Other News In Brief

Greens Calls For More Support For Addicts

The Green Party has called for more support for people struggling with addiction.

Party representative for Holywood and Clandeboye, Cllr Lauren Kendall, said: "From addiction to inspiration, suicide survivor Rory Sloan is using his experiences of recovery to help other young people. When Rory reached out asking for my support, I was inspired by his honesty, his drive and determination to help young people avoid the experiences and situations he found himself in.

Having been arrested for possession and intent to supply, former personal trainer, Rory Sloan found himself at the mercy of the courts, in despair and without hope. Following conviction, through counselling, help from Alternatives Restorative Justice and from mentor entrepreneur Tom Smyth, he has embarked on a journey of recovery and self-discovery.

"Now a One Young World Leader, Rory has resolved to use his personal experiences to change the futures of other young people. Inspiring hope, and providing peer-support, Rory is launching ResoluteM;nds at the Culloden Estate and Spa on 15 May 2024. He encourages young people to learn from the lived-experiences of those who have struggled with addiction and asks people to support him on his journey to help save the lives of future generations.

"Across Northern Ireland, we have reached a drugs and addiction crisis. According to Drug Deaths Taskforce NI, in recent years, drug deaths have increased to being one of the highest figures in Europe. The NI Executive must make this a priority in this mandate and a key area of work and focus in the Program for Government. We must do all we can to help those experiencing addiction, to support recovery, and to prevent drugs from ruining people's lives."

Alliance To Host HIV Testing Clinic At South Belfast Constituency Office

Positive Life, Northern Ireland's only charity dedicated to HIV, will be bringing its pop-up clinic to Paula Bradshaw's South Belfast constituency office on Wednesday, 3 April, as part of its Fast Track Cities Initiative, aimed at reaching zero diagnosis of HIV by 2030. Tests will take place at 291 Ormeau Road, at which there is ample parking and also frequent bus services via Metro Route 7. They will take just over half an hour, and will be free of charge; booking is online via www.positivelifeni.com/clinics.

Welcoming the initiative, Paula Bradshaw stated: "I am delighted to be partnering with Positive Life to offer this pop-up clinic, which has already proven successful at my colleagues' constituency offices elsewhere in the city.

"It is essential to highlight not just that such clinics are available, but also that there is a huge prize at the end of this work, namely the complete elimination of HIV. Together, we can break the stigma of getting tested.

"This needs to be just one part of a broader plan aligned to the global Fast Track Cities Initiative aimed at ending HIV diagnosis. We have already seen in some other parts of the UK that opt-out testing schemes, adding tests for HIV and Hepatitis to standard blood tests, have enabled early intervention to prevent damage to the immune system. Carrying these out as part of a standard health check also helps remove the stigma, and has proven extremely successful.

"We need to have similar programmes here which, alongside pop-up clinics such as this one, can deliver outright elimination. My colleagues and I are delighted to be playing our part as best we can, both politically and practically, to support Positive Life in this endeavour."

DUP Welcomes Rates Suspension For Victoria Sq Owners

The DUP have welcomed the announcement that owners of apartments in the Victoria Square development will no longer be liable for rates and refunds will be issued for rate paid since 2019.

South Down MLA Diane Forsythe, who is Deputy Chair of the Assembly's Finance Committee said: "This is a welcome decision for owners of these apartments who have been unable to live in their homes for several years through no fault of their own. It is disappointing that it has taken this long to reach a decision and lessons should be learned from this in the future.

"It is important now that refunds which are owed to owners are processed as quickly as possible. Many of them have been placed in huge financial hardship as a result of the problems they faced.

"Whilst the decision on rates will be warmly welcomed, ultimately there is a need for the issues facing these owners to be properly resolved. I know the Communities Minister has been working on this in conjunction with other colleagues and I hope that progress can be made on this as quickly as possible."