Latest Fincrime Compliance Report by fscom reveals key anti-money laundering risk areas for banks and financial institutions

fscom Director Philip Creed

Financial services institutions must formalise their Anti-Money Laundering (AML) processes to remain fully compliant and stave off money laundering attempts, a report by Belfast headquartered financial services compliance company fscom has warned.

Based on audits of the AML frameworks of 60 financial services firms, fscom’s Fincrime Compliance Report 2023 examines the challenges banks and financial institutions are exposed to, outlining their compliance responsibilities on areas including Sanctions, Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs), Suspicious Activity Reporting (SARs) and Customer Risk Assessments.

The report found the top five AML risk areas in the year to June 2023 to be Compliance Monitoring, Customer Risk Assessments, Transaction Monitoring, Customer Due Diligence, and Enhanced Due Diligence.

While the audits suggested that institutions have increased their vigilance and understanding of the regulatory environment, in part due to the increased scrutiny on banking sanctions following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine which led to enhanced screening processes, it concluded that many AML frameworks still do not provide an adequate level of assurance.

When compared with fscom’s 2022 Fincrime Compliance Report, new and emerging concerns were identified around insufficient AML training; a lack of evidence of high-risk client sign off by senior managers; customers being permitted to make transactions before enhanced due diligence measures were applied; insufficient transaction monitoring rules and inadequate investigation of screening hits.

Another issue is a lack of robust customer risk assessments, in particular failing to treat customers or transactions with associations to high risk third countries (HR3Cs) appropriately. As regulations stand, firms must apply enhanced measures to any business relationship or transaction with a person established in a high-risk third country.

Covering the period July 2022 to June 2023, the AML audit reviewed the financial compliance processes of 60 institutions, including Electronic Money Institutions, Authorised Payment Institutions, Virtual Currency Exchanges and Bureau de Changes.

The audit process consists of four elements, starting with an internal review of policies against regulatory obligations; ‘side-by-side’ walk throughs to assess the firm’s operational efficacy; customer due diligence file testing; and staff interviews with employees to gauge their knowledge of the legislation behind their AML framework.

The majority of institutions sampled were UK based, however firms in Ireland, Switzerland, Jersey, Singapore, Lithuania and the Cayman Islands were audited in line with local legislation and regulatory guidance.

Completed annually by fscom’s team of financial crime compliance consultants and led by fscom Manager Richard Dunlop, the report provides wider industry with a series of best practice recommendations to address compliance issues and stay ahead in the ever-evolving financial services landscape. 

fscom Director Philip Creed said:

“We are pleased to share our Fincrime Compliance Report 2023 with wider industry. Though it features the most striking findings, it identifies the new and emerging risks that all financial institutions should be aware of and should serve as a valuable example of the standard required to meet the recommendations of the regulator. Financial services firms are at a constant and evolving risk of money laundering as financial crime actors grow more sophisticated; therefore, we advise them to not only meet their regulatory obligations but to strive for industry best practices.”

To download the Fincrime Compliance Report 2023, visit: https://blog.fscom.co/fincrime-compliance-report-2023.

New documentary set for World Premiere in Belfast reveals one of the darkest untold stories of the Troubles

In ‘Lost Boys: Belfast’s Missing Children’, fresh investigative journalism uncovers an extraordinary tale of child disappearances and murder, MI5 interference, witchcraft and potential cover up.

New documentary ‘Lost Boys: Belfast’s Missing Children’ will have its joint World Premiere in Belfast in partnership with Docs Ireland on Thursday 28 September at the Odeon Cinema and in Dublin on Wednesday 27 September in partnership with the Irish Film Institute (IFI).

During the winter of 1969, young boys started to disappear from the streets of Belfast, never to be seen again. By 1974, as the Troubles were reaching a bloody and vicious peak, five boys in total had vanished within a five-mile radius. The remains of only one, 11-year-old Brian McDermott, were found.

Fifty years later, as the disappearances remain unsolved and families continue to search for answers, filmmaker Des Henderson (How to Defuse A Bomb: The Project Children Story) reopens these largely forgotten cold-cases, talking to fresh witnesses, and unearthing disturbing revelations in secret state documents. Could all 5 disappearances be linked with each other?

In a real-life thriller, and with the help of criminologist Robert Giles, journalist Martin Dillon and investigative reporter Chris Moore, the film explores every lead to try and find out what may have happened to these young boys. For every stone the team turns over, it becomes clearer that dark forces are at play on an incomprehensible scale. Deep state cover-up sounds like the stuff of conspiracy theory, but this investigation poses some troubling questions. The documentary asks if the state knew more than has been revealed, or even worse, if it was complicit in some way.

Speaking ahead of the ‘Lost Boys: Belfast’s Missing Children’ premiere, Director Des Henderson said:

“When we set out to make this documentary, we knew we were dealing with a sensitive subject matter. Little did we know as we started to investigate, we would find such a sinister set of circumstances surrounding the disappearance of five young boys within the same area.”

“Due to the nature of the revelations in the documentary; there have been many twists and turns in the completion of the film.”

“It has been 50 years since the boys went missing, so we feel like it is now or never for their story to be heard. At the time there was concerningly little media coverage of what had happened, and the boys seemed to disappear from the public’s mind just as quickly as they had from the street.”

“It is unlikely that the boys will ever have justice, given how long ago these crimes took place, but the least we can do is try to expose the truth surrounding their disappearance, and who may have been involved.”

‘Lost Boys: Belfast’s Missing Children’ Producer Ed Stobart added:

“It has taken 5 years of intense investigation to get the film to screen, and along the way we have amassed a huge body of evidence around some of the Troubles’ darkest remaining secrets, many of which extend beyond the cases we set out to investigate.”

“From what we have found, especially around the Kincora Boys Home scandal, there is much more to be told about the ‘Dirty War’ than is fully in the public domain. The security services, MI5 in particular, have a lot of questions to answer.”

“The suffering experienced by the families of the missing and murdered boys, and all those who were abused on an almost industrial scale in Kincora must have been unimaginable. We hope that this film might aid any process that brings them some measure of justice.”

Cancer Focus NI unveils ambitious vision for a smokefree Northern Ireland by 2035

Paula Bradshaw MLA, Chair, All Party Group on Cancer, Dr Bernadette Cullen, Chair, ASH NI, Richard Spratt, Chief Executive, Cancer Focus NI, and Naomi Thompson, Health Improvement Manager, Cancer Focus NI.

Northern Ireland by 2035

Action on Smoking and Health (ASH NI), a subcommittee of Cancer Focus NI, has today launched their manifesto and vision for a smokefree Northern Ireland by 2035.

The ambitious manifesto advocates for a new comprehensive Tobacco Control Strategy, including smoking prevention programmes available to children and young people, more accessible Stop Smoking Services, as well as increasing the age of tobacco sales to 21 years.

Tobacco stands as the foremost contributor to preventable illnesses and untimely deaths and is inextricably linked with a number of Non-Communicable Diseases including heart disease, cancer, and lung disease. Around 2,200 people die from a smoking-related illness in Northern Ireland each year, with an additional annual 18,000 hospital admissions attributed to smoking.

With its partners, ASH NI campaigns to achieve effective and comprehensive tobacco control policies and programmes, with the primary aim of seeing Northern Ireland become a society where less than 5% of the adult population is actively smoking.

The full manifesto ‘A Vision for a Smokefree Northern Ireland’ can be viewed here: LINK.

Speaking at launch of ASH NI’s Vision for a Smokefree Northern Ireland 2035, Richard Spratt, Chief Executive, Cancer Focus, said:

“We are proud to unveil this ambitious plan for a smokefree Northern Ireland today. Our mission at Cancer Focus through ASH is to see Northern Ireland transformed into a smokefree society where people can enjoy healthier, smokefree lives. We know the devastating impact of a disease like cancer on individuals and their loved ones, so we are committed to advocating for better policies that can help eliminate all smoking related conditions. Setting 2035 as a target will no doubt be challenging, but it will help drive a focused and ambitious aim to see Northern Ireland not just become smokefree, but a healthier and happier place to live”.

Paula Bradshaw MLA, added:

“I am pleased to see this manifesto launched today; it sets out clear priorities for the Department of Health and an Executive. It also represents an opportunity for Northern Ireland to take the lead on preventative health policy and implement policies that are both progressive and achievable with the right political will. For too long, Northern Ireland has been playing catch-up with other jurisdictions, so now is the time for our political parties to come together for the benefit of the people here and deliver some real change by putting these objectives into action”.

Baker Tilly Mooney Moore celebrates promotion of three auditors to Assistant Manager level

(L-R) Baker Tilly Mooney Moore’s Head of Audit Eimear Brown; Assistant Audit Managers Ashleigh Mooney, Ciaran Hughes, and Emma George; and Audit & Assurance Partner Joanne Small.

Leading Belfast accountancy and advisory firm Baker Tilly Mooney Moore is celebrating the promotion of three former trainees from its Audit & Assurance team to Assistant Manager level.

Ashleigh Mooney and Emma George joined the practice’s Graduate Training Programme in 2019, working to deliver audit and accounting services while completing their qualifications with Chartered Accountants Ireland.

Having worked in the accounting department of a Belfast school, Ciaran Hughes joined Baker Tilly Mooney Moore in 2018. Already qualified with Accounting Technicians Ireland, he went on to achieve accreditation by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants with the support of Baker Tilly Mooney Moore.

Ashleigh, Emma, and Ciaran were promoted to Assistant Manager level in September 2023, working within the Audit & Assurance team to support clients by assessing and managing risk areas to identify areas for operational improvement.

Joanne Small, Audit & Assurance Partner at Baker Tilly Mooney Moore said:

“This group of promotions reflects the first-class service Ashleigh, Ciaran and Emma have delivered throughout their time in the Audit team at Baker Tilly Mooney Moore. From completing their qualifications to increasing their responsibilities on client assignments, all three have demonstrated a commitment to their own professional development. It gives us great pleasure to watch Ashleigh, Ciaran and Emma continue to progress within the firm as they build relationships with clients and deliver trusted business advice.”

Eimear Brown, Head of Audit at Baker Tilly Mooney Moore said:

“We are a busy Audit department providing a quality led service that involves hands-on, partnership working with clients. To continue our success, however, we know the progression and advancement of our teams is vital and so we are thrilled to see Ashleigh, Ciaran and Emma step up to Assistant Manager level.”

New Role: Public Affairs Client Manager / Brown O'Connor Communications

Position: CLIENT MANAGER (PUBLIC AFFAIRS)

Experience: Min 3+ years

Area: Public Affairs & Strategic Communications

Salary: £Excellent  - Available on Request

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 was awarded the CIPR Best Public Affairs Campaign 2022/2023 and was named the Chartered Institute of Public Relations Northern Ireland Consultancy of the Year (Small) 2021/2022.

We have a track record for managing and delivering complex public affairs programmes for some of the UK and 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 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)

Paid Annual CIPR Membership

An exciting and dynamic working environment in a city centre-based office

Training opportunities

Mobile Phone allowance

Regular team social events

The Person

Brown O’Connor Communications is seeking a talented and ambitious Client Manager (Public Affairs) 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 public affairs or corporate communications 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.

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 strategies.

Day to Day Delivery

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

Create and manage lobbying campaigns securing policy change, legislative change and the smooth running of political engagement programmes.

Oversee the delivery of the Brown O’Connor Communications political monitoring services.

Manage and lead the forward work programmes of All-Party Group at the NI Assembly.

Devise and manage pre-application community consultations for important planning applications.

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.

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 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

3+ years working in the areas of Public Affairs and/or Corporate/Strategic Communications or within a communications environment (Agency experience preferred).

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 Monday 23rd October 2023.

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 Public Affairs’ in the subject line.

Application Process

Initial shortlisting

Two stage interview

Business Services team grows at Baker Tilly Mooney Moore

L-R: Payroll Administrator at Baker Tilly Mooney Moore Emma Scott, Business Services Partner Stephen McConnell, and Trainee Accountant James Malee.

Belfast accountancy and advisory practice Baker Tilly Mooney Moore has expanded its Business Services department, welcoming Emma Scott and James Malee to the team.

Emma joins the department as Payroll Administrator, while James takes on the position of Trainee Accountant.

Servicing companies across sectors including retail, hospitality, construction and engineering, the firm’s Business Services department operates a full accounting, bookkeeping and payroll processing function.

Emma brings experience to the role of Payroll Administrator, having worked at another mid-tier accountancy firm and as a payroll specialist in the local food processing industry.

Having recently moved to Northern Ireland, James joins the team after holding the position of Accounts Assistant at a practice in Liverpool, where he also studied Accounting and Finance at Liverpool Hope University.

Business Services is one of Baker Tilly Mooney Moore’s specialised areas which also cover Audit & Assurance, Taxation, Restructuring & Insolvency and Consulting.

Stephen McConnell, Business Services Partner at Baker Tilly Mooney Moore said:

“We are pleased to welcome Emma and James to the team. We are a busy and growing department that has the privilege of working with companies of all sizes in Northern Ireland, visiting their premises or working from our offices to operate their accounting function so they don’t have to. With experience in accounting and payroll administration at other leading accounting practices, James and Emma’s knowledge and expertise will enhance and add value to this service.”

Emma Scott, Payroll Administrator at Baker Tilly Mooney Moore said:

“I am thrilled to join the Business Services team at Baker Tilly Mooney Moore. Having spent my initial weeks getting to know the client base, I am looking forward to supporting our specialist team and the wide range of businesses we work with.”

James Malee, Trainee Accountant at Baker Tilly Mooney Moore said:

“It is fantastic to join the Baker Tilly Mooney Moore team and to support clients in areas such as retail, hospitality, and engineering. It is a varied and fast paced role that I have no doubt will be highly rewarding, allowing me to build on my professional experience. The team were sure to give me a warm welcome following my move from Liverpool, and I know I will receive excellent support going forward.”

Alliance Party Reshuffle

The Alliance Party has reshuffled its frontbench Assembly team. Announcing the new spokespeople, which include changes to the portfolios of Education & Justice, the party signaled that the move is in anticipation of its return to the Assembly. “We’re ready to get back into the Assembly Chamber and deliver real change to people’s lives,” the party said.

The party’s leadership and spokesperson roles are as follows:

Leadership:

Leader – Naomi Long MLA

Deputy Leader – Stephen Farry MP

Chief Whip / Reform & Restoration of GFA Institutions – Andrew Muir MLA

Party Chair – Councillor Stephen Donnelly

Party President – David Alderdice

Spokespeople:

Agriculture – John Blair MLA

Communities / Housing / Local Government – Kellie Armstrong MLA

Economic Growth & Skills / European Issues – Sorcha Eastwood MLA

Education – Nick Mathison MLA

Finance – Eóin Tennyson MLA

Deputy Whip for the Assembly / Health Transformation & Patient Access – Paula Bradshaw MLA

Justice / Social Enterprise – Stewart Dickson MLA

Deputy Whip for Local Government / Policing – Nuala McAllister MLA

Violence Against Women & Girls / Domestic & Sexual Violence / Hate Crime – Connie Egan MLA

Anti-Poverty & Social Inclusion / Animal Welfare – Patrick Brown MLA

Early Years & Childcare / Migration & International Relations / Human Rights – Kate Nicholl MLA

Climate Change & Energy / Health Workforce – Danny Donnelly MLA

Infrastructure & Development – Peter McReynolds MLA

Rural Development / Young People / Arts – Sian Mulholland MLA

Transportation / Sport & Community Development – David Honeyford MLA

OutForm Consulting to host accredited Lean Competency System training event for manufacturing, infrastructure and utilities professionals

Business transformation consultancy OutForm Consulting is to host a Lean Competency System (LCS) learning event for professionals in the manufacturing, infrastructure, and utilities industries.

Free of charge and open to first line decision makers and project managers in related fields, the training event will take place at The MAC, Belfast on Tuesday 26 September from 12pm – 5.30pm.

Participants who attend and complete the one-day LCS course will receive a Lean certification from Cardiff University and will leave with an understanding of the fundamental ideas and concepts of the framework.

LCS is a globally recognised Lean qualification introduced in 2005 by the Lean Enterprise Research Centre (LERC) at Cardiff University. It has since been adopted by private and public sectors in the UK and internationally.

A leading methodology in the areas of manufacturing, infrastructure and utilities, Lean is about boosting performance, reducing costs, improving employee experience, and delivering better service to customers. Adopted globally, the framework supports businesses to stay viable in volatile, uncertain, and complex markets.

A consultancy that partners with complex organisations in the energy, utilities, construction services and transport spaces to address infrastructure, environmental and regulatory challenges, OutForm places the Lean competency at the core of its problem solving and solutions capability.

The LCS 1a Course will cover the basic principles and conditions of continuous improvement, and how the Lean principles can improve company ways of working. A short drinks reception will follow the event.

Account Director, John Deehan said:

“LCS accreditation plays an important role in supporting lean implementation and in creating a continuous improvement culture, through structured training programmes, project delivery for new ways of working, and certification for employees providing recognition for their achievements. Modern organisations operate in rapidly changing markets and face a multitude of challenges, but Lean has been found to be particularly effective in achieving complex goals. We are pleased to offer this training opportunity out to wider industry professionals and look forward to supporting more organisations to implement tangible and sustainable change.”

OutForm Consulting Account Director, John Deehan

If you or your organisation would like to join OutForm Consulting’s LCS 1a Event, register your interest by emailing: ellen.wilson@outformconsulting.com. Spaces are limited due to exceptional demand.

Electoral Commission Report on 2023 Local Elections in Northern Ireland

This week the Electoral Commission published a report on their findings from the May 2023 local council elections in Northern Ireland. Moreover, they have outlined recommendations to further improve the validity and efficiency of future Northern Ireland elections.

Overall, people have positive views of the election:

·        A total of 1,380,372 people were registered to vote.

·        86% of people were satisfied with the process of registering to vote.

·        97% of voters were satisfied with the process of voting.

·        Four-in-five (80%) were confident that the elections were well-run.

·        Voter turnout up two percentage points to 54.7%.

Issues Identified:

·        Access to Digital Registration Numbers (DRN) - In this election 73% of rejected applications were due to DRN issues.

·        Support for disabled voters –  awareness of the support available was low.

·        Spending limits – candidates could not produce enough materials resulting in 38% of adults feeling they did not have access to information to make an informed decision.

·        Candidate Harassment – 50% of candidates had issues with threats and abuse.

·        Campaigning near polling stations – due to unclear guidelines electorate have noted “guidance to stay a distance from polling stations…is widely ignored by some parties.”

·        Shortage of electoral administrators – a growing number of recruits dropped out ahead of polling day.

The Electorate Commission’s recommendations are as follows:

1.     DRN requirements urgently need to be reviewed given its significant barrier to voting. Legislative change is only viable option to remedy this.

2.     Action needed to protect voter trust and confidence in the system through The Elections Act 2022 amendments and creating positive relationships between the PSNI and PSS to ensure instances of abuse towards candidates is limited. Additionally, the UK Government must review the spending limit of campaigns to ensure better connection with the electorate, enabling them to be fully informed prior to casting their vote.

3.     Review and update the Code of Conduct for canvassing in the vicinity of polling stations, setting out agreed standards on what is acceptable behaviour.

4.     Explore increase of resources and improvements within latter stages of the count process for more efficient and accurate results.

The UK Government should continue to work with the Northern Ireland electorate assessing how it can provide the time and resources to combat these issues effectively.

Cancer Focus NI and Dale Farm urge people to Go Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Cancer Focus NI has unveiled details of its new Go Pink fundraising campaign for Breast Cancer Awareness Month this October. The charity has also announced dairy co-operative Dale Farm as the official sponsor of the Go Pink campaign.

The campaign is being launched as projections from the Northern Ireland Cancer Registry (NICR) indicate that the number of breast cancer cases diagnosed in Norther Ireland each year will continue to rise.

Official figures from the NICR show that by 2025 the number of breast cancer cases diagnosed each year in Northern Ireland is expected to rise by 27 percent from the annual average in the years 2013 to 2017. For 2040, the projected figure shows a rise of 57 percent in breast cancer cases diagnosed from the 2013 to 2017 annual average.

122 women diagnosed each month

Currently, an average of 122 women are diagnosed with breast cancer each month in Northern Ireland. Through its Go Pink campaign, Cancer Focus NI is urging people to raise as much money as possible for its much-needed local breast cancer support services.

Pink Run

Other Go Pink events include the popular Pink Run at Titanic Slipways, Belfast. Taking place from 12 noon on Sunday 8 October, well-known Belfast fitness coach and influencer, Sarah McDonagh, from Strive Fitness will be sharing tips online to help people of all fitness levels enjoy the 5k and 10k distances, as well as conducting the warm-up sessions ahead of the race.

Styled by Rebecca

Fashion fans are also in for a treat as Rebecca McKinney will be donating a bespoke Go Pink collection and taking over the window of Cancer Focus NI’s retail store in Holywood, Co. Down. The popular stylist and broadcaster will also host a Styled by Rebecca sustainable fashion event on Wednesday 4 October in the Holywood store. Guests will receive advice on breast cancer awareness, enjoy a fashion showcase, have the opportunity to ‘swop and shop’, and savour a glass of pink lemonade and Dale Farm Ice Cream sweet treat on arrival.

MLA Check Your Chest event

On Monday 16 October, Cancer Focus NI is also inviting all local MLAs to a ‘Check your Chest’ event at Stormont.

Schools and workplaces are also being encouraged to get involved in the month-long fundraising and awareness campaign with support and fundraising packs on offer from the charity’s fundraising team.

As part of the Go Pink campaign, sponsors Dale Farm will also be offering several luxury prizes, including five Girls’ Night In giveaways consisting of a Dale Farm Go Pink Rapture Hamper, a selection of Rapture ice cream tubs and a limited Go Pink robe and luxury eye mask. Dale Farm has also curated a collection of Go Pink Rapture recipes for the ultimate ice-cream indulgence, ideal for Girls Night In gatherings or DIY Go Pink fundraising events.

Further information on all of the events and fundraising support on offer as part of Cancer Focus NI’s Go Pink campaign can be found online at cancerfocusni.org.  

Speaking ahead of the campaign, Maeve Colgan, Director of Fundraising and Communications at Cancer Focus NI, said:

“Sadly, figures from the Northern Ireland Cancer Registry tell us the number of breast cancer cases diagnosed in Northern Ireland looks set to continue to rise sharply in the coming years. Cancer Focus NI is absolutely delighted, therefore, to have the support of Dale Farm for our Go Pink campaign, as with their backing, we will be able to reach even more people across Northern Ireland this October.

“We are encouraging everyone to join in with our Go Pink campaign, in whatever way they can, in support of our breast cancer support services. Whether it’s having fun with friends at a Girls’ Night In, a coffee morning in your workplace, or an individual donation, you will be playing a vital part in enabling Cancer Focus NI to continue to deliver breast cancer support services such as counselling, bra and swimwear fitting, and support groups to local women and families”.

Claire Hale, Senior Brand Manager, Dale Farm, added:

“Our Dale Farm mission is all about sharing goodness in our local communities, therefore supporting Cancer Focus NI as part of our wider community partnership programme has brought us such pride. At Dale Farm we have a vast range of on-going activities and initiatives to help fundraise for this brilliant charity. We are delighted to continue to play our part by sponsoring the Cancer Focus NI Go Pink campaign. Breast Cancer affects so many people across Northern Ireland. We know the funds raised from this campaign will go a long way in helping Cancer Focus NI raise awareness, fund local breast cancer support services and continue to support families throughout Northern Ireland.’’

Also urging people to support the campaign is Cancer Focus NI client Angela Taylor from Banbridge, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2021 and who now works as a volunteer with the charity. Angela said:

“It’s been a tough few years. I lost everything internally following an earlier hysterectomy, then I lost my hair, and then my breast. I’ve had so many feminine parts of me removed that I no longer feel like a woman. Sometimes I feel like a shell.

“Cancer Focus NI’s counselling service was there for me when I was in need, and it is comforting to know that they will be there for someone in a similar position that I was in. Thank you for supporting their work during Breast Cancer Awareness Month.”