Closing Date to Register to Provide Testimony to the Truth Recovery Independent Panel

The Truth Recovery Independent Panel investigating Northern Ireland’s Mother and Baby Institutions, Magdalene Laundries, and Workhouses, and their associated pathways and practices[i] is asking anyone who wishes to give testimony to register their interest to do so before Thursday 1 May 2025.

The Independent Panel’s focus is on the years between 1922 to 1995, and its findings and recommendations will help inform the future Public Inquiry.

They would welcome hearing from anyone who spent time in any of these institutions, a family member of someone who spent time in one of these institutions, or anyone who worked / volunteered in any of these institutions. They are also taking testimonies on the pathways and practices in which these institutions were involved, including adoption, fostering and the care system.

The Independent Panel have developed a sensitive and trauma-informed approach to testimony-gathering.  Their specially trained Testimony Facilitators will ensure the engagement is respectful and non-adversarial to all victim-survivors’ who share their lived experiences.

To date, over 140 people have made their testimony available to the Independent Panel.

The Independent Panel is working towards its Final Report, which is due to be published later this year.  

They are now asking people to register their interest to provide testimony before the 1 May 2025, to ensure their voices are heard in its investigation. You can do this by emailing testimony@independentpanel.org.uk or by phoning 028 9052 0263.

Speaking about the deadline to give testimony, Truth Recovery Independent Panel Co-Chairs, Professor Leanne McCormick and Professor Sean O’Connell said:

“We want to make people aware of the upcoming deadline so that victims-survivors, family members or anyone with experience or information about any of institutions on our list (or about the related pathways and practices in which they were involved), has time to contact us if they are interested in sharing their experience.

"We also welcome testimony from anyone who can provide information about other organisations or agencies that provided a pathway to the forced separation of a birth mother from an infant child.

“To gain the fullest picture possible, we continue to appeal to members of the Protestant community or anyone with information relating to Protestant-run homes in our remit to consider coming forward. We are also appealing to the diaspora across the UK, and internationally in America, Canada, and Australia to make their voice heard.

“We have a specialist Testimony Team, who have been trained to support people in sharing their experiences. We encourage all those with knowledge or experience of the institutions or their pathways and practices, to contact us.”

As part of the Independent Panel’s work, information guides to support people on their journey to access their records, are now available in hard copy. The guides are groundbreaking in providing information on relevant institutions and public bodies; what records exist and how they can be accessed.

The Co-Chairs added:

“These guides will be useful to victims-survivors seeking personal information held about them as well as of benefit to professional users.

“You can request a printed version by emailing secretariat@independentpanel.org.uk or, alternatively, you can find the online version on the Independent Panel’s website.”

The Independent Panel will also make recommendations on a permanent independent archive of records related to historical institutions, the individuals who spent time in them, adoption records, and other records relating to children in state care.

A consultation event will be held next Thursday 27th February, with an in-person session between 2pm-3.30pm at the Europa Hotel, and an online session from 6pm-7.30pm. These sessions will be an opportunity to discuss ideas for the Truth Recovery Archive, with views sought on how it should look and be managed; what records it should hold and how the records should be accessed.

A survey is also available to fill out online until 20th of March.

Positive Life NI Faces Funding Crisis as Department of Health Rejects Core Grant Application

HIV charity says the drug cost of treating one new HIV diagnosis would fund three years of its prevention, campaigning and support work

Positive Life NI, Northern Ireland’s only dedicated HIV charity, has been denied Core Grant funding by the Department of Health, placing the future of its specialist services at risk.

The funding decision threatens both those living with HIV in Northern Ireland and wider public health efforts to eliminate HIV here by 2030.

The charity has highlighted that the cost of drug treatment for one person with HIV would fund three years of its campaigning and support work. It says the decision goes against the Health Minister’s ambitions to focus on prevention rather than treatment.

Despite spearheading efforts to tackle HIV-related stigma, increase testing, and provide essential support to a community of over 1300 individuals living with HIV, the charity now faces an uncertain future.

Jacquie Richardson, CEO of Positive Life NI, expressed deep concern over the funding news:

“We understand that the Department of Health had tough decisions to make, but it was always naive to think that the £1.8million allocated to supporting the voluntary and community sector is sufficient. It’s a drop in the ocean. This decision is indicative of the lack of value placed on our sector and is typical of the short-termist approach to the vital work our sector does to prop up the health service.

“We are the only charity working to educate the public around this life-changing condition. While HIV is no longer life-threatening, it is a serious illness which requires life-long expensive drug treatment. Basic mathematics tells us that the cost of drug therapy for just one additional new HIV patient in Northern Ireland would fund Positive Life’s core costs for 3 years. 

“This decision is not meeting the Minister’s stated drive to tackle prevention in order to reduce the cost of treatment. It also ignores the fact that the number one priority in the Department’s Sexual Health Action Plan focuses on supporting people living with HIV and elimination of new diagnosis.

“Positive Life is leading on this work, which has made a significant contribution to the decreasing number of new HIV diagnoses in Northern Ireland over the last decade. We also believe that Northern Ireland could be the first UK region to achieve the World Health Organisation (WHO) target of  zero new cases by 2030, but we can’t do that on fresh air.

“Without our consistent campaigning and community support, the real risk is that the downward trend in diagnoses will be reversed, numbers will increase and so too will the overall cost of treating HIV in Northern Ireland.”

The Positive Life Chief Executive says people living with HIV, who face public prejudice and social exclusion, could now be left without a voice.  Jacquie Richardson continued,

“At a human level, this is a devastating decision for people living with HIV, who already face stigma and isolation. Because of this, our service users find it very difficult to speak out, for fear of judgment and rejection. This funding decision sends out a very damaging message to them.

“Without Positive Life, many will be left without the only wellbeing support and peer community they have – and without a voice.

“My greatest personal fear is the potential mental health impact for people living with HIV. Our service users, whether male or female, and whatever their cultural background or sexuality, all rely on confidential support and a network of others with shared experiences of living with HIV. We’ve worked tirelessly with the Department and elected representatives to progress a sense of worth and value for them in the wider NI community. With one stroke of a pen, this is completely undermined.”

Positive Life NI is urging the Department of Health to urgently reconsider its funding to support people living with HIV and to invest in keeping up the momentum on its drive to end HIV in Northern Ireland by 2030.

Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council signs United Nations declaration to end HIV

Lisburn signs UN pledge to end HIV

The Mayor of Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council, Kurtis Dickson signed the United Nations “Paris Declaration” pledging to take actions to end HIV and reach zero new diagnoses of the virus by 2030. The council will support increased public education around U=U (Undetectable equals Untransmittable) and increased access to regular HIV testing.  Mayor Dickson is pictured with Jacquie Richardson, CEO of Northern Ireland’s only dedicated HIV charity, Positive Life (www.positivelifeni.com)

Fast Track Cities: Zero New HIV Diagnoses by 2030 is achievable

Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council has joined a global United Nations (UN) drive to help end new diagnoses of HIV: Fast Track Cities.

Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council agreed to sign the Paris Declaration and to support the UN Fast-Track Cities Initiative at the Corporate Services Committee meeting on 8 January 2025.

The council is one of the first to sign the UNAIDS “Paris Declaration”, aiming to reach zero new HIV diagnoses by the year 2030. Belfast City and Derry City & Strabane District Councils have also signed up.

The most recent HIV statistics from the Public Health Agency showed that, in 2023, there were 1,368 people living with HIV in Northern Ireland. In the same year, 101 new HIV diagnoses were made here (67 men and 34 women).

There are three elements to the actions on Fast Track Cities: public education to challenge outdated misconceptions, access to HIV testing, and ending stigma.

In Northern Ireland, Fast Track Cities is being led by the region’s only dedicated HIV charity, Positive Life, in partnership with the Public Health Agency (PHA).

Lisburn signs UN pledge to end HIV

The Mayor of Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council, Kurtis Dickson signed the United Nations “Paris Declaration” pledging to take actions to end HIV and reach zero new diagnoses of the virus by 2030. The Council will support increased public education around U=U (Undetectable equals Untransmittable) and increased access to regular HIV testing.  Mayor Dickson is pictured with Jacquie Richardson, CEO of Northern Ireland’s only dedicated HIV charity, Positive Life (www.positivelifeni.com) along with Councillors Jamie Harpur and Nicholas Trimble.

Dr Rachel Coyle, Public Health Consultant at the PHA said,

“The developments in HIV treatment and care over the last few decades are astonishing. Today, someone diagnosed early with HIV will be able to access highly effective treatment which makes the virus undetectable, so they cannot pass HIV to a sexual partner. HIV is not a barrier to having relationships, to having children or to leading a full and healthy life. The public health message is U=U: Undetectable equals Untransmittable.”

The Fast-Track Cities “Paris Declaration” was signed on behalf of Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council by the Mayor of Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council, Councillor Kurtis Dickson, who said:

“The signing of this Declaration is an important step to raise awareness of HIV, reducing the stigma for those living with HIV, and making Northern Ireland a Fast Track Region. It places us alongside cities and regions across the globe working towards the United Nations goal to eliminate HIV.  We are pleased to be one of the first councils in Northern Ireland to become a Fast Track city.”

As part of the move, Positive Life is making free, confidential HIV testing available in the Council area.

Councillor Nicholas Trimble, Chair of Corporate Services Committee, said:

“We are delighted to sign the pledge to become a HIV Fast Track City. It's so important to get tested, not just for your health but also to help break the stigma of HIV. We have already held our first free HIV testing clinic at the Bridge Community Centre in Lisburn and will hold three more at dates later in the year. Testing is free and fully confidential with indicative results from a saliva swab test available in just 20 minutes. Positive Life also offer counselling and support for anyone living with HIV, visit www.positivelifeni.com to find out more."

Councillor Jamie Harpur, Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council, who proposed the motion said:

“This Council recognises the need to end HIV within our community and globally. By working collaboratively with other cities and municipalities, Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council can accelerate local initiatives to eliminate HIV by 2030.”

Jacquie Richardson, Chief Executive of HIV charity, Positive Life, concluded:

“One of the keys to stopping HIV transmission is to get tested and access treatment at the earliest opportunity. One in three people with HIV in Northern Ireland are diagnosed at a late stage, meaning they’ve had the virus for some years prior to diagnosis.

“We would love to think that the people of Lisburn and Castlereagh will use this opportunity to arm themselves with some facts, to bust outdated myths and adopt new attitudes to end HIV stigma.

“It is fantastic to have Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council on board with Fast Track Cities. We firmly believe that the goal of zero new HIV diagnoses by 2030 can be reached in Northern Ireland. How amazing would that be?” 

Lisburn signs UN pledge to end HIV

The Mayor of Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council, Kurtis Dickson signed the United Nations “Paris Declaration” pledging to take actions to end HIV and reach zero new diagnoses of the virus by 2030. The Council will support increased public education around U=U (Undetectable equals Untransmittable) and increased access to regular HIV testing.  Mayor Dickson is pictured with Jacquie Richardson, CEO of Northern Ireland’s only dedicated HIV charity, Positive Life (www.positivelifeni.com) along with Councillors Jamie Harpur and Nicholas Trimble.

New Role: Client Manager - Corporate and Strategic Communications

Position: CLIENT MANAGER (CORPORATE AND STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS)

Experience: Min 4+ years

Area: Corporate / Business / Strategic Communications

Salary: £40k - £45k (more for the right candidate)

Based: Adelaide Street, Belfast City Centre 

About Brown O’Connor Communications

Brown O’Connor Communications is one of Ireland’s most trusted and respected communications advisory firms.

Specialist in Public Affairs, Corporate Media Relations, Issues Management & Crisis Communications, the agency has been awarded the Belfast Chamber Communications Excellence Award, CIPR Best Public Affairs Campaign, CIPR Best Healthcare Campaign, CIPR Best Event and has been named the Chartered Institute of Public Relations Northern Ireland Consultancy of the Year.  

We have a track record for managing and delivering complex corporate media relations and public affairs programmes for some of Ireland’s leading businesses, professional services, charities, trade bodies, interest groups and public-sector organisations.

We help our clients gain impact and outcomes through specialist insight and influence with editors, government ministers, stakeholders, investors and corporate decision makers. 

We are trusted advisors based on our:

Extensive experience working for high-profile, public facing organisations and delivering our services on a range of sensitive issues.

Credibility through the people who make up our team and the approach they take.

Clients who provide endorsement on the reliability and professionalism of our work.

Our Location

Our central office is based in Belfast City Centre managing clients based in Northern Ireland, London, Dublin and the US.

Our Specialist Areas

We are highly regarded for our specialist Public Affairs and Corporate and Strategic Communications services which includes Crisis Communications, Property and Planning Communications, Litigation Communications, Event Management, Political Monitoring and Communication Strategy Development. 

Our Clients

Our consultants work across a range of areas including legal, commercial, financial, financial technology, industrial, manufacturing, public inquiries, regulators, commissions, non-departmental public bodies and the third sector.

Our Approach and Company Culture

The success of Brown O’Connor Communications is based on the performance of its people.

Our rigorous approach delivers positive outcomes for our clients, and we go out of our way to ensure success.

We deliver excellence in all that we do and our team is accountable and responsible for all activity they undertake.

What we offer

• 22 Days Annual Leave and 11 Public Holidays

• Flexible working 1 day per week (Friday)

• Extra Day annual leave for Birthday

• Paid Annual CIPR Membership

• A dynamic working environment in a city centre-based office

• Training opportunities

• Mobile Phone allowance

The Person

Brown O’Connor Communications is seeking a talented and ambitious Client Manager (Corporate and Strategic Communications) to join the team.

This is an exciting and demanding role within a leading consultancy and requires a resilient individual with demonstrable client management and leadership ability.

You may be already working in corporate communications / public relations / public affairs in an agency; as an in-house communications manager; in politics; or as journalist.

You will have a deep professional interest in business, the media and politics and have a detailed understanding of the role that media relations, public affairs, and stakeholder relations plays.

This role will suit a person who is well-organised, proactive, accurate and collaborative.

Role Specification

Strategic Counsel

Proven client handling skills with experience in managing large accounts, providing proactive strategic advice.

Ability to manage a high level of client interaction and be able to design and implement communications strategies.

Expert knowledge of the local business and political environment.

Proven relationships with journalists, editors and business leaders.

Day to Day Delivery

Proven ability to work in a fast paced, often pressurised, outcome orientated environment.

Write strong editorial content on behalf of clients including press releases, opinion/platform pieces and blogs and ensure coverage across a range of media outlets.

Experience in the drafting of media materials that relate to matters such as financial results, senior appointments, mergers and acquisitions, redundancy notifications, investment announcements and general business issues.

Ability to synthesize complex business issues and communicate to a wider range of audiences, often under deadline.

Manage an entire range of suppliers such as photographers, graphic designers, videographers, economists and sectoral experts integral to the successful delivery of client activity campaigns.

Manage corporate communications and public awareness campaigns integrating various methods to create significant public interest.

Be able to create engaging social media content across multiple platforms.

Forward plan to ensure smooth running of client campaigns on time, and within budget.

New Business Development

Take a leading role in new business development and organic growth opportunities alongside company directors and be comfortable in pitching and proposal development.

Supporting successful tender writing from start to submission.

Experience in identifying and converting new business opportunities.

People Management

Line management duties with wider members of team.

Understanding the requirement to work with efficiency and profitably.

Manage team members on client accounts to ensure work is carried out successfully and within allocated budgets.

Work as a team player with Brown O’Connor colleagues to ensure success across client accounts.

Deliver outcomes for clients and work to raise their profile in the media and with key stakeholders in a positive way.

Criteria

4+ years working in the areas of Corporate / Strategic Communications / Public Relations / Public Affairs or within a communications environment.

Third Level Degree or equivalent in the preferred areas of Communications, Law, Politics, Business, Social Science or Humanities.  

Possess strong writing and editing skills with ability to write attention-grabbing media material, client correspondence and reports.

An excellent communicator both written and oral.

Commercially and politically aware.

Outstanding organisational skills and ability to manage multiple projects at the same time.

Strong initiative, leadership skills and work ethic.

Ability to hustle to make things happen.

Willingness to work evenings and weekends as required by client and other activity. 

Clean driving licence and access to a car is a must due to client requirements.

Desirable Criteria

Experience in working in a similar role in the Republic of Ireland.

How to Apply

To apply in strict confidence, please send your detailed CV, covering email and the completed response to the set question below, by email, to Brown O’Connor Communications at hello@brownoconnor.com by 5pm Tuesday 18th March 2025.

QUESTION: Please outline, with examples, how you meet the Criteria as outlined in the Job Specification (Word Limit 300).

Please state your name and ‘CM Corporate Comms 25’ in the subject line.

Application Process

• Initial shortlisting

• Two stage interview

Our Services: Healthcare Communications and Public Affairs

Healthcare Communications and Public Affairs

Brown O’Connor has unrivalled experience in health and social care communications through the development of strategies and campaigns that drive change and improvement in the delivery of health and social care.

We work with government departments, arms’ length bodies, charities, and private sector organisations to develop and deliver public health campaigns, launch evidence-based policy reports, public inquiries and support advocacy efforts and communicate healthcare solutions to policy-makers.

Our services include:

• Political monitoring and horizon scanning

• Policy development

• Media relations and digital content creation to support campaigns

• Stakeholder mapping and analysis

• Stakeholder engagement strategies

• Communication strategy development

• Integrated PR and Public Affairs campaigns  

• Policy-based events

• Political briefings

• Preparation for Committee appearances

Mid South West Region businesses urged to sign up to reduce their energy bills at SME Big Breakfast Briefing

(L-R) Mid South West Region Governance Steering Group Chair, Kevin Savage, Ben Craig, CarbonFit, and Abigail McConville, Executive Director at Simplyfruit, launching the SME Big Breakfast Briefing, which is happening at the Glenavon Hotel in Cookstown on 6 March.

Local small and medium businesses are invited to future-proof their firm and reduce their energy costs by signing up for free Net Zero support at Mid South West Region’s SME Big Breakfast Briefing in Cookstown next month.

The SME Big Breakfast Briefing is taking place on Thursday 6 March at the Glenavon Hotel, where businesses across the three council areas of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough, Mid Ulster and Fermanagh and Omagh can learn about the Mid South West (MSW) Region’s Net Zero Transformation Programme, funded by Innovate UK.

Business owners are urged to act to secure one of the remaining funded places available for SMEs in the Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering; Agri-food and Construction sectors at this sign-up event.

BBC’s Louise Cullen is hosting the briefing, which will feature success stories from local businesses who’ve already participated, insights from Invest NI’s Green Economy Team and a session on how to be the Supplier of Choice in 2025. There will be breakfast and networking from 9:00am before the event starts at 10:00am.

The Carbonfit team will also be on hand to help you sign up and get started. Participants have found their expert support invaluable in navigating their decarbonisation journey, thanks to the hands-on guidance every step of the way. Through detailed audits, businesses receive a clear analysis of their carbon footprint, enabling them to set realistic reduction targets and implement effective sustainability measures.

Annemarie Roddy, Associate Director of Carbonfit, said: “SMEs participating in the MSW Net Zero programme have discovered practical ways to cut energy bills by 10-20%, helping to offset the impact of recent energy price increases. By taking action now, businesses can enhance efficiency, reduce their carbon footprint, and stay competitive in a changing market.”

Abigail McConville, Executive Director at Simplyfruit, said: “Simplyfruit is delighted to attend the MSW Showcase Event on 6th March to share our journey as a programme participant and encourage other businesses to get involved. When we discovered what this programme could do for our business – it was a game-changer.”

Kevin Savage, Chair of the MSW Region Governance Steering Group, said: “Sustainability is a key pillar in transforming the economy in the Mid South West Region so it’s important that businesses are not left behind in the race to net zero.

“We know there are ever increasing demands on small and medium business owners struggling with rising costs. This programme takes away a lot of the hassle by showing you how to make more sustainable choices, helping to lower costs while also giving you a strategic edge in securing contracts.

“I would urge any local business owner operating in one of the target sectors to attend this briefing and secure one of the funded places available. Register your attendance now.”

Our Services - Political Influencing and Government Relations

As Northern Ireland’s leading political influencing agency we bring Insight, Influence and Impact to the lobbying programmes and campaigns we deliver.

Our strategic approach assists in the delivery of core business objectives and helps clients navigate, anticipate, and react to the ever-changing political landscape.

Political engagement, helping to shape policy and providing expert briefing to form responsive legislation has never been more important. Whether it’s a review of current strategy or the development of a new approach, Brown O’Connor has the expertise, energy and trusted advisers in place for you and your organisation to be prepared well in advance.

Our Public Affairs services include:

1. Public Affairs Strategy Development

2. Political Intelligence & Monitoring

3. Policy & Issues Based Events

4. Public Awareness Campaigns

5. Media Relations and Social Media Content Generation

6. Supporting Campaign Related Strategic Litigation

7. Consultation Response Drafting

8. Issues Management

Time to Talk about Mental Health: Survey reveals NI more reluctant to talk about mental health than other UK regions

Kerry Anthony MBE, CEO Inspire NI

New data shows almost 40% in NI prefer to keep silent about mental health rather than risk an awkward conversation

• New research released on Time to Talk Day (Thursday 6 February) reveals that almost four in ten of those surveyed in Northern Ireland (38%) say they would prefer to not talk about their mental health rather than risk an ‘awkward’ conversation.

• UK-wide, bottling things up is causing respondents to feel isolated. Half of under 34s say they have pushed friends and family away or stopped socialising due to wanting to keep quiet about mental health concerns.

• In Northern Ireland, around a quarter (26%) consider open talk of mental health to be a sign of weakness.

The The survey of 5,000 people across the UK was conducted by Censuswide as part of Time to Talk Day, the nation’s biggest conversation about mental health.

The day is run by mental health charities Mind and Rethink Mental Illness in partnership with Co-op and Inspire Wellbeing in Northern Ireland. It aims to spark millions of conversations about mental health in communities, schools, homes, workplaces and online across the UK.  

The survey shows that here in Northern Ireland, more of us (38%) are afraid of the awkward conversation around our mental health than the UK average (33%).

UK-wide, the desire to avoid awkwardness is highest among young people:-

• Half (49%) of 16-24 year olds report pushing people away due to their mental health, compared to 11% over 75s

• 46% of 16-24 year olds say they wouldn’t want to have a conversation about their mental health, compared to just 20% of 65-74 year olds.

• A fifth (20%) say not talking is causing them to struggle at school or work, rising to 37% of 16-24s.

Worryingly, around a quarter (24%) of respondents say keeping quiet has made their mental health worse, again with younger people most impacted at 35%, highlighting the importance of being open.

Inspire Wellbeing, along with Mind, Rethink Mental Illness and Co-op are calling on people to get comfortable talking and start a conversation, however small, about how they are really feeling. Not having conversations, they state, can have a negative impact on all aspects of life, including jobs, relationships, friendships and health.

Kerry Anthony MBE, CEO of Inspire, said:

“We have come so far in our public conversations about mental health and this research shows we need to keep on talking about talking or risk rolling back to the times when these important conversations simply didn’t happen. There can be no doubt that having someone to talk to about your mental health is important. Time To Talk Day is a perfect way for all of us to recommit to creating an open and supportive society where everyone is free to ask, listen and talk.”

Lewis Robinson from North Belfast

Lewis Robinson from North Belfast is taking part in the Time to Talk Day campaign (https://youtu.be/trpJF9syxm0). Lewis said,

“Growing up, I didn’t have many positive male role models who spoke openly about their mental health.  When I don’t talk about what’s on my mind, I tend to spiral negatively, I bottle things up and lock myself away. My family have learned the importance of spending time together. Each night we have a family meal together where we sit down and discuss how our day’s been. Simple acts like that can make it easier to have those big important discussions when something negative is on our mind.”

Dr Sarah Hughes, Chief Executive of Mind, said:

"Talking about mental health isn’t always easy, but as a society, we too often shy away from these conversations out of fear of awkwardness. Our research shows this silence can have a real impact on our lives by creating barriers that push friends and family away, disrupt social lives, and make school or work more challenging.

"This Time to Talk Day, we have an opportunity to break this cycle. Small, everyday actions—like starting a conversation during a walk or a coffee break—can help foster understanding and create an environment where we feel comfortable to talk. Let’s lead by example, listen with empathy, and show that talking about mental health can make a real difference to individuals and our communities."

Rebecca Birkbeck, Director of Community and Member Participation, Co-op, said:

“Mental wellbeing is central to building stronger, more resilient communities, and our members have told us it’s an issue they care about deeply. The research shows that people across the UK don’t want to have conversations about their mental wellbeing as they worry it would be awkward. By working together, we can normalise talking about mental wellbeing and foster a culture where everyone feels supported and connected.”

Mark Winstanley, Chief Executive of Rethink Mental Illness, said:

“These findings are a reminder that while many people may feel awkward talking about mental health, not doing so can have far-reaching consequences. As our survey reveals, staying silent about our mental health is leading to isolation and impacting our lives at work and school, especially among young people. We know that speaking about mental health for the first time can feel challenging, and that many unhelpful thoughts might be preventing you from opening up. But we encourage people to find a place they feel comfortable this Time to Talk Day and start a conversation – you never know the positive difference it might make to you or to the other person.”

For information about Time to Talk Day, including tips on starting the conversation, visit: timetotalkday.co.uk. Follow the conversation on social media #TimeToTalk.  For local services in Northern Ireland, visit www.inspirewellbeing.org

Our Services - Political Perception and Engagement Effectiveness Auditing

Brown O’Connor Public Affairs offers a political audit service allowing your organisation to gain a comprehensive understanding and insight of what political representatives at the Northern Ireland Assembly think and know about you, your key policy areas and the success of your political engagement.

We provide unique, bespoke audit reports, designed for each organisation specifically.

Brown O’Connor can support by:

• Management of bespoke audit from start to finish with regular updates to your organisation on response levels and progress of the audit process;

• Questionnaire Development to ensure detailed and varied responses on the breadth of issues affecting your organisation;

• Identification of target sample groups based on portfolio, interest and awareness of issues, and geographic spread, for example party spokespeople, members of relevant committees and All-Party Groups (APGs)

• Creation of a detailed and comprehensive Final Report with executive summary, detailed survey analysis and recommendations for your organisation on public affairs engagement going forward in line with your aims and objectives

Our Services - Political Monitoring & Intelligence

Brown O’Connor Public Affairs is Northern Ireland’s foremost advisory firm delivering bespoke political monitoring and intelligence gathering services.

Whether its horizon scanning flagging business critical issues; tracking legislation or monitoring committee evidence sessions, we provide full political monitoring services to major business and trade bodies, private sector companies, national campaigning organisations and non-department public bodies.

Our services include:

📌 Early flagging of NI Assembly agenda - the week ahead
📌 Horizon scanning for business critical issues
📌 Monitoring Assembly Oral and Written Questions
📌 Live monitoring of Ministerial Oral Questions
📌 Tracking of Private Members Bills and Executive Bills
📌 Horizon Scanning and tracking of Departmental Consultations
📌 3 months look ahead Political and Business diary
📌 Live monitoring of NI Assembly plenary sessions and committees
📌 Monitoring and reporting of external campaign events at Stormont and beyond