Can you see me? Employee visibility in a hybrid world

Consulting Partner at Baker Tilly Mooney Moore Donal Laverty discusses employee visibility in a hybrid world, as first published in the Belfast Telegraph 11 July 2023

Donal Laverty, Consulting Partner at Baker Tilly Mooney Moore

A recent survey by McKinsey revealed that 87% of Americans prefer working on a hybrid or fully remote basis. This dynamic is widespread across demographics, occupations and geographies, and the work-from-anywhere trend is likely to dominate the rest of the decade.

The hybrid model meets the needs of those stimulated by the office environment without leaving out employees who are more productive working remotely. It is also a complex arrangement that brings new power dynamics and challenges.

One such challenge is employee visibility, an important factor in maintaining fairness, productivity, and morale. The fact that work is no longer confined to one location means employees can easily feel they are being overlooked, and managers can feel out of touch with their team.

With some employees working in the office and others working remotely, there is a natural challenge for remote workers to build relationships and establish a presence within their organisation. 

Teammates may struggle with accessing information and opportunities, staying in the loop of latest decisions, or even gaining enough credit for their work. Yet, connectivity is integral to a positive organisational culture.

One explanation for the issue is proximity bias, the notion that managers pick favorites or build trust and connection with those working closest to them. This can leave others to perceive the situation as a lack of recognition and can quickly evolve into a lack of motivation and valuable contribution to the business.

At the very heart of visibility is trust, and employee needs will differ depending on their level and role within the company. Employers must therefore pay attention to the design of their operations and take steps to improve staff visibility and shine a spotlight on those who may be feeling isolated.

The first step is to understand what kind of visibility teammates of different seniority levels need. By understanding the level of information a person needs for peak performance, leaders can avoid overload while making sure everyone is fully equipped to stay engaged.

Moving discussions and resources online will eliminate the disproportionate advantage office-based teams have over their remote counterparts. Digitisation of systems means everyone can access information instantly or reach out to a colleague, so keeping a documentation hub and sharing information widely is vital.

Also beneficial here are the steps employers take to encourage engagement and visibility. ‘Camera on’ policies and asks for participation in meetings will improve a team’s familiarity with each other and ultimately boost teammate confidence and participation.

Employees are equally responsible for their own development, and so should express their own willingness to actively participate. It’s a simple reality that teammates can’t expect opportunity to come their way if no one knows who they are, so asks for feedback, offers to present at a staff meeting or town hall, and offering to help on additional projects can go a long way. This type of attitude builds mutual respect and can make the employee-manager dynamic a more productive one.

With the new hybrid working trend, organisations from large global corporations to small businesses are figuring out the right approach to combining offline and online work. There is a direct relationship between acknowledgement and involvement with our desire to contribute and embrace our job role and responsibilities. Employers need to first recognise the bias problem that exists, before taking steps to support visibility and the unique needs that come with a dispersed workforce.

Northern Ireland’s employment laws being left behind, warns senior lawyer

A leading local employment lawyer has said Northern Ireland workers and employers are being left in limbo due to the ongoing absence of the Executive.

Ian McFarland, employment partner at Eversheds Sutherland Belfast, has said new legislation and regulations which have come into force in Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland, coupled with the inability to progress legislation locally, mean Northern Ireland’s employment laws are being left behind compared to neighbouring jurisdictions.

Mr McFarland has highlighted several pieces of legislation which have been enacted in Great Britain last month.  These include new legal rights for parents of children requiring neonatal care, the right to unpaid leave for employees with caring responsibilities, protection for workers who receive tips, and increased rights for employees on or recently returned from family leave in a redundancy situation. Parents in the Republic of Ireland have also been granted stronger working rights to avail of breastfeeding breaks and unpaid leave for carers for medical purposes through provisions in the Work Life Balance Act.

Meanwhile, local legislation, including in relation to gender pay gap reporting, domestic abuse “safe leave”, and zero-hours workers remains on hold pending restoration of the Executive.

It comes as the Department for the Economy’s 10X Delivery Plan 2023/24, published last week, included commitments to ensure “employment relations framework remains fit for purpose”. However, without a minister, policy proposals or new legislation cannot be progressed.

Ian McFarland, Partner – Employment, Eversheds Sutherland Belfast said:

“The ongoing absence of political decision-making in Northern Ireland is having a significant and severe impact on all of our public services including our education system, the health service, our road networks, and much more. However, the lack of an Executive and an Assembly is also putting a halt on bringing forward progressive employment legislation which protects workers and employers alike.

“We’ve seen with recent legislation and regulations which have come into force in Great Britain, and the Republic of Ireland how government can support businesses and workers in the workplace and ensure a commitment to issues of diversity, inclusion, and stronger employment rights, particularly for working families. However, as employment law is devolved to Northern Ireland, none of the new laws will apply here.

“That includes the Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act 2023 which is expected to come into force next year and will make it unlawful for employers to withhold tips from staff. It also includes stronger protections for parents and caregivers, such as the Protection from Redundancy (Pregnancy and Family Leave) Act which will give those who are pregnant or recent returned from family related leave priority status for redeployment opportunities in a redundancy situation, as well as the Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Act which will give families a statutory entitlement to paid leave from work if their baby needs neonatal care.

“The Covid-19 pandemic has utterly changed the world of work and brought with it new challenges and issues for employers and employees to navigate. Governments across these islands are cognisant of this fact and are putting in place new legislation which reflects this new reality. While it is positive that the Department for the Economy is progressing with policy proposals to ensure our employment laws are as up to date as possible, only an Economy Minister will be able to bring forward the new legislation that we need in Northern Ireland to deliver for workers and businesses. The ongoing political paralysis means that our employment laws will remain outdated and unfit for the new working world.”

Keith & Kristyn Getty conclude first World Tour at Sydney Opera House

Keith and Kristyn Getty perform at the Sydney Opera House for the Australian leg of the Sing! World Tour which also saw the couple perform at the SSE Arena in Belfast and the Star Theatre in Singapore.

Northern Irish hymn writers and GRAMMY®-nominated recording artists Keith and Kristyn Getty, known for the song “In Christ Alone,” celebrated a debut performance at the Sydney Opera House yesterday. The concert concluded the Sing! World Tour, which spanned three continents.

Prior to the Australian leg of the tour, the Gettys performed in Belfast, Northern Ireland at the SSE Arena and in Singapore at the Star Theatre. Over 19,000 people attended the various concerts.

The Gettys are no strangers to iconic venues, having previously appeared at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Centre, the Grand Ole Opry House, and London’s Royal Albert Hall. 

Widely considered ambassadors for the hymn genre, Christianity Today named the Gettys “preeminent” hymn writers of our generation who have “changed the way evangelicals worship.” Beginning with “In Christ Alone,” the Gettys have written or published 38 of the 500 most sung songs in US/UK churches. Their original publishers, Integrity Music, estimate that over 100 million people around the globe sing their hymns each year. In 2018, Keith Getty became the first contemporary church musician of the modern era to receive the OBE from Queen Elizabeth II for his services to music and hymnody.

The Getty’s global tour incorporated a blend of Celtic music, bluegrass, folk, classical, and gospel, accompanied by a band of virtuosic musicians from Nashville and Ireland. Featured guests included saxophonist Kirk Whalum (known for his collaborations with Whitney Houston and Luther Vandross), jazz vocalist Dana Masters (longtime background singer with Van Morrison), leading Australian children’s TV personality and country singer Colin Buchanan, contemporary worship artists CityAlight and Matt Papa, and classical group New Irish Arts.

Throughout the tour the Gettys featured selections from their GRAMMY®-nominated album Confessio: Irish American Roots, which they described as a “love letter to Northern Ireland.” The record includes Celtic and folk arrangements of classic hymns alongside original repertoire. Many of the songs featured on the tour were first performed at the Sing! Conference in Nashville, which the Gettys founded in 2017. The event, taking its name from the Gettys' book Sing! How Worship Transforms Your Life, Family, and Church, has grown into an annual music festival attended by thousands both in Nashville and online.

The Sing! World Tour will continue in the upcoming years, with the Gettys planning to lead the singing at the Fourth Lausanne Congress in Seoul, South Korea in 2024, and to host concerts in Latin America and Africa in 2025. The Gettys have also announced a Christmas tour throughout the United States in December 2023 including appearances at Carnegie Hall and The Museum of the Bible.

Speaking as the Gettys first world tour concluded at the Sydney Opera House in Australia, Keith Getty OBE, said:

“It was an utter privilege and delight on our first visit to Australia to fill the Sydney Opera House with congregational singing—hymns old and new that stir our hearts with the beauty of Christ.”

Kristyn Getty, added:

“Our debut performance at the Sydney Opera House has been a humbling experience. To stand on such a well-known stage and yet remember that each of us is merely a jar of clay in the hands of the Lord, a vessel for his truth and goodness and beauty – and to hear the global people of God raise their voices in awe and wonder at the good news of Christ, has been nothing short of extraordinary”.

Victims and Survivors Service Northern Ireland appoints Andrew Walker as Chief Executive

Victims and Survivors Service NI Chief Executive, Andrew Walker.

The Victims and Survivors Service (VSS) has appointed Andrew Walker is its new Chief Executive Officer following a recruitment process.

As Chief Executive, Andrew will play a critical role in leading the organisation and ensuring the effective delivery of its support and services to victims and survivors who have been impacted by the Troubles/conflict, Historical Institutional Abuse, and Mother and Baby Institutions, Magdalene Laundries and Workhouses.

As Accounting Officer, he will also oversee all matters relating to financial propriety and economic administration of the organisation.

Andrew is a Chartered Accountant by background and has been working with the VSS for more than six years. Prior to becoming CEO, he has held a number of roles across the VSS Senior Management Team, including Head of Corporate Services and Head of Service Development.

Prior to joining the VSS, Andrew was Corporate Accountant with the Special EU Programmes Body which is responsible for the delivery of EU Funding Programmes in Northern Ireland and the Border Region.

The VSS is an Arm’s Length Body of The Executive Office (TEO), and its aim is to improve the health and wellbeing of victims and survivors.

Andrew has played a critical role in the extension of VSS services in recent years as it evolved from supporting victims and survivors of the Troubles/conflict, to now also supporting survivors of Historical Institutional Abuse, and those impacted by Mother and Baby Institutions, Magdalene Laundries and Workhouses.

Andrew has a degree in Economics and Accounting from Queen’s University Belfast.

Chief Executive of the Victims and Survivors Service, Andrew Walker said:

“I am thrilled to be appointed Chief Executive of the VSS. Since joining the organisation in 2017, I have had the opportunity to work with a fantastic team who are entirely dedicated to the people we serve every day. The VSS is proud to play an important role, alongside our community partners, in supporting victims and survivors to lead more healthy, fulfilling lives. That drives us forward in our work and I hope to be able to continue to deliver on this important work as Chief Executive.”

Chair of the VSS, Oliver Wilkinson said:

“Andrew has played an integral role in the Victims and Survivors Service during the past six years and his contribution has been critical in getting the organisation to where it is today. We are very pleased to be able to appoint him in a permanent capacity as the Chief Executive, and know he will lead from the front, motivate the team and continue to deliver excellent support services to some of the most vulnerable people in our society.”

Lack of an Executive putting cancer patients at further risk, says Cancer Focus NI

CFNI CEO Richard Spratt.

Cancer Focus Northern Ireland has said the ongoing absence of an Executive and Assembly is putting cancer patients and those awaiting a diagnosis at further risk. 

It follows the publication of the latest NI Cancer Waiting Times Statistics for January – March 2023 from the Department of Health which shows another failure to meet its own targets.

Cancer Focus, Northern Ireland’s local cancer charity which supports cancer patients, their families and carers, has expressed concern about the latest figures and says the lack of local political decision-making means cancer patients are being left behind.

The charity has said Northern Ireland’s new cancer strategy, published before the Assembly’s collapse last year, can only be successful through political stability, ministerial direction, and full, medium-to-long-term funding.

Speaking after the publication of the latest NI Cancer Waiting Times Statistics for January – March 2023 from the Department of Health, Cancer Focus NI CEO Richard Spratt said:

“The latest statistics published by the Department of Health are deeply frustrating once again, but not surprising. While Cancer Focus NI and our colleagues across the sector welcomed the publication of last year’s Cancer Strategy as an important milestone, we warned that it would only be a success through proper funding, political stability, and strong ministerial direction.

“The ongoing absence of our political institutions at Stormont is having a major impact on public services. The resulting uncertainty is very worrying, particularly for third and voluntary sector partner organisations. The Department of Health has consistently failed to meet its own targets when it comes to cancer waiting times and lists. We are deeply concerned that the ongoing fiscal pressures across the public sector, combined with the turmoil within the wider health system when it comes to workforce challenges, transformation, and waiting lists, will mean that cancer patients are left even further behind.

“More missed targets means even less confidence and faith from patients in the health system. We know what is important when it comes to a cancer diagnosis – quick access to your GP, early diagnosis, and beginning treatment as swiftly as possible to improve your chances of survival and recovery. These latest statistics, however, prove once again that this is not happening with nearly enough people affected by cancer in Northern Ireland.

“While we will continue to engage with our political representatives to support the restoration of the Executive where possible, now is the time for decisive action from our political leaders. People across Northern Ireland deserve and demand better. Health is consistently ranked as their number one priority. It’s crucial that we have a functioning government back as soon as possible to deliver for cancer patients, improve cancer outcomes in Northern Ireland, and ultimately address the serious strains on our health system.”

Cancer Focus NI to develop new regional centre in Enniskillen with major £3m investment

(L-R) Ivan McMinn MBE, Cancer Focus NI Chairperson; Ciarán Fenton, Cancer Focus NI client; James Hamilton, 5th Duke of Abercorn, KG; and Richard Spratt, Cancer Focus NI CEO.

Cancer Focus Northern Ireland has identified Enniskillen as the location for its first new regional support centre to support people affected by cancer.

It follows the publication of the charity’s new five-year strategy last week which revealed 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 first of the new centres will be developed in Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh and was made possible through part funding provided by a Department of Health Cancer Charities Support Fund grant, that provided over £418,000 towards this innovative project. In total, a £3m investment will be made in the centre over the next decade.

The overall investment announced will include the development of a new Cancer Focus NI retail unit at Shore Road in the town and the development of a new state of the art Cancer Focus NI regional support centre on High Street in Enniskillen. It is expected that the redevelopment of the centre will commence in autumn 2023, following the granting of planning permission, with a projected opening date of spring 2024.

Part of the proposals announced under the new Cancer Focus NI strategy include the planned sale of Cancer Focus Northern Ireland’s current headquarters on Belfast’s Eglantine Avenue to help fund these ambitious plans. 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; and

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

A network of bespoke, regional cancer support centres is proposed for development across Northern Ireland and will allow flexibility in how people engage with cancer specialists or avail of individual or group therapeutic support and aim 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.

After constructive meetings with Palliative Transport Care in Enniskillen, a partnership between both charities will see Cancer Focus NI roll out its existing Driving Service in the local area. Already successfully operating in the South Eastern and Belfast Health Trusts and parts of the Northern Trust, both organisations will learn from one another and quickly grow an Enniskillen volunteer driving service that will benefit even more local people.

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.

“Enniskillen has been chosen as the first location for these new centres for a number of reasons. There is a recognition of the town’s remoteness and, by opening a new support centre in the town, we hope to address and target under provision of cancer care for local people in Fermanagh and the surrounding areas. As Northern Ireland’s local cancer charity, it is our mission to ensure that the people we support have access to the services they need in their communities.”

Peter May, Permanent Secretary at the Department of Health, added:

“The Department of Health is delighted to support Cancer Focus NI as the organisation begins rolling out its new five-year strategy and supporting those affected by cancer across Northern Ireland. Through the Department’s Cancer Charities Support Fund, we have allocated over £418,000 towards the development of the new Cancer Focus NI regional support centre in Enniskillen. Cancer Focus NI’s new sub-regional model is an exciting and innovative approach to cancer support in the community and we are pleased to support this vital work.

“Joint-working and strong collaboration between government and charities like Cancer Focus NI are crucial if we are to improve cancer care locally and support patients as best as we possibly can to deliver the best outcomes.”

Reflecting on his cancer journey and support from Cancer Focus Northern Ireland, Ciarán Fenton said: 

“I started feeling unwell towards the end of 2021. At first, I thought it was muscular issues, but after visiting my GP and receiving scans, tests, and a bone marrow biopsy a diagnosis of mantle cell lymphoma was finally confirmed in February 2022. I started on the Nordic chemotherapy protocol in early March at Belfast City Hospital Bridgewater Cancer Centre but that was suspended as I needed a chest drain and then a lung operation at The Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast.   

“I resumed my chemotherapy sessions as an inpatient and outpatient over several months which culminated in a stem cell transplant in October 2022. I found the whole experience extremely traumatic, as did my family, not least because of the long periods of isolation with no visitors because of Covid. 

“However, the support provided by the team at Cancer Focus Northern Ireland throughout my treatment was excellent and helped me, and my family, through some dark days. Their insightful counselling service allowed me to talk through my feelings, needs and anxieties. 

“I highly recommend Cancer Focus NI to anyone going through chemotherapy. There used to be a stigma attached to counselling and therapy. Thank goodness that’s gone. No one need feel anxious about counselling. The opposite in fact. It will help you through the difficult days as it did for me and my family. 

“My experience supports Cancer Focus Northern Ireland’s new strategy and regional approach which I believe will be deeply impactful on cancer patients and their families. Having these support centres on high streets, beside shops and retail units, and in the heart of communities will go a long way to normalising cancer support and services in everyday life. 

“I am delighted that the first centre will be opened in the coming months near where we live in Enniskillen. I know that this facility will make a huge difference to the lives and experiences of those affected by cancer and their nearest and dearest.”

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.