Antrim Community Groups Urged To Apply For Improvement Grants

Antrim and Newtownabbey Council has called on community-based organisations to share their ideas for projects to revitalise overlooked rural and urban spaces and build pride in communities.

Announcing that applications are now open for the Smalls Grants Scheme, managed by the Live Here Love Here campaign, until 31 May, the council is inviting local community and voluntary groups, schools and third-level education organisations to request £500-£3,000 to regenerate a local greenspace for greater community health and wellbeing.

Funded by 10 local councils, NI Housing Executive and supported by Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful, the aim of the initiative is to maximise the potential of green and public places to deliver solutions to Northern Ireland's crises in waste and pollution, nature loss and climate change.

Foods Connected To Create 45 New Jobs In L'Derry

Foods Connected has announced the creation of 45 new jobs in L'Derry.

Foods Connected provides software as a service (SaaS) based tools to help food-based companies manage complex supply chains.

Roger McCracken, Managing Director at Foods Connected said: "We set up the business 10 years ago with just three people. We now employ 71, including nine in Australia, and with this latest investment plan to grown to a total of 116 employees by the end of 2023.

"In 2020 the senior management team took part in Invest NI’s Ambition to Scale programme which really helped us clarify our future direction for the business and set in place clear strategic targets. These include developing our software solutions, growing our export markets and developing our business as a great place to work. These 45 new roles, which will all be based in Derry, will help us realise these targets.

"This is an exciting time for us and we hope is just the start of further growth for the business."

SDLP Leader Expresses Support For Striking BBC Workers

SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood MP has expressed solidarity with NUJ members set to go on strike next week in protest at cuts to BBC Radio Foyle and BBC Northern Ireland that will see jobs and vital public service broadcasting lost.

Colum Eastwood MP said: "Solidarity with the NUJ members at the BBC who will take industrial action next week in response to the scale of cuts which have already seen vital public service broadcasting reduced and jobs put on the line. From the outset, the SDLP has warned that these cuts will have a devastating impact on local news coverage, particularly in Derry and the North West, and that they do not have the support of BBC staff or local people.

"People in Derry will not be treated as an afterthought. Despite repeated challenges to BBC senior management, we have yet to receive a satisfactory response or justification for the burden of reductions falling on important local programming.

"The SDLP supports the decision of NUJ staff and we will stand with them next Friday."