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Our latest news from our clients, staff and the overall organisation.
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GREAT GATSBY GALA BALL 2017
The stunning Galgorm Resort and Spa recently played host to Simon Community Northern Ireland’s annual fundraising Gala Ball. Guests really got into character for the event which this year was themed around The Great Gatsby. The evening was hosted by the fantastic Sarah Travers who added an extra sparkle to the event as compere and unveiled her auctioneering talents!



As well as an evening of fantastic food and entertainment guests had the opportunity to find out even more about the charity’s remarkable work outlined by Chairman Iggy O’Doherty and Chief Executive Jim Dennison.
The Gala Ball raises vital funds for Simon Community NI and this year all the money raised will be put to work in an essential new programme to help support people who do not have the financial resources to move in to their own home. Simon Community NI are very grateful for the continued partnership with the Galgorm Resort and Spa and to every corporate partner, business and individual who attended the ball and to those who continue to support the charity’s vital work each and every day to end homelessness in Northern Ireland.
GALA copy 2_0018_Jim Dennison, Sarah Travers, Mayor of Ballymena Audrey Wales MBE, Chris Wales and Iggy O’Doherty
International Sports Day – Thomas’ Profile
What is your favourite sport or activity? Ice Hockey, because I enjoy getting on the Ice and doing American sports. In your opinion, what are the benefits of getting active? It helps with my mental health with natural drugs within your body. Clears your...
read moreInternational Sports Day – Andrea Tierney Profile
What is your role in Simon Community NI? Sports & Wellbeing Development Worker. Why did you join Simon Community NI? I love sport and physical activity and knew this was the career path I wanted to follow, I wanted to work for the community and when I...
read morePounding the Pavement for ASCERT and Simon Community NI
Belfast based telecommunications company, Yellowcom, have signed up to participate in this year’s Belfast Marathon in support of ASCERT and Simon Community NI. Taking on this impressive challenge, 2 relay teams will pound the pavements on Monday 7th May to...
read moreGiving Homelessness a Home in Social Work, Education, Training & Practice
By Gerry Skelton It has been a personal and professional contention for most of my social work career (as practitioner and lecturer) that homelessness has been something of a taboo in social work education, training and practice. Homelessness is an...
read moreThe Amazing Women of Simon Community NI – Victoria Jackson
What is your role in Simon Community NI? Central Office Administrator Why did you join Simon Community NI? I felt that I wanted a change in direction and pace with my career. After looking at various avenues I found Simon Community NI and felt that I could...
read moreThe Amazing Women of Simon Community NI – Amanda Scott
What is your role in Simon Community NI? Community Fundraising Co-Ordinator Why did you join Simon Community NI? I had previously worked for another charity and liked to feel that my work was doing something to help other people. Simon Community NI can...
read moreThe Amazing Women of Simon Community NI – Katherine Convery
What is your role in Simon Community NI? Human Resources Officer Why did you join Simon Community NI? I joined SCNI as I wanted a new challenge within my career. However, along with this I also wanted a job would bring me job satisfaction in knowing that...
read moreThe Amazing Women of Simon Community NI – Ruth Kelly
What is your role in Simon Community NI? I work within Homeless Prevention as part of the HOME Team based in the Northern Ireland Housing Executive. This is a new role within the organisation, focusing on prevention, intervention and a solutions-based...
read moreThe Amazing Women of Simon Community NI – Siobhan Laverty
What is your role in Simon Community NI? Director of Finance & Business Support. Why did you join Simon Community NI? I have always had roles in the Charitable Sector and what specifically attracted me to apply for the role was the organisation’s aim...
read moreThe Amazing Women of Simon Community NI – Caroline Durham
What is your role in Simon Community NI? I currently work within the Homeless Prevention Team in Simon Community. I am based in the HOME team which is located in the Northern Ireland Housing Executive. The HOME team is a sector wide team focused on...
read moreSimon Community NI Celebrate International Women’s Day 2018
According to the UN it International Women’s Day is “a day when women are recognised for the achievements without regards to divisions, whether national, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic or political. It is an occasion for looking back on past...
read moreSimon Community NI Staff Conference 2018
Simon Community NI launched 2018 with a staff conference to outline the organisation’s strategic priorities for the next five years. This followed an extensive process throughout 2017 during which our 300+ staff were consulted by Senior Management on what...
read moreSupport Simon Community NI at This Year’s Belfast Marathon
Simon Community NI is calling on people to run this year’s Belfast Marathon to raise money for people experiencing homelessness in Northern Ireland. Simon Community NI accommodates 2000 – 3000 people experiencing homelessness every year, and we are...
read moreThe First Step Is To Build Up Trust
Daniel Saunders and Derek McParland are Floating Support Workers for Simon Community NI. They work with people at risk of or experiencing homelessness, managing their additional complex needs. Against a background of around 100,000 people who are homeless...
read moreSimon Community Northern Ireland – A Review of 2017
During 2017, we highlighted that an estimated 100,000 adults in Northern Ireland are living in hidden homelessness. This means that they could be staying with friends, sofa surfing, living in unsuitable conditions, not entitled to housing support, living...
read moreHomes Are Linked to Our Wellbeing
Siobhan O’Neill is a Professor of Mental Health Sciences at Ulster University and in this feature she emphasises the correlation between homelessness and mental ill health. Our homes, and home ownership, are inextricably linked with our wellbeing, our...
read moreWhy We Need a Homelessness Bill
Nichola Mallon MLA is an advocate of housing and homelessness rights in Northern Ireland. Here she highlights the real-time impact for her constituents and her aim to achieve legislative changes to support people at risk of or experiencing homelessness. I...
read moreSimon Community NI Bake Sale Team Back Again for Round 2!
Following a very successful bake sale last year to raise funds for MacMillan Cancer, clients and staff at our Project at 414 Falls Road have rolled up their sleeve and rolled out the pastry once again, this time in aid of St James Farm. The ‘bake sale’...
read moreWe Need to Talk About the Hidden Homeless
Paddy Gray is Professor Emeritus of Housing at Ulster University and he focuses on the interpretation of ‘homelessness’, and how it’s about more than just shelter. In May 2014 the Irish cabinet agreed an 80-point plan to tackle homelessness and eliminate...
read moreLooking After Your Mental Health at Christmas
The festive season can be a lonely, isolating and sad time for people experiencing homelessness. Often they find themselves without a home over due to family breakdown or the loss of a family member and so have no one to share this time of year with. The...
read moreSimon Community NI employee scoops ‘Homeless Hero’ Award
During Homeless Awareness Week (HAW), Simon Community NI was just one of the many organisations involved in this annual event; which heightens awareness and promotes understanding, of the many dynamics of homelessness across Northern Ireland. The important...
read moreGAA Gets Behind Simon Community NI in Belfast
A group of past and present GAA players have thrown their weight and time to highlight and support an All Ireland initiative to highlight the plight of homelessness in Ireland in 2017. ‘Gaelic Voices for Change’ are a voluntary group of past and present...
read more12 Days of Simon Community NI
As Christmas approaches and you’re out buying gifts, you’re always encouraged to ‘give local’ and support local shops and businesses. So what better time is there to truly ‘give local’ and donate to your local Simon Community NI Accommodation Project?...
read moreA Christmas Dinner to Remember for People Experiencing Homelessness in Northern Ireland
People living in Simon Community NI temporary and emergency accommodation projects across Northern Ireland had a day to remember this week thanks to a very special Christmas Dinner. For the second year running, Henderson Foodservice generously donated food...
read moreVolunteering with Simon Community NI
by Rebekah McDonald “Be Part of Something Bigger” As the Volunteer Co-ordinator for Simon Community NI, I have the amazing privilege of engaging with people from all different backgrounds. For me, volunteering is about ordinary people doing extraordinary...
read moreGiving homelessness a home in social work education, training and practice
By Gerry Skelton It has been a personal and professional contention for most of my social work career (as practitioner and lecturer) that homelessness has been something of a taboo in social work education, training and practice. Homelessness is an...
read moreThe Impact of Universal Credit in Northern Ireland
As we enter Homeless Awareness Week across Northern Ireland, it feels appropriate to review the recent proposed changes to Universal Credit as laid out in the Chancellor’s recent budget, and how these changes will impact people on the edge of homelessness....
read moreLord Mayor Nuala McAllister Visits Simon Community NI Belfast Foyer
Simon Community NI was pleased to welcome Lord Mayor Nuala McAllister to our Belfast Foyer Young People’s Project this month. The Lord Mayor met with young people staying at the Foyer and listened to their views on Belfast – how welcoming the city is to...
read moreJoin our Fundraising & Events Volunteer Team
Simon Community NI is delighted to have been selected as the nominated charity for the 16th Annual Belfast Beer and Cider Festival at the Ulster Hall. We are seeking volunteers, passionate about making a difference, to join us at the festival! This is a...
read morePeter Mark to raise funds for vital work of Simon Community NI
Pyjama parties, bake sales, fancy dress and funky hair styles, it’s that time of year again at Peter Mark! The annual Petermarkathon fundraiser is back and coming to Peter Mark salons from Friday 27th – Monday 30th October 2017. This year, the Peter Mark...
read moreHomeless figures inspire new awareness campaign on World Homeless Day
Simon Community NI, has launched a brand-new awareness campaign to coincide with World Homeless Day on Tuesday 10 October 2017. Our latest campaign is aimed at raising awareness of the shocking fact that on average 100,000 people are currently without...
read moreSimon Community sprints into Bangor Healthy Living Week
Simon Community Northern Ireland recognises the importance of supporting the health and wellbeing of all of our clients. As an organisation we understand that often people who have become homeless have been on a difficult journey and as a result can often...
read moreAre you our next Director of Homelessness Services?
Director of Homelessness Services Location Belfast Job Type Full-time Category Executive Description Simon Community NI is delighted to be partnering with 4c Executive for the appointment of a Director of Homelessness Services. Established in 1971, Simon...
read moreFANTASTIC JOB OPPORTUNITY FOR A PROJECT ORGANISER
WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP FANTASTIC JOB OPPORTUNITY FOR A PROJECT ORGANISER Participation and the Practice of Rights (PPR), in partnership with the Simon Community Northern Ireland, are recruiting a Project Organiser to lead a ground breaking project aiming to...
read moreNoel Johnston is ‘Running The Island’ in support of Simon Community NI
Noel Johnston set off from Stormont this morning on his epic journey around Ireland. He will run a full lap of the North and South of Ireland, touching down in over 21 counties, back to back in under 50 days. We are delighted that he has chosen Simon...
read moreSimon Community NI put homelessness in the spotlight with hard hitting play Hostel
IT’S A SHOCKING FACT… 18,600 households in NI in the last year[1] More than 50 individuals declare themselves homeless every day A lack of emergency accommodation and a freeze on critical housing programmes are pushing more people towards...
read moreTalented NI men and women’s Homeless World Cup squads get a great send off at Stormont!
A group of talented young men and women, who have experienced homelessness, gathered at Stormont for a great send off from supporters and friends as they prepare to represent Northern Ireland at the 2017 Homeless World Cup in Oslo, Norway. The project is...
read moreLisney Raises £20,000 For The Simon Community
Leading commercial property agency doubles its target in inaugural charity partnership. Leading commercial property agency Lisney has raised £20,000 - double its initial target - for the Simon Community through its inaugural official charity partnership. Lisney staff...
read moreSIMON COMMUNITY NI HOSTS AMAZING FUNDRAISING GALA BALL AT GALGORM RESORT AND SPA
GREAT GATSBY GALA BALL 2017 The stunning Galgorm Resort and Spa recently played host to Simon Community Northern Ireland’s annual fundraising Gala Ball. Guests really got into character for the event which this year was themed around The Great Gatsby. The evening was...
read moreSIMON COMMMUNITY NI SUPPORTS STREET SOCCER NI AS GERRY ARMSTRONG SCORES WITH 2017 HOMELESS WORLD CUP!
27 March 2017 News Release Former Northern Ireland International football legend Gerry Armstrong was announced as new ambassador for homeless charity Street Soccer NI. Gerry attended an event at Street Soccer last Saturday to hand out International Caps to previous...
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