target was set decades ago. It does not reflect the fact that the number of non-religious families has boomed since. NICIE must update its Statement of Principles, replace the 40:40:20 aspiration with criteria that reflect today’s communities, and remove its insistence that integrated schools are essentially Christian.

29/09/2026

The RE consultation closes tomorrow morning at 11.59am.

If you haven’t responded yet, don’t leave it any longer. This is your chance to have a say on what Religious Education should look like in Northern Ireland’s schools.

Respond now.

28/09/2026

🎉 VICTORY!

The Northern Ireland Assembly has voted 46–29 to back the Conversion Practices (Criminalisation) Bill at Second Stage.
This is a major step towards ending harmful attempts to change or suppress someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity.

We’re hugely grateful to every MLA who voted in support of the Bill, and to everyone who has campaigned for change.
The Bill now moves to detailed scrutiny. We’ll keep pushing for a comprehensive ban covering all LGBT+ people, without loopholes that allow conversion practices to continue under the guise of prayer or pastoral support.

Everyone deserves to live with dignity, free from attempts to change who they are. 

Read more via the link in our bio

28/09/2026

🎉 VICTORY!

The Northern Ireland Assembly has voted 46–29 to back the Conversion Practices (Criminalisation) Bill at Second Stage.

This is a major step towards ending harmful attempts to change or suppress someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity.

We’re hugely grateful to every MLA who voted in support of the Bill, and to everyone who has campaigned for change.

The Bill now moves to detailed scrutiny. We’ll keep pushing for a comprehensive ban covering all LGBT+ people, without loopholes that allow conversion practices to continue under the guise of prayer or pastoral support.

Everyone deserves to live with dignity, free from attempts to change who they are.

Read more via the link in our comments.

23/09/2026

There are only a few days left to have your say on the proposed Conversion Practices (Criminalisation) Bill.

The Assembly’s Committee for Communities is asking for views on the Bill, with responses helping to inform its scrutiny and any recommendations it makes. The deadline is 1 October 2026.

We’ve put together a guide explaining the key questions, what the Bill proposes, and Northern Ireland Humanists’ response, including why we support removing the proposed ‘reasonableness’ defence.

Consider the questions, and respond in your own words.

⏰ Deadline: 1 October 2026

📲 Read our guide and respond via the link in our bio

There’s still time, but not much.

22/09/2026

Teachers, there's still time to book your spot at our FREE CPD webinars next week.

They'll deepen subject knowledge and provide guidance for your classroom practice and planning.

Tues 29 Sep (primary) or Thurs 1 Oct (secondary), 16:00-17:00. Register below

We deliver teacher training about humanism to help with subject knowledge and practical ideas for the classroom. We can offer training as part of initial teacher training (ITT) and for continued professional development (CPD).

22/09/2026

Young people can find meaning, build strong communities, and live ethical lives without religion. Schools should help every pupil explore religious and humanist worldviews fairly, and public services should welcome everyone equally.

15/09/2026

Conversion practices send a cruel message that someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity is something to be ‘fixed’

15/09/2026

We are up at Stormont this morning calling on MLAs to vote in favour of banning conversion therapy.

Protest starts at 10 AM

Come join us.