New NILGA President calls for commitment to financial sustainability for local councils

NILGA Chief Executive, Alison Allen and NILGA President, Matt Garrett.

The new President of the Northern Ireland Local Government Association (NILGA) has said that addressing current political uncertainty is crucial to putting local government on a more sustainable and secure financial footing.

Speaking at his inauguration at NILGA’s AGM, which took place this morning at the Seamus Heaney HomePlace in Bellaghy, Councillor Matt Garrett (Sinn Féin, Belfast City Council) said current financial pressures on public services, including services provided by councils, shows that central and local government must work proactively together in delivering the transformation that is needed to put Northern Ireland on a sustainable footing for the long term.

It comes as the Secretary of State’s recent budget puts serious pressure on public services across all departments, which has resulted in the recent Department for Communities budget planning to cut the rates support grant to its lowest level ever of £4.9m in 2023/2024.  This follows a period of investment in councils during 20/21 and 21/22 from the Department for Communities, reinstating the total rates support grant to just over £20m, which is similar to the total rates support grant provided to councils in 2008/2009.

This demonstrated the department’s commitment to the services provided by local government and was recognition that the purpose of the rates support grant is to support critical public services in the least wealthy council areas. 

As Northern Ireland enters a new council mandate following May’s elections, NILGA is reiterating calls for the devolution of further powers to local government including place-shaping and regeneration, as well as greater investment in transformation and innovation for councils and councillors.

Speaking at the AGM, Cllr Matt Garrett, NILGA President, said:

“Frontline services across central and local government are under serious and significant pressure. We’ve seen in recent weeks cuts announced by almost every department which will affect service provision for communities, businesses, and citizens across the north. Local government is not immune to these pressures. Indeed, our councils find themselves in a very precarious fiscal position, after years of underinvestment and under-resourcing.

“The new council mandate offers an opportunity to rejuvenate and refresh the relationship between local, regional and central government. Local government is agile and resilient and can best respond to challenges facing our communities and ratepayers on a local level. However, this will require a determined focus from both central and local government on the financial sustainability of councils, which allows us to prepare for the medium to long term, and refreshing the way in which local government is funded.

“This will require the restoration of the Executive and Assembly. While councils have once again stepped up in their absence, we can thrive by working together hand-in-hand with our colleagues at Stormont. As NILGA President, I am committed to working with all 11 councils, our members, council officers, and our MLA colleagues to redefine the relationship between central and local government.

“Our councils have shown, through unprecedented challenges like Covid-19 and the cost-of-living crisis, that they are best placed to respond and deliver for citizens. However, we must be given the finances, powers, and resources to effectively do our jobs.”

Outgoing NILGA President Cllr Martin Kearney (SDLP, Mid Ulster District Council) also added:

“It has been an honour to be NILGA President over the past 12 months. Heading into an election year, I am pleased that we have been an active organisation and provided a strong voice to the local government sector. We have continued to make the cause for councils across the country, lobbying for greater finances and new powers, which will allow councils to remain strong community leaders.

“The cost-of-living crisis and the absence of central government at Stormont has placed further strain on our sector this year but I am proud of the response from all 11 councils in providing leadership, delivering for local citizens, and supporting their communities. As we move into a new council mandate, it is vital that our sector gets the proper funding and resources we need to continue delivering for those we support.”

Allstate NI awarded Gold CORE Accreditation for responsible business leadership from Business in the Community

(L-R): Business Engagement Coordinator at Allstate NI Bernadette Haughey; Vice President & Managing Director at Allstate NI Stephen McKeown; Travel Manager at Allstate NI Gillian Hinds.

The company, which is Northern Ireland’s largest IT employer, progressed from Silver to Gold for excellence in its corporate responsibility practice. The award from Business in the Community, part of the Responsible Business Network, comes just months after Allstate NI became the first company in the UK and Ireland to earn the Gold Diversity Mark for building an inclusive and diverse workplace.

CORE recognises best practices in health and wellbeing; biodiversity; diversity and inclusion; community engagement; and responsible leadership. The accreditation is validated by an external process.

Allstate NI, with more than 2,400 workers, joins more than two dozen local employers like Ulster Bank, Heron Bros, and Belfast City Airport as a Gold Member of the Responsible Business Network in Northern Ireland.

Vice President and Managing Director of Allstate NI Dr. Stephen McKeown said:

“At Allstate NI, we strive to do better for the team, our clients, and communities. We’re leading the way in technological development and operating responsibly. We are delighted to now be recognised at Gold level and I am very proud of our work in this area.”

Kieran Harding, Managing Director at Business in the Community NI, said:

“We are heartened at the brilliant practices that CORE accredited organisations have implemented. Without doubt, employees, communities, and the Northern Ireland economy have benefited. Congratulations to Allstate NI for this wonderful achievement.”

Political stalemate blocking Sexual Health Action Plan

Jacquie Richardson, CEO of Positive Life

The British Association for Sexual Health and HIV Annual Conference is to hear that the current political stalemate has blocked the approval and implementation of a new Sexual Health Action Plan for Northern Ireland.

Chief Executive of Positive Life, Jacquie Richardson, is expected to call for the return of the Assembly and Executive to enable the appointment of a Heath Minister to review, approve, fund and implement the draft plan currently being developed by the Department of Health during her speech at the conference in Llanduduno, North Wales, later today.

Attendees will also hear that Positive Life is concerned that the current draft will not go far enough to meet the World Health Organisation target to achieve zero new HIV diagnosis by 2030. To do this the charity is urging for key actions to be included. These are:

• The development and delivery of a fully funded Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) strategy that includes awareness and education of HIV.

• A public awareness campaign in support of reducing transmissions and addressing stigma.

• Mandatory training on HIV and sexual health for the entire health and social care workforce to address stigma and improve knowledge of indicator conditions.

• Opt-out HIV testing across healthcare settings in support of HIV status awareness.

• Increased provision of free condom distribution.

Positive Life has been calling for the development of a new action plan since the previous Sexual Health Promotion Strategy term came to an end in 2015 following a two-year addendum.

Jacquie Richardson, Chief Executive of Positive Life said:

“We are jeopordising the sexual health of everyone who is sexually active in Northern Ireland if further delay is made to the agreement and implementation of the Sexual Health Action Plan currently being drafted by the Department of Health. Northern Ireland remains the only part of the UK without a strategic plan for sexual health improvement and promotion. This simply cannot continue.

“While it is welcome that a plan is in the final stages of completion, it should not have needed the Civil Service to step in and do the job. A Health Minister should be in post working with officials to ensure the plan is ambitious, fit for purpose and funded.

“As with many areas of sexual health policy, we are concerned that the current draft will not go far enough to meet the World Health Organisation target of ending HIV diagnoses by 2030. Given the comparatively small number of people living with HIV in Northern Ireland, we believe that it is possible to be world-leading in ending new HIV diagnoses and deliver on the 2030 ambition if the commitment and investment is made by the Department.”

Commenting on the eventual implementation of the draft action plan, Jacquie Richardson added:

“In pursuit of the outcomes the draft action plan is seeking to achieve, it is essential that delivery partners such as Positive Life receive appropriate investment in support of the objectives, and that this is structured in a way that enables long-term planning.

“The decision last month by the Department to further cut and only provide Core Grant Funding to delivery partners until the end of September flies in the face their intention to eventually implement this plan.

“If we want to meet ambitious targets and tackle HIV stigma, we need a Department that is willing to help fund our vital work.”

Top film executives and production houses descend on Belfast for documentary film festival

(L-R): Stuart Sloan and Róisín Geraghty from Docs Ireland with filmmaker Trevor Birney at the Docs Ireland Marketplace event today in 2 Royal Avenue. The marketplace brings together documentary makers and funders from around the world in a space where they can strike deals to help fund ground-breaking new documentaries.  

Leading names in documentary filmmaking including Dogwoof, Hidden Light, Hot Docs, Breakout Pictures and CAA have visited Belfast to attend the Docs Ireland documentary film festival.

Alongside its packed cinema programme, Docs Ireland hosted several industry focused events aimed at introducing local filmmakers to some of the world’s most important film financiers and production houses.

Now in its fifth year, Docs Ireland is steadily growing and attracting some of the biggest names in the global documentary film industry to meet local filmmakers and hear their pitch.

Docs Irelands market place brought together documentary makers and funders from around the world to create a space in which they can strike deals to help generate ground-breaking new documentaries. 

Hosted by audience designer Síle Cully, a range of panels and discussions on Engaging Audiences took place. Panels included a talk from NOISE Film and TV on documentary film PR and a conversation with leading documentary sales agents.

Additionally, there were also three keynote industry panels including:

• The Place of Markets Documentary Landscapes with guest speakers from Cannes, IDFA, Documentary Association of Europe and East Doc.

• A discussion on current trends in the documentary market hosted by BAFTA Award winning filmmaker and documentary trainer Andy Glynne. BBC NI, BBC Storyville, POV, RTÉ, S4C, TG4, YLE and more will be represented.

• The Festival Programmers Session with Mads Mikkelsen (Head of Programme CPH.DOX) and Heather Haynes (Associate Director of Programming Hot Docs).

• The Northern Ireland Screen Pitch will also take place tomorrow (24 June) for filmmakers to pitch their documentary idea to industry professionals with the possibility of being awarded £7500.

Róisín Geraghty, Head of Industry and Marketplace at Docs Ireland said:

“At Docs Ireland, our key aim is to support the island of Ireland’s documentary filmmaking community. 

“We do this through our core industry initiatives - the Docs Ireland Marketplace, the IGNITE Talent Development Programme and the Northern Ireland Screen Pitch, and through our ancillary industry events and networking opportunities, which cater to filmmakers at all stages of their careers. 

“This year we hosted sessions exploring current trends in non-fiction festival curation, met with international broadcasters to discuss their commissioning practices, and focuses on engaging audiences for documentary film, as well as collaborating on events with Screen Producers Ireland and Creative Europe Desk Ireland. We also continued our long-standing partnership with Doc Society, hosting an Emerging Talent Day with the aim of fostering creativity and conversation, disseminating information and boosting the confidence of new storytellers to develop their creative non-fiction filmmaking practice. 

“I do hope that there was something that piques the interest of every documentary filmmaker within this year’s programme.”

Docs Ireland is funded by Northern Ireland Screen, Belfast City Council, Department of Communities, Film Hub NI, BFI FAN, Screen Ireland and Arts and Business and proudly sponsored by TG4, BBC Northern Ireland, Birra Moretti and Hastings Hotels.

International investors set to do business with local documentary talent

As originally appeared in the Irish News, 20 June

Michele Devlin, Director of Docs Ireland

This week will see more than 30 key documentary industry players from across the world arrive in Belfast for the annual Docs Ireland film festival. Prominent international organisations attending will include POV/American Documentary, CAA, Field of Vision, Met Film Sales, Hidden Light, the new company headed-up by Hilary and Chelsea Clinton, and Lightbox, helmed by Academy Award-winner Simon Chinn.

Docs Ireland, now in its fifth year, is the only film festival on the island dedicated solely to the non-fiction form, concentrating on all thing’s documentary - exhibition, business and talent development.

The cohort of delegates will participate in the Documentary Project Marketplace, where they will shop for ideas and talent from both established and emerging filmmakers. The marketplace is networking and pitch event, a hub for funding, sales and distribution and an incubator for nurturing domestic talent to ensure the industry will continue to thrive.

Documentaries are a vital part of our local screen industry and local documentary film companies continue to punch far above their weight. Alison Millar’s award-winning Lyra; Kathryn Fergusons critically acclaimed Nothing Compares; and more recently Cyprus Avenue’s In The Shadow of Beirut, which won the coveted prize for Best International Documentary at DocEdge Festival in New Zealand. These are just three examples, amongst many, of the significant success and growth potential of the industry.

The local screen sector generates approximately £82.5 million per year for the economy. Between 2018 and 2022 £330 million was generated to support jobs and important supply chain parties.

The creative screen industry is one of five areas of focus for the Department for the Economy’s 10X Strategy. We must continue to support its rapid growth through skills development and support from external broadcasters and distributors.

With coverage in international industry publications and representation at Berlin Film Festival, the EastDoc Platform in Prague, Cannes Doc Corner, Docs Ireland is now firmly on the map of the international circuit for key decision makers. They will come to Belfast, hear from local UK and Irish film makers, explore the financing of ideas, and invest in current and future production talent.

This week will give the local industry the opportunity to sell their work to international distributors right here on their doorstep. In business it’s rare that the market comes to you. The Docs Ireland team have pulled out all the stops to make this happen right here in Belfast.

Documentary filmmaking is making big business across the world and Docs Ireland provides a prime opportunity for our local talent to get a piece of that action.

Book on the go with the new Aircoach app

Dervla McKay, Managing Director of Aircoach

Aircoach, Ireland’s leading private bus and coach operator, has launched a new mobile app that will make its booking service quicker and easier for passengers.

The new mobile app will significantly improve customer experience by giving passengers the ability to plan, book, amend and store tickets on their mobile as well as providing coach journey tracking.

Today’s new mobile app announcement follows the launch of the new 705X Derry/Londonderry Service hitting the road and the expansion of the Free Travel Pass to their Cork (704X) and Galway (706/706X) routes.

The full range of benefits the new app will give to customers include:

·        Favourite locations and previous bookings are saved making it easier to book again.

·        Buy and store tickets on your phone so you will never have to worry about losing your ticket or having enough cash to pay on board.

·        Best priced fares will be easily identifiable as well as services that have limited capacity.

·        Check out more quickly using debit/credit card, Google Pay, or Apple Pay.

·        Additional features allow for the purchase of add-ons such as Flexibook and DoDublin tickets, apply discount codes and redemption of loyalty points.

The app is available for download from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.  

Dervla McKay, Managing Director of Aircoach said:

“Our new mobile app means it’s now even easier to book Aircoach tickets and reinforces our service as one that is convenient, innovative and customer centric. It will be a game changer for our loyal customers and how we interact with them across locations throughout Ireland.”

“Making journeys and bookings easier for customers is central to our planned growth in the future. We were the first national bus operator to accept contactless card payments across all our services and we are thoroughly committed to innovation. Today’s mobile app announcement is clear evidence of that.”

The award-winning company, Aircoach is a subsidiary of First Group plc which is one of the UK and Ireland’s largest transport companies. 

Top film executives and production houses to descend on Belfast next week for documentary film festival

Roisin Geraghty, Head of Industry and Marketplace at Docs Ireland

Leading names in documentary filmmaking including Dogwoof, Hidden Light, Hot Docs, Breakout Pictures and CAA will visit Belfast later this month to attend the Docs Ireland documentary film festival.

Alongside its packed cinema programme, Docs Ireland will host several industry focused events aimed at introducing local filmmakers to some of the world’s most important film financiers and production houses.

Now in its fifth year, Docs Ireland is steadily growing and attracting some of the biggest names in the global documentary film industry to meet local filmmakers and hear their pitch.

Marketplace

Docs Ireland will host its Marketplace day on Friday 23 June at 2 Royal Avenue. The marketplace will bring together documentary makers and funders from around the world and create a space in which they can strike deals to help generate ground-breaking new documentaries.  

Hosted by audience designer Síle Cully, a range of panels and discussions on Engaging Audiences will also take place. Panels include a talk from NOISE Film and TV on documentary film PR and a conversation with leading documentary sales agents.

Additionally, there will be three keynote industry panels including:

·        The Place of Markets Documentary Landscapes with guest speakers from Cannes, IDFA, Documentary Association of Europe and East Doc.

·        A discussion on current trends in the documentary market hosted by BAFTA Award winning filmmaker and documentary trainer Andy Glynne. BBC NI, BBC Storyville, POV, RTÉ, S4C, TG4, YLE and more will be represented.

·        The Festival Programmers Session with Mads Mikkelsen (Head of Programme CPH.DOX) and Heather Haynes (Associate Director of Programming Hot Docs).

Emerging Talent

On Thursday 22 June the Docs Society will host an Emerging Talent Training Day giving new talent an opportunity to gain skills and win contacts.

The Northern Ireland Screen Pitch will also take place on Saturday 24 June for filmmakers to pitch their documentary idea to industry professionals with the possibility of being awarded £7500.

Roisin Geraghty, Head of Industry and Marketplace at Docs Ireland said:

“At Docs Ireland, our key aim is to support the island of Ireland’s documentary filmmaking community. 

“We do this through our core industry initiatives - the Docs Ireland Marketplace, the IGNITE Talent Development Programme and the Northern Ireland Screen Pitch, and through our ancillary industry events and networking opportunities, which cater to filmmakers at all stages of their careers. 

“This year we will host sessions exploring current trends in non-fiction festival curation, meet with international broadcasters to discuss their commissioning practices, and focus on engaging audiences for documentary film, as well as collaborating on events with Screen Producers Ireland and Creative Europe Desk Ireland. We will also continue our long-standing partnership with Doc Society, hosting an Emerging Talent Day with the aim of fostering creativity and conversation, disseminating information and boosting the confidence of new storytellers to develop their creative non-fiction filmmaking practice. 

“I do hope that there is something that piques the interest of every documentary filmmaker within this year’s programme.”

Industry passes are on sale now. The pass is £85 for professionals and £55 for students. There is also the option to pay separately for some events. More information can be read at docsireland.ie

Docs Ireland is funded by Northern Ireland Screen, Belfast City Council, Department of Communities, Film Hub NI, BFI FAN, Screen Ireland and Arts and Business and proudly sponsored by TG4, BBC Northern Ireland, Birra Moretti and Hastings Hotels.

Cancer Focus NI opens new high street store in Lisburn

Tara Lamb, Chartered Architect and owner of LAM Architects,  Mayor of Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council, Cllr Andrew Gowan, Angela McGrath, Director of Retail at Cancer Focus NI, Fiona Cullen, Cancer Focus NI Shop Manager (Lisburn)

Northern Ireland’s local cancer charity, Cancer Focus NI, has opened a brand-new store in Lisburn city centre.

The new retail store, based at 41-43 Market Square South in the city centre, comes just days after the charity launched its new five-year strategy which aims to bring cancer care and support into community settings and high streets across the country to better support those affected by cancer.

As well as stocking the latest in high street fashion and providing a sustainable and ethical way for people to dispose of used clothing, the new store will also offer on-site counselling services and facilities for Cancer Focus clients and their families.

The organisation already has 12 stores across Northern Ireland which provide a vital revenue stream for the charity and are staffed by their dedicated team of volunteers from across the country.

Speaking after officially opening the new store on Friday, Mayor of Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council Cllr Andrew Gowan said:

“Cancer Focus NI’s new store is a fantastic addition to the high street in Lisburn and a big boost for our city centre. As well as providing value for shoppers and bargain hunters looking for the latest in style and fashion, these stores are vital to the success of charities like Cancer Focus NI. I was proud to officially open the new store and see first-hand the difference a facility like this will make for those affected by cancer across our city and beyond.”

Cancer Focus Director of Retail Angela McGrath added:

“Our network of retail stores across Northern Ireland plays a crucial role in funding the valuable work that Cancer Focus NI does in supporting those affected by cancer and their families. Our new five-year strategy aims to put cancer patients and their families and friends at the heart of cancer care in Northern Ireland, which will be delivered through five new regional cancer support centres.

“Our retail stores are already dotted around Northern Ireland, on high streets and in communities, providing a steady stream of funding for the important work our charity does. While they are popular with shoppers and we stock brand new and designer labels for our customers, our stores also provide a more affordable and sustainable option for people, particularly as we continue to deal with the cost-of-living crisis.

“Donations to our stores fund the vital work that Cancer Focus NI does, and we are particularly pleased that our new Lisburn store will host on-site counselling services and sessions for our clients. A cancer diagnosis can have a devastating impact on cancer patients and their families and professional, therapeutic support is critical at this time. Being accessible to clients in settings they’re familiar with, like the high street, goes a long way when people are dealing with cancer. Our stores and our team of volunteers offer that accessibility and comfort, providing a listening ear or a welcoming cuppa when people need it most.”

Data protection breakthrough earns major European cybersecurity award for Allstate NI

Allstate NI Director of Identity & Access Management Robert McCausland (right) collects the ‘Identity Fabrics’ award at the European Identity and Cloud Awards, presented by Lead Analyst at KuppingerCole Analysts Paul Fisher (left).

Allstate NI’s information security team has set a new industry standard for protecting consumer data – and earned a major European cybersecurity award for the project.

The team’s Identity and Access project was celebrated at the 16th annual European Identity and Cloud Conference in Berlin.

The Belfast-based Allstate team was recognised for their work in enabling real-time data processing that allows systems to respond to events instantly. This lessens the risk of privileged account abuse by significantly reducing the amount of time a malicious actor has access to sensitive data.

The project improved Allstate NI’s efficiency, security, and risk management and was recognised for its innovation and outstanding results that established a new, safer standard for data protection.

At the European Identity and Cloud Conference, which showcases excellence in the identity management and cybersecurity industry, the local technologists picked up the “Identity Fabrics” award to an audience of over 1500 industry representatives from across Europe.

After collecting the award, Director of Identity & Access Management Robert McCausland said:

“I am privileged to accept this award on behalf of our Information Security team. The Identity and Access programme has strengthened our ability to deliver the highest level of security and is testament to the incredible hard work of our team over the past several months.”

Vice President and Managing Director of Allstate NI Dr. Stephen McKeown said:

“Through this project, our teams achieved new levels of innovation, enhancing our methods of protecting consumer data. Allstate has set a new industry benchmark, and I congratulate the Information Security team on this achievement.”

Cancer Focus NI to develop new regional centres in multi-million-pound investment in local cancer patient support

(L-R) Richard Spratt, CEO, Cancer Focus NI; Denise Kettyles, Cancer Focus NI client; and Robin Swann MLA, former Health Minister.

Cancer Focus Northern Ireland plans to open five regional support centres across Northern Ireland by 2027 to create local spaces of sanctuary and support for people impacted by Cancer across the region in a major shake-up in how cancer care is delivered in Northern Ireland.

The announcement comes as Cancer Focus Northern Ireland today launched its new five-year strategy at an event at the Belfast Harbour Commissioners Office. Part of the proposals includes the planned sale of Cancer Focus Northern Ireland’s current headquarters on Belfast’s Eglantine Avenue to help fund these ambitious plans.

Speakers at today’s event included Richard Spratt, Chief Executive of Cancer Focus Northern Ireland and former Health Minister Robin Swann MLA.

Other key aspects of the new strategy include:

• Increase public awareness of how to reduce the risk of cancer and promote healthier living.

• Funding research on primary cancers of unmet need.

• Supporting research into the personal and social outcomes of local people affected by and experiencing cancer.

• Creation of multi-purpose retail outlets to compliment the cancer support centres.

A network of bespoke, regional cancer support centres will be strategically placed across Northern Ireland to allow flexibility in how people engage with cancer specialists or avail of individual or group therapeutic support.

Aimed at bringing cancer care into communities and onto the high streets, the centres will be designed to ensure that visitors experience a sense of being away from the clinical environment of a hospital. Local support centres will also offer space and opportunity for relaxation, reflection and solace as well as providing vital emotional and practical support services along with access to information and advice relevant to the needs of each person and their family.

Speaking at the Strategy launch event, Richard Spratt, Chief Executive of Cancer Focus Northern Ireland said:

“Our newly published five-year strategy is an exciting and ambitious plan that will see Cancer Focus Northern Ireland imbed itself into local communities to meet the needs of local cancer patients in the towns and cities across the region.

“Mirroring the emphasis of the Northern Ireland Cancer Strategy, our charity will rejuvenate its current patient-centered care approach by bringing together existing specialist cancer support services currently operating in local communities under a series of fit-for-purpose regional centres. From these spaces, we will continue to deliver a series of health improvement services to better tackle existing health inequalities experienced throughout Northern Ireland.

“As Northern Ireland’s first cancer charity, we believe that this future direction of cancer response is crucial to seeing more local people live their lives to the fullest. This is a progressive and positive shake-up in how we deliver cancer therapeutic support and ensures we remain responsive to the needs of those living with cancer in Northern Ireland.

“It is thanks to the endless support from our charity supporters that we are able to move forward with this new ambition. For over 50 years, our fantastic community and corporate supporters have helped us respond as a charity to the growing needs of people in Northern Ireland living with cancer.”

Presenting at the strategy launch, Ivan McMinn MBE, Chairperson, Cancer Focus Northern Ireland commented:

“I welcome this exciting new future for our charity. Speaking from personal experience, a cancer journey is one of the most devastating moments anyone can experience. I believe that having a local Therapeutic Support Centre will make a massive difference to someone’s journey from diagnosis and treatment to recovery.

“Our charity’s new vision is simple. We want people to live their most fulfilled lives with access to world-leading, equitable cancer support, treatment, diagnosis, prevention, and research. I, and the entire Board at Cancer Focus Northern Ireland, are delighted to support the charity during such a wonderful and exciting phase.”

Endorsing the news of local support centres, Denise Kettyles explained:

“In January 2021, I received a phone call to visit a gynaecologist and there I was diagnosed with stage one endometrial cancer. At the time I was overwhelmed and concerned, particularly that a hysterectomy was mentioned as a treatment option.

“Living in rural Fermanagh, travelling miles for appointments, and not having a professional cancer support network around me did make things more difficult. But through Cancer Focus Northern Ireland I received counselling from Helen who helped me develop the skills needed to process and understand my thoughts and feelings.

“This is why it is fantastic that services provided by Cancer Focus Northern Ireland through its new five-year strategy will be offered at new regional support centres throughout Northern Ireland. Months after my surgery, I had some things going on in my body, but had nowhere to go to talk to a professional. This new facility would have made such a difference to my recovery and I’m confident that it will support patients and their families for years to come.”