OUR STORIES
Our latest news from our clients, staff and the overall organisation.
LATEST STORY
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_0016_Jim Dennison with Sarah Travers
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GALA copy 2_0019_Kevin and Kathy Bailey, Robin and Jo Arbuthnot with Jim Dennison
GALA copy 2_0009_Gary and Hilary Reid with Jim Dennison
GALA copy 2_0010_Brian Shanks, Jim Dennison and Frank Nealis
GALA copy 2_0023_Pinsent Masons Group
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GALA copy 2_0021_Michael Darragh and Colleen Dempsey
Jim Dennison, Sarah Travers, Mayor of Ballymena Audrey Wales MBE, Chris Wales and Iggy O’Doherty
GALA copy 2_0008_Ballyprint Group
GALA copy 2_0014_Iggy O’Doherty Group
GALA copy 2_0018_Jim Dennison, Sarah Travers, Mayor of Ballymena Audrey Wales MBE, Chris Wales and Iggy O’Doherty
GALA copy 2_0017_Jim Dennison Speech
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GALA copy 2_0020_Michael and Joanne McDonnell with Jim Dennison
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GALA copy 2_0015_Jim and Frances Dennison with Iggy and Jill O’Doherty
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GALA copy 2_0013_Chris Wales, Audrey Wales MBE Mayor of Ballymena with Iggy O’Doherty
GALA copy 2_0012_HOMEteam Jim Dennison and Sarah Travers
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Are 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...
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Noel 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...
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Talented 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...
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Lisney 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...
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SIMON 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...
read moreMUSICIANS AGAINST HOMELESSNESS ‘SIGN UP’ SIMON COMMUNITY NI!
News Release MUSICIANS AGAINST HOMELESSNESS ‘SIGN UP’ SIMON COMMUNITY NI! OASIS guru Alan McGee today launches Musicians Against Homelessness (MAH) in Northern Ireland to support Simon Community. He said: “Simon Community do a fantastic job supporting the homeless in...
read moreSimon Community’s Young People Welcome Brian Kennedy for an afternoon of music and chat!
21 March 2017 Simon Community’s Young People welcome Brian Kennedy for an afternoon of music & chat ahead of 2017’s Red Nose Day! Singer and songwriter Brian Kennedy took time out from his busy schedule to meet some of the young people involved in the Simon...
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Homelessness in Northern Ireland – Julie Anne’s Story
Homelessness in Northern Ireland is sadly a situation that touches too many people and families; and it’s not just those experiencing homelessness that suffer the consequences of it. Julie Anne got in touch with us as she was fundraising over the Christmas period to...
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Introducing some of our Young People – Part 4
The fourth and final in this series of posts highlighting the experiences of some of those staying in one of our dedicated Young People Projects introduces you to Amy* who has been with Simon Community NI for a few months: I left home due to family breakdown as a...
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Introducing some of our Young People – Part 3
The third in this series of posts highlighting the experiences of some of those staying in one of our dedicated Young People Projects introduces you to Chloe who has been with Simon Community NI for one and a half years: I had problems within my family home so I had...
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Introducing some of our Young People – Part 2
The second in this series of posts highlighting the experiences of some of those staying in one of our dedicated Young People Projects introduces you to Hannah who has been with Simon Community NI for 4 months. People experience homelessness for a whole range of...
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Introducing some of our Young People
People experience homelessness for a whole range of reasons, but the breakdown of a family unit is an increasingly common factor that often affects young people. At Simon Community NI, we aim to not only offer safe and secure temporary accommodation for these...
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Our ‘Opening Doors’ Campaign Draws to a Close
As December draws to a close, so does the Simon Community NI ‘Opening Doors in Advent’ campaign of events across Northern Ireland. For the first time, our 22 Accommodation Projects opened their doors to the local community, supporters and friends of the organisation...
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A Christmas to Remember for People Experiencing Homelessness in Northern Ireland
Simon Community NI clients, volunteers and support workers had a day to remember last week thanks to a very special Christmas Dinner. Thanks to volunteers from Henderson Foodservice who donated supplies and their time to serve guests during the day, people...
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Thoughts on Homelessness in Northern Ireland
We have a huge problem of homelessness in Northern Ireland. Statistics released recently prove this. In the past 12 months, 18,628 people presented as homeless to the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, 53 of which died in the same period. That’s approximately one...
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Opening Doors to Permanent Homes for People in Northern Ireland
A big part of our work at Simon Community NI is homelessness prevention. Research shows that experiencing homelessness, even for a night, is detrimental to a person’s well-being, mental health and future prospects. It is always preferable to help people avoid...
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Top Chefs Give People Experiencing Homelessness a Christmas Treat
People experiencing homelessness and currently living with Simon Community NI are being treated to a special Christmas dinner this week, generously donated by Henderson Foodservice and cooked by celebrity chefs Danny Millar and Carl Joannesson. Christmas is a time for...
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Simon Community NI ‘Opening Doors in Advent’ in Northern Ireland
‘There was no room at the Inn’, ‘the door was shut in their face’, words and images of a nativity play. Possibly the experience of isolation and loneliness for many who experience homelessness; perhaps this is one reason the Christmas story has such a resonance for...
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Simon Community NI – The Place To Start Your Career
Ruth Kelly and Caroline Durham are two Simon Community NI team members who are currently working alongside the Northern Ireland Housing Executive Housing Solutions team as part of a project to improve homelessness prevention and avoid time spent in temporary...
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UP TO 100 JOBS UP FOR GRABS WITH SIMON COMMUNITY NI THIS WEEK
As Homelessness Awareness Week launches, Simon Community NI are seeking to recruit up to 100 paid roles across Northern Ireland as they aim to expand their team and increase capacity to deliver vital services to some of the most vulnerable people in society...
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No One Should Die Without Somewhere to Call Home
I spoke at a conference earlier this year and made the comment - homelessness kills people. There was a sharp intake of breath from those in the audience. Why this reaction? It wasn’t because this is a new revelation. It was because in the months running up to that...
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Newry Homelessness Awareness Day 2016
Simon Community NI Newry Project recently participated in a Homelessness Awareness Day organised by the Magnet Centre in Newry. Youth volunteers from the Magnet Centre hoping to raise awareness of homelessness in the local area joined forces with Simon Community NI...
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Simon Community NI Goes Baking Mad to Support MacMillan Cancer Charity
The Simon Community NI Project at 414 Falls Road hosted a very successful coffee morning to raise money for MacMillan Cancer on September 30th. The event was organised by 414 client Yvonne and it raised over £200 for the cancer charity. Clients and staff got busy...
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Simon Community NI ‘Inspiring Change’ Art Showcase
Simon Community NI's Portadown Project recently welcomed Garath Keating, Lord Mayor of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon, along with other members of the community, at the launch of a new art installation created by clients staying in one of our temporary...
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Simon Community NI Launches Welcome Pack Initiative
We had a very successful launch of our Welcome Pack Service yesterday (21st September) at an event at our Belfast Foyer Young People Project. The launch was attended by Lord Mayor Brian Kingston and Paula Bradshaw MLA of the Alliance Party, as well as supporters,...
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Simon Community NI Pledges Welcome Packs for All
Simon Community NI is launching a Welcome Pack Initiative for users of their services across Northern Ireland. Homelessness in Northern Ireland has doubled in the last 15 years. On discovering that many people who arrive at their Projects do so with very few...
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Scaling Dromore Viaduct for Simon Community NI
Simon Community NI hosted a fundraising Abseil event at Dromore Viaduct on Saturday (10th September). Sixteen staff members from Herbert Smith Freehills and Pinsent Masons braved the elements to scale down the 74ft drop and raise vital funds for the most vulnerable...
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Belfast’s First 5 Nations Homeless Football Cup – A Round Up
Northern Ireland’s inaugural 5 Nations Homeless Football tournament came to a close on Friday (September 9th) afternoon.
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First Homeless 5 Nations Football Tournament Kicks Off in Belfast
Following unprecedented success at the Homeless World Cup in Glasgow during the summer, the organisation behind the Northern Ireland team decided to host an annual homeless football tournament of their own, in order to build on the positivity and momentum gathered in...
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Simon Community NI Saintfield Road Project Goes Green!
Simon Community clients at our Saintfield Road Project made the most of the very brief Northern Irish summer with a visit from Dobbies Garden Centre recently. Nichola and Aimee from the local gardening store arrived at Simon Community NI Saintfield Road Project with a...
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DfC Housing Bulletin January-March 2016 – Our Views
This week, the Department for Communities (DfC) published a report on the housing situation in Northern Ireland from January - March 2016. It stated that 4,350 households presented as homeless in Northern Ireland during the period. While this figure is not surprising,...
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Craic VS Crack – Natural Highs Residential
Clients from Simon Community NI’s specialist Young People Projects enjoyed an exhilarating experience at their Natural Highs ‘Craic VS Crack’ residential last month. The premise of a Natural Highs programme is to build positivity, encourage confidence and develop...
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Michelle Celebrates 20 Years with Simon Community NI
I have had the pleasure of working with the Simon Community for 20 years and have always been committed to their vision of ending homelessness. My first role was in the Finance department for 1 year, based in Fitzroy Avenue. At this point, Simon Community were...
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Housing Executive Homelessness Review – Our View
The homelessness review commissioned Housing Executive and the development of an inter-ministerial group on the issue is welcomed by Simon Community Northern Ireland. However we have concerns about the rush to develop a new homelessness strategy within the year, given...
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Simon Community NI Draft Programme for Government Consultation Response – Summary
The Draft Programme for Government contains no reference to ending homelessness. This must be addressed if the homelessness crisis in Northern Ireland is to be resolved.
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Simon Community Bangor Gets Healthy!
This week clients in our Bangor Project got into the ‘Summer Body’ spirit through a week of exercise, healthy eating and fun activities with the support of local groups and organisations.
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Northern Ireland at the Homeless World Cup 2016 – A Round Up
Street Soccer NI is one of these partners, and home to Team Northern Ireland, a team that has competed in the annual Homeless World Cup tournament for the past four years. The stats speak for themselves. Of the team that represented Northern Ireland last year in...
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