Department for Communities

🏆The second Celebration of Sport event kicked off today, giving pupils from Bangor and the Ards Peninsula an action-packed day of sporting activities! 🏃♀️🔥 Local sports stars were in attendance, sharing expert advice on careers in sport and inspiring the next generation.🥇👏 Sportni Ards and North Down Borough Council Rhys McClenaghan

📸 Minister Gordon Lyons met with Mary Nagele to hear how Arts & Business NI is helping arts organisations prosper and businesses thrive. 🎭

🤔 Ever wondered how Minister Gordon Lyons got his start in politics? 🎥 Join Year 10 students from DALRIADA SCHOOL, Ballymoney high school and Our Lady of Lourdes School as they talk about their trip to Stormont. 🗣️👇

🗣️Minister Gordon Lyons has today announced that the Executive has agreed an increase of 5% to the basic allowance for local councillors with effect from 1 April 2025. The Minister also said that he will amend the legislation to permit his department in future to determine the rate of the basic allowance to be paid to all councillors. 🔗Follow the link to find out more: https://lnkd.in/eapMF8Bh

Minister Gordon Lyons visited Vault Artist Studios at the Shankill Mission to see how local artists, dancers and musicians are utilising the creative studio space.🎨 Minister Lyons recognises the immense economic and social contribution the arts play in communities across Northern Ireland.

Housing Minister Gordon Lyons has approved a new initiative from the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, which will improve provision and reduce the cost of providing Temporary Accommodation by up to £75m over the next seven years. 👇 👀 More info: https://lnkd.in/eqKgXdfQ

Electrical Safety Standards for all private tenancies are changing. More info at https://lnkd.in/eJVCXVCN

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons met with Year 10 students from Dalriada School, Ballymoney High School and Our Lady of Lourdes School at a Shared Education event at Parliament Buildings this week to talk about his life in politics. 👇👀Find out more: https://lnkd.in/ebzGki6H

The Developing Women in the Community Programme Phase Two came together at the Shankill Shared Women’s Centre in Belfast to host a joint celebration event on 21 March 2025. The event was planned and delivered by representatives from the 8 funded delivery organisations working in collaboration with the aim of celebrating the outstanding achievements of the participants who took part in the programme, acknowledging the contributions made by the delivery organisations, and to inspire and motivate other individuals and organisations to support initiatives aimed at empowering women in the community.    Adele Brown (EPPOC) Director, a representative from the Independent Reporting Commission (IRC), and the DfC Fresh Start Team also attended. The day was facilitated by Courtney O’Neill, project co-ordinator at Barnardo’s, alongside Finola Hunt, community development facilitator, with Adele Brown delivering the opening address. An impactful video summarising the wide range of work that has been undertaken by the groups throughout the programme was shown. The highlight of the day was hearing from participants in each group, who gave moving testimonials of the impact the programme has had on their lives, and subsequently on the lives of their families and communities. It demonstrated the powerful impact that the various projects had on those involved at a very personal level, something that was evident from the confidence shown by each of the speakers.   Marie Gallaher from the DfC Fresh Start Team, in her closing remarks, thanked the 8 delivery organisations for all their hard work in organising the event and all the work and support they have provided to the women participants. Marie congratulated the women on completing the Programme, thanked them for sharing their stories and experiences and advised that this is not the end of the journey, they now have an opportunity to put into practice the learning and skills they have obtained and to take this forward to continue to make a difference in their communities.

✅ Better value for money 🏘️ Improved Temporary Accommodation Today, Minister Gordon Lyons reinforced his radical approach to housing by approving a new initiative from the Northern Ireland Housing Executive while delivering a keynote address at AgendaNi Magazine’s annual Northern Ireland Housing Conference. This game-changing plan will enhance temporary accommodation provision while cutting costs by up to £75 million over the next seven years. 🤝 Temporary accommodation provides short-term housing for those who are homeless and in priority need. However, costs have risen dramatically - from £668,425 in 2017/18 to over £12 million in 2023/24. This announcement is the latest in a series of actions under the Housing Supply Strategy, ensuring more homes are funded, essential support is provided, and the most effective help reaches those in crisis. 🎥