House Compassion Centre and Newtownards Foodbank

05/09/2026

Here is a recent list of some of the items we are currently short of in the Foodbank warehouse. Would you be able to donate anything from this list? Every donation is greatly appreciated. Thanks for all your support! 💚

04/09/2026

Quite a few items that are extremely low this week. If you can help please pop one or two on your shopping list and donate at one of our local drop-off points 💚 Thank you for your support 💚

04/09/2026

‼️APPLICATIONS FOR SCHOOLS CHALLENGE 2026 CLOSE IN 2 WEEKS‼️

There’s still time to apply to our Schools Challenge 2026⏰ 📝

We are giving 20 local schools the chance to fundraise with OUR HELP! 🤝

You will keep EVERY PENNY you raise, PLUS the top three fundraising schools will win a share of £10,000 💙💛

There is NO CATCH! 🙌🏻

Apply today at; https://www.hellorayo.co.uk/cool-fm/charity/events/schools-challenge-2026-northern-ireland

04/09/2026

04/09/2026

🗣️ “I am making this advance announcement to help eligible people get ready to make their application.”

Minister Gordon Lyons MLA has secured Executive funding to help meet the immediate pressure of rising home heating oil costs and encourages you to get ready to apply on the 9 September.

👇 Check your eligibility to the £36.4m Home Heating Oil Support Scheme:

https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/services/home-heating-oil-support

04/09/2026

🌊Tide and Turf – Saturday 12 September 2026

New for 2026: A Quiet Hour will take place from 11am to 12noon

This hour offers a calmer environment with reduced noise and gentler activity levels. This new feature aims to make the event more inclusive and comfortable for those who prefer a slower pace. To support this, capacity during Quiet Hour will be reduced and entry will operate on a first come, first served basis.

Find out more 👉 https://tinyurl.com/TTQuietHour

We kindly ask attendees to consider whether this session is the right fit for them, helping to preserve a calm experience for those who need it most.

After this quiet hour, the event will officially open at 12noon with a fun-filled programme running through to 5pm.

For more about the event, go to https://bit.ly/TideANDTurf

Part of the Taste Autumn programme, 11–27 September. Discover everything happening across the borough as part of this celebration of local food and drink 👉 https://bit.ly/TasteAutumnInAND

This event has received funding from DAERA’s Northern Ireland Regional Food Programme.

Visit Ards and North Down

04/09/2026

Ards and North Down Warehouse and Forklift Academy

Are you looking for a new career in warehousing or logistics? The Ards and North Down Warehousing and Forklift Academy will give you practical, industry-relevant training, recognised certification and direct links to local employers with vacancies.

What you’ll gain:

👉 Practical warehousing skills and industry knowledge
👉 Manual Handling training
👉 COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health)
👉 Customer service and employability skills
👉 CV, interview and confidence-building support
👉 Forklift licence training following the academy
👉 Direct engagement with employers who have local vacancies
👉 Guaranteed interview opportunities on completion
👉 Ongoing one-to-one mentoring and support into employment

Open to eligible participants living in the Ards and North Down area particularly those who are unemployed/under employed/risk of redundancy.

To apply or find out more contact Workforce training Services, email: [email protected] or Telephone: 02890747676

04/09/2026

✨ Stay Connected, Stay Active
New Programme Dates for Autumn 2026!

Are you interested in meeting new people and staying active?
Sign up to our 6-week programme for over 65s – suitable for all levels of mobility.

✅ Fostering inclusion
✅ Building relationships
✅ Encouraging mobility

45 minute light armchair exercise class followed by 1 hour socialising with an information talk on support available in your area. Various dates/locations.

Refreshments will be provided.

👉🏻 Ballygowan Community Centre | 2pm-3.30pm | Wednesday 23rd & 30th September, and Wednesday 7th, 14th, 21st & 28th October

👉🏻 Redburn Community Centre, Holywood | 2pm-3.30pm | Friday 18th & 25th September, and Friday 2nd, 9th, 16th & 23rd October

👉🏻 Kilcooley Community Centre | 2pm-3.30pm| Tuesday 22nd September, Tuesday 6th & 20th October, Tuesday 3rd & 17th November and Tuesday 1st December

👉🏻 Ballywalter | 2pm-3.30pm | Thursday 17th September, Thursday 1st, 15th & 29th October, and Thursday 12th and 26th November

👉🏻 Ards Manor CC | 2pm-3.30pm | Wednesday 16th & 30th September, Wednesday 14th & 28th October, and Wednesday 11th & 25th November

For further information and to book please contact Community Development Section, Signal Centre, 2 Innotec Drive, Bangor BT19 7PD

Tel: 0300 013 3333 ext 40118 or email: [email protected]

Run by Council's Community Development and Community Halls teams.

28/08/2026

🚨 Millions of young people are going without essentials, like food.

Our new research found that young people are cutting back on food, going without essentials, and turning to food banks just to get by.

And it's much worse for people who faced financial hardship growing up.

And the cause of this? Unaffordable housing, rising living costs, and a lack of decent jobs.

But it doesn't have to be this way. We need the UK government to act or we risk seeing a generation of young people being forced to food banks.