Student Mental Health in the time of COVID-19
2020 began as any other, but soon into the year, the lives of every person worldwide came to a crashing halt, changing life as we all knew it. When Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the U.K lockdown on March 23rd, nobody could’ve imagined what life in a bubble would be …
‘Four Female Painters’ exhibition in Belfast
Mobile Journalism by Jordan Doherty Back in March 2020, QSS Art studios in East Belfast held an exhibition entitled Four Female Painters. The exhibition included the works of four Northern Irish artists: Amy Higgins, Sonia Wynn, Alana Barton and Rachel Lawell. Each artists focused on the representation of female figures …
Child Protection Issues Central Concern For Online Educators
By Aaron Strain As teachers continue to adapt to the virtual classroom environment, issues concerning child protection have come to the fore in light of security concerns surrounding the Zoom conferencing platform. Caoimhín Ó Daimhín, a primary school teacher in West Belfast, explains how Education Authorities in the North have …
The Disability Gap still exists
[Cover image is composition of illustrations from Freepik.com] According to the Equality Act of 2010, “a person is said to be disabled if they have a physical or mental impairment that is long-term and has a substantial negative impact on his ability to carry out his normal daily tasks.” (By …
Council Flight Spend Scrutinised
Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council have spent over £53,500 on 152 flights flying councillors and staff around the world between May 2017 and May 2019. Council Spend Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council £53,669.46 Mid and East Antrim Borough Council £27,517.19 Derry and Strabane District Council £24,564.51 Antrim and Newtownabbey £15,744.59 …
West Belfast community group use drama to combat loneliness
Social isolation is a problem that effects nearly two thirds of the population in Northern Ireland. The Andersonstown Community Theatre, an intergenerational arts project, are hoping that by bringing young and old together they can combat loneliness. The Theatre performed Brian Friel’s Dancing at Lughnasa as part of Féile an …
Working From Home in the Drinks Industry
Anna McLaughlin is currently one of the thousands of people working at home for the first time due to COVID-19. As the Jameson Whiskey Brand Ambassador for Northern Ireland, lockdown restrictions have completely turned the usual day-to-day aspects of her role on to its head. Here is how she is …
The names at risk of going ‘Bye-Bye Baby’ across the UK
What is on trend comes and goes across the country. What was once fashionable and current can become as out-dated as your favourite pair of flared jeans. The same goes for popular baby names and what ones end up topping the tables can change generationally or year-on-year. What name you …
Maintaining a fitness routine during a global pandemic
The Coronavirus outbreak and the subsequent government directives on social distancing has forced gyms across Northern Ireland to shut down. Regular gym-goers have found their daily routine disrupted whilst those beginners who had just started to get into fitness prior to the epidemic have also found their progress stunted. I …
PSNI figures reveal increase in male victims of domestic abuse
When one thinks of the term ‘domestic abuse’, often the first thought that comes to mind is of a man perpetrating violence against a woman. People often forget that men can be victims of such abuse as well. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) defines domestic abuse as violent, …