Eastside Advertiser 55

Issue 55 - Belfast BT4 • BT5 • BT16

Stepping back in time for Platinum Jubilee

Belfast City Council is hosting the events which will take place over the extended bank holiday weekend in June (2-5 June) and will include themed tea dances for seniors and the lighting of a Jubilee Beacon.

Pictured l-r are Athlete Lauren McDowell, Lady Mary Peters and Bethany Carroll, Marketing Executive at Hughes Insurance

EAST BELFAST SAILOR AWARDED BURSARY

Hughes Insurance has announced the renewal of its partnership with the Mary Peters Trust as they launch a bursary programme which will award funding to ten young athletes from across Northern Ireland throughout 2022.

The first of the athletes selected for funding is East Belfast-based sailor, Lauren McDowell, who has received a £500 bursary.

Each of the ten athletes will be selected by Lady Mary and her Trust to receive a £500 bursary from Hughes Insurance to support them on their journey and realise their sporting potential.

Lady Mary Peters said: “I am delighted that Lauren has been recognised.

Her talent and perseverance are evident from her many

sporting accolades, and I hope that this bursary will help her to realise her dreams.”

Lauren, 18, has achieved multiple wins for sailing.

These include second female boat at the Royal Yachting Association’s British Youth Nationals in 2022, second Female team 29er in the 2021 Irish national championships, fifth female team 29er in the 2021 UK National Championships and fifth Female Team 29er in the 2021 Royal Yachting Association’s Youth

National Championships.

She will also participate in the upcoming 29er World Championships in Spain.

A 29er is a two-person, single trapeze dinghy with an asymmetric spinnaker. Designed By Julian Bethwaite and First Produced In 1998, the highperformance vessel is able to reach high speeds quickly due to its aerodynamic hull.

Lauren, who has been sailing for nine years, balances training in yacht clubs around Ireland with studying for her A-levels.

The Mary Peters Trust is the only province-wide organisation to provide support to young athletes from all recognised sports.

Along with Hughes Insurance, it is also supported by Alchemy Technology Services, who this year became a podium partner to support the Trust’s activities throughout 2022.

The further nine successful bursary recipients will be announced throughout 2022. For more on the Mary Peters Trust, visit marypeterstrust.org

And on Saturday 4 June, 2 Royal Avenue will be transformed into 1950s Belfast, allowing visitors to take a step back in time and get a flavour of life in the city 70 years ago.

The event, from 125pm, will showcase music and dance, photography, film, fashion and storytelling, taking a creative look at people’s lives in Belfast in 1952, and the café will have a specially-adapted 1950s menu.

Visitors to 2 Royal Avenue on Saturday 4 June will be able to take part in familyfriendly arts and crafts, view a specially-curated digital archive, have their caricature drawn and make some memories in the vintage photo booth.

Some of the sessions taking place, including storytelling and a film

screening of The Queen’s Corgi are ticketed.

Platinum Jubilee beacon will be lit on Thursday 2 June at Titanic Belfast to mark the Royal milestone and City Hall will be lit up purple on Sunday 5 June.

Communities are also being encouraged to take part in The Big Jubilee Lunch.

Free packs to organise a big lunch between 2-5 June are available from The Eden Project – visit www. edenprojectcommunities. com for more info.

A number of community events are also being organised thanks to a £100,000 Belfast City Council fund to support organisers of platinum jubilee events across the city.

For more information visit www.belfastcity.gov.uk/ jubilee

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Issue 55 - Support Local

Issue 55 - Support Local

Condor Ferries set to operate zero emission pilot scheme in Belfast

The ferry service to commence in 2024 will act as a pilot scheme for the revolutionary fast passenger ferries currently under development by the consortium, led by Artemis Technologies.

The vessels will be powered by the transformative Artemis eFoiler ® enabling them to fly above the water, allowing for a comfortable ride, producing minimal wake at high-speed, while using up to 90 per cent less energy than some conventional ferries.

Dr Iain Percy OBE, CEO and Founder of Artemis Technologies said: “The announcement that Condor Ferries is joining us in the Belfast Maritime Consortium is a hugely significant endorsement of the work we are doing and marks another milestone on our journey towards leading the decarbonisation of maritime.

“Belfast will get a glimpse of the future when the pilot service commences operation, but it is just the beginning. We are already receiving interest from around the globe as governments

and cities across the world seek sustainable transport alternatives that balance the requirement for people to continue to move around with the need to reduce carbon emissions.”

The pilot service will run from Bangor Marina to Belfast’s Titanic Quarter with an expected journey time of around 30 minutes providing a greener solution to commuters along one of the busiest traffic routes in Northern Ireland.

The Belfast Maritime Consortium is a 14-member syndicate which has brought together a range of industry, academia and public bodies, including, Artemis Technologies, Ards and North Down Borough Council, Belfast City Council, Belfast Harbour, Belfast Met, Catalyst, Condor Ferries, Creative Composites, Invest Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland Advanced Composites Engineering (NIACE), Power NI, Queen’s

University Belfast, Spirit AeroSystems, and Ulster University.

The consortium was awarded a grant of £33 million by UKRI’s flagship Strength in Places Fund for the £60m project.

Condor Ferries operates a number of commercial ferry routes between the Channel Islands, mainland UK and France.

The company was acquired in 2020 by the Columbia Threadneedle European Sustainable Infrastructure Fund.

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Issue 55 - Support Local

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Take off to Verona for the first time from Belfast International Airport

Belfast international has waved off their first flight to Verona from Belfast International Airport this month, celebrating the launch of the brand-new route for Summer 22 from the base.

The busy flight marks the start of the leading leisure airline Jet2.com and Jet2holidays and UK’s

leading tour operator flying to many destinations across Europe operating weekly Wednesday services to the Italian city from Belfast International Airport this summer until 21st September.

The start of services to Verona gives holidaymakers easy access to captivating Lake Garda and comes in response to strong demand from local customers and independent travel agents for Summer 22 flights and holidays.

The largest of the freshwater lakes in Italy, Lake Garda in the country’s north is situated at the heart of the Italian Lakes and is within easy reach of the popular tourist city of Verona. Surrounded by small, picturesque villages, majestic mountains and shorelines stretching over 90 miles,

Lake Garda’s coves and clear waters make it an ideal spot for windsurfing and swimming.

Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, said: “We are delighted to see our first flight take off to Verona from Belfast International Airport today. Feedback from customers and independent travel agents across Northern Ireland has been telling us that flights and holidays to Italy are very much in demand for Summer 22, so it is fantastic to be operating to this popular Italian destination from Belfast International Airport and giving holidaymakers access to Lake Garda. With 21 sun and city destinations on sale this summer from the base, we are pleased to be offering an unrivalled

Claire Brammeld and Ryan McIver from Belfast (pictured) were excited to board the first flight which marks the start of the leading leisure airline and UK’s leading tour operator flying to many destinations this summer. Verona gives holidaymakers easy access to captivating Lake Garda and comes in response to strong demand from local customers and independent travel agents.

programme for Summer 22 and giving customers and independent travel agents in Northern Ireland huge choice when it comes to

enjoying a holiday with our award-winning airline and tour operator.”

For further information and to book visit www.

jet2.com or www. jet2holidays.com Independent travel agents can visit: trade. jet2holidays.com

Revitalisation scheme unveiled in Adelaide Street

Work on a scheme to revitalise Adelaide Street in Belfast has now been substantially completed.

The pilot project was funded from Minister Mallon’s Blue/Green Infrastructure Fund and delivered in partnership with Belfast City Council. It forms part of

wider plans to enhance city centre infrastructure post-Covid 19 and will contribute to the city’s shared agenda of place making through the development of a greener, more accessible, liveable and age friendly city.

The scheme creates an improved pedestrian and active travel experience along Adelaide Street through the provision of additional space for walking, resting, play and outdoor dining. It includes solar lighting, shelter, bike parking and

significant greening.

Unveiling the scheme Minister Mallon said: “This scheme reflects a new way of living as we recover from the Covid 19 pandemic and importantly take steps to address the climate emergency.

“Outdoor public spaces make our city centre more attractive, transforming them into areas where we can take time to rest, eat and socialise with friends. It can also help boost local business and tourism.

“We must also address our reliance on motor vehicles and with the addition of bike parking, I hope more people will consider more active and sustainable methods of travel into the city centre.

“As we move into the spring and summer months, I look forward to seeing this urban space put to good use by shoppers, workers, tourists and families.”

Some minor works will be carried out to complete the scheme in the near future.

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Issue 55 - Support Local

Eastside Advertiser

Gym usage in Belfast at an all-time high

Memberships for the 15 leisure centres across the city operated by GLL under the Better brand, surpassed pre-pandemic levels to reach 20,000 in February 2022.

Two years after the onset of Covid-19 sparked a cycle of repeated closures and restrictions at gyms and leisure centres in Northern Ireland, the number of individuals investing in their mental and physical wellbeing is at its highest ever in Belfast, back from a low of 12,000 mid-pandemic.

The Better leisure centres in Belfast have seen a 120% return to activity when compared to 2019, which includes the use of its gyms, fitness classes, swimming pools and other sports facilities.

Councillor Fred Cobain, Chair of Belfast City Council’s People and Communities Committee, said: “It is brilliant news that record numbers of people are using

our leisure centres.

Improving the health and wellbeing of our citizens is one of the key priorities identified in the Belfast Agenda, the city’s community plan, so these figures show that real progress is being made.

“By investing £105 million in our leisure estate through the Leisure Transformation Programme – the

biggest investment of its kind in the UK Belfast City Council has led by example and demonstrated our commitment to improving people’s health and fitness.

Improving the programmes and services offered in our centres is also a vital aspect of transforming leisure, so I would like to commend GLL, our

partners in leisure, on the strides they have made in making more people more active, more often.”

Lisnasharragh Leisure Centre in the east of the city now has the fourth highest pre-paid leisure membership of GLL’s full UK operation.

The 120% usage rate compared to 2019 in Belfast is also the highest in the UK.

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Issue 55 - Support Local

Eastside Advertiser

£5K Community Fund to support new campaign

Northern Ireland’s leading convenience brand Centra has recently launched a region-wide Community Fund to the value of £5,000 as part of its latest marketing campaign.

East Belfast community groups are encouraged to apply for Centra’s ‘Choices’ fund, with five individual pots of £1,000 available.

Applications are open from now and will remain open until mid-August.

Open to charities, community organisations and not for profits, the Fund coincides with the launch of Centra’s Choices campaign, which celebrates the choices that define us, focusing on four behaviours that promote happiness in ourselves and others, Positivity, Kindness,

Respect and Attitude.

Applicants for the community fund grants must demonstrate how their projects will benefit the wider community and how it aligns with one of the four behaviours celebrated in the campaign.

Centra called on the support of local celebrities and influencers including RuPaul’s Drag Race UK Vs the World winner, Blu Hydrangea; TikTok sensation and disability activist, India Sasha and Instagram fashion blogger and cancer survivor, Aisling Gallagher (Galsgoss) to bring the campaign to life on social media. Centra is also looking forward to revealing a partnership with a fourth social media influencer later this month.

They’ll join Centra ambassador Pete Snodden in question and answer

Centra ambassador, Pete Snodden; Drag Artist, Blu Hydrangea and Desi Derby, Marketing Director at Centra.

sessions broadcast on Instagram Live during the month of May discussing how the choices they have made have led to where they are now.

Desi continued, “The celebrities and influencers we have

on board for our social media campaign truly embody our message, they have each made life defining choices and we’re thrilled that they are sharing their stories with us and members of the public.

“It’s an exciting time for Centra and as we move forward, we will remain at the heart of our communities and support our customers as they navigate their way through their everyday choices.”

Revitalisation scheme unveiled in Adelaide Street Work on a scheme to revitalise Adelaide Street in Belfast has now been substantially completed.

The pilot project was funded from Minister Mallon’s Blue/Green Infrastructure Fund and delivered in partnership with Belfast City Council.

It forms part of wider

plans to enhance city centre infrastructure post-Covid 19 and will contribute to the city’s shared agenda of place making through the development of a greener,

more accessible, liveable and age friendly city.

The scheme creates an improved pedestrian and active travel experience along Adelaide Street through the provision

of additional space for walking, resting, play and outdoor dining. It includes solar lighting, shelter, bike parking and significant greening.

Unveiling the scheme Minister Mallon said: “This scheme reflects a new way of living as we recover from the Covid 19 pandemic and importantly take steps to address the climate emergency.

“Outdoor public spaces make our city centre more attractive, transforming them into areas where we can take time to rest, eat and socialise with friends.

It can also help boost local business and tourism.

“We must also address our reliance on motor vehicles and with the addition of bike parking, I hope more people will consider more active and sustainable methods of travel into the city centre.”

Some minor works will be carried out to complete the scheme in the near future.

Issue 55 - Support Local

Eastside Advertiser

BELFAST HARBOUR PARTNERS WITH BELFAST PHOTO FESTIVAL FOR OUTDOOR GALLERY EXHIBITION

Belfast Harbour is partnering with Belfast Photo Festival to create a free outdoor gallery on Belfast’s waterfront, which over a period of six months will showcase world class photographic artists at the new City Quays Gallery.

In partnership with Arts & Business NI, Belfast Harbour is supporting Belfast Photo Festival in staging the new exhibition, which is now open and will run until September in the City Quays area of Belfast’s iconic waterfront.

The exhibition is one of a number of community initiatives scheduled during 2022, to mark Belfast Harbour’s celebrations of the 175th Anniversary of Belfast Harbour Commissioners.

With a goal of increasing accessibility to the visual arts, the partnership between Belfast Photo Festival and Belfast Harbour provides free public access to the work of two international photographic artists, with artwork displayed along Belfast’s waterfront.

Each artist’s work will be exhibited for three months, beginning at Easter, with the ‘Wildermann’ exhibition by French portrait photographer Charles Fréger, followed by Italian still life photographer, Guido Mocafico from

Jenni Barkley, Communications and Corporate Responsibility Manager at Belfast Harbour and Michael Weir, Founder at Belfast Photo Festival

June.

Designed so the public can experience the work from multiple angles and perspectives, the exhibition will be staged on five special, purposebuilt triangular display frameworks and will show 15 pieces of art in total over the six-month period.

Allison Dowling, Director of Communications and Marketing at Belfast Harbour said: “This outdoor photographic exhibition

is a first for City Quays and we are delighted to showcase this innovative visual art gallery within Belfast Harbour Estate.

Investing in our communities and creating a ‘Port for Everyone’ is core to Belfast Harbour’s strategy, and we encourage local communities, visitors and our Estate partners to visit and enjoy this superb exhibit of photographic art.”

Michael Weir, Founder at Belfast Photo Festival

commented: “Belfast Harbour and Belfast Photo Festival share a common goal of connecting Belfast to the world, and this partnership aims to do just that by creating a cultural space within the Harbour Estate to bring visitors to the waterfront area.

Staging the exhibition in an outdoor public space creates 24/7 access for the local community and encourages passers-by and visitors to the area to engage with it freely.”

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Eastside Advertiser

Red vs Grey. What’s the story?

Issue 55 - Support Local

Red squirrels are much loved creatures, native to Ireland, but sadly have been in decline until relatively recently. The main cause of their decline? Grey squirrels, native to North America, and introduced here in Victorian times.

Formally designated as an alien species,

the greys than the

are larger reds, can

out-compete them for food and habitat, and, disastrously, spread squirrel pox virus, to which they’re immune, to the reds.

For many years, it was an unequal struggle; as the greys expanded territory, the reds retreated and declined, to the point where they became locally extinct.

But help came from two directions: people who rallied to the red cause, and nature itself.

There are now

many red squirrel support groups around the country, mostly volunteers who give of their time, energy and resources to feed, protect and enhance suitable habitat, and are supported by the professionals at organisations such as Ulster Wildlife.

The help that came from nature is intriguing.

Like the reds, pine martens, roughly similar in appearance to weasels but confined to forest

habitat where squirrels are prey, had also been in decline because of habitat loss and persecution. About 30 years ago, that changed, not least because of legal protection, and, while still pretty rare, the martens are on their way back…and driving the greys before them.

The basic reason is evolution; the reds and martens evolved together over thousands of years and learned how to coexist, and that made the

greys more predation.

This nature’s recover,

vulnerable to demonstrates ability to given the

opportunity. On the broader wildlife front, Ulster Wildlife, the RSPB and others are working hard to give

birds, bees and other creatures the opportunity to recover. They need our support.

JVA

Leadhill Primary School – Meeting the needs of modern families

Looking for the right Primary School for your child can present some families with a bewildering number of questions and options.

Finding a school where a child can feel happy and secure, rightly comes as a top priority, alongside a knowledge that children will be given opportunities to make progress academically, physically, socially and emotionally.

Families also need to consider whether a school’s

start and finish times, alongside any provision of childcare, can work with their busy lives.

With so many things to consider, the choice is a real challenge.

As a growing school in the Castlereagh area, working to support parents and children is central to what we offer at Leadhill.

Leadhill parents recognise the value of a

primary school setting where every adult knows every child. This personal touch helps to create a safe and nurturing environment where children can flourish within the Leadhill family.

Focus on the teaching of thinking skills, alongside our development of new technologies, helps children to achieve

greater independence and versatility in learning. We encourage children to actively contribute to the life of our school through a range of leadership positions in our school houses, School Council and Eco Committee as well as taking on roles of responsibility around school.

Our Breakfast and Afterschool clubs run from 8am to 6pm each school day, providing excellent childcare at an

affordable price.

The Pre-School Playgroup facility provides places for children from the age of 2 years and 10 months up to primary school age. We are currently enrolling for September 2022 and have limited spaces remaining.

For information about a place in Leadhill Primary School or our Pre-school Playgroup, or to arrange a visit, please contact the school office on 028 90401101.

Issue 55 - Support Local

OASIS staff celebrate recognition!

An oasis Team Leader was recently nominated by a previous graduate of our Team programme for the 2022 OCNNI Learning Endeavour Awards in the category of Inspiring Tutor/Teacher of the Year.

We are delighted to announce that he was one of three highly commended entrants out of over 200 nominations. He has now been invited to attend the Prize giving event on the 15th June 2022 at the Titanic Hotel.

Stephen CEO Oasis said “Craig is an exceptional local man who has been delivering for the young people of East Belfast for at least the past 5 years and this award was given to a very deserving candidate .Congratulations

Craig and as we say to every client that comes through our door please understand this is a safe place for you to meet us and you will forever be welcome here .

Oasis Early Years Manger Melissa Porter has just returned from maternity leave from having her first baby and brought her son to attend the setting so that she can work. Melissa says she understands how difficulty it can be for parents leaving their child for their first time after maternity

leave and how important it is to feel that your child is in safe and secure setting, which she feels her son is. She is excited for his new journey at Oasis and how it will help him reach his development milestones and to socialize with other children. With her son being care by Oasis Melissa can fully commit to her job role.

Stephen, CEO is delighted to have Melissa back and said “ there is no stronger recommendation for the quality of care

Oasis Early years provides than the fact that many of our staff have their beautiful children in our setting “.

Oasis Early years has operated throughout the Covid pandemic and has never closed we have adher to all guidelines and policies and be able to provide a great service not only to our own families in the community but to NHS staff when it was really needed.

For more information please Call: 07491665494

Email: Melissa. porter@oasis-ni.org Please check website for further details: www.oasis-ni.org Or visit us on Facebook: Oasis childcare east Belfast

Searching for roller garage doors that offer unmatched quality at unbeatable prices?

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Transform the appearance of your exteriors and improve the security of your home all in one by updating to a Garolla garage door.

Handmade by a team of skilled craftsmen, every Garolla garage door is made from only the very best

materials and to your home’s exact specifications. From start to finish you will only work with your own local installer, guaranteeing no pushy salesmen in sight.

As well as installing your garage door, your local installer will also conduct

in two different slat sizes to perfectly fit any opening. Avoid any hidden charges with Garolla, where an instant quote comes inclusive of measuring, fitting and VAT. For more information visit their

website www.Garolla. co.uk or, alternatively, give them a call on 028 9246 0024

Eastside Advertiser

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Issue 55 - Support Local

Eastside Advertiser

Ensure you are using a registered childcare provider to get help towards your childcare costs

Our team at Employers For Childcare sometimes receives calls from parents using an unregistered childminder to look after their children while they work.

Usually, this is because the parents think this will be less expensive.

However, because most working

parents are entitled to financial support with their registered childcare costs, this is not usually the case.

Financial support is only available to parents using a registered childcare provider.

Here are just some of the reasons it makes sense to use a registered childcare provider: • Cost: Parents

are only able to get financial support with their childcare costs if they are using a registered or approved provider.

• Standard of care: Registered childcare providers are regulated and inspected, and must comply with minimum standards of safety and numbers of children.

• Safety: Registered childcare providers must be vetted, and have appropriate training and qualifications, for example in paediatric first aid. They will

also have relevant policies, procedures and insurance in place to ensure that they and the children they care for are protected.

• Legality: It is a legal requirement for anyone who is looking after children for more than two hours a day, for reward, to be registered.

In all cases, to be eligible for financial support with registered childcare costs at least one parent must be in work, however the best form of help will depend on a number

of factors including household income, cost of childcare, working hours, number of children and whether there are any disabilities or additional care needs within the household.

There are four main types of financial support available to help working parents with their childcare costs: Universal Credit, Tax-Free Childcare, Tax Credits (existing claimants only) and Childcare Vouchers (existing users only).

Personalised advice

and guidance It can be confusing and difficult for parents to figure out which is the best form of support for their family. The Family Benefits Advice Service provides free, impartial and confidential advice to parents on the financial support with the cost of registered childcare.

Freephone 0800 028 3008 or email hello@ employersforchildcare. org. More information is also available on our website at www. employersforchildcare. org.

Another 5 star review for Helen’s Bay Dental

Holywood-based insulation company energystore has completed the second year of its tree planting initiative with the NI Forest Schools Association.

“I had a first appointment with the treatment coordinator.

The surgery is

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The treatment coordinator was warm and friendly and quickly put me at my ease She took lots of photos of my teeth.

At each stage she explained what she was about to do and why.

Viewing these photos on screen was a revelation in

itself - seeing parts of my mouth I’ve never seen before was so interesting but sobering too!”

Why not come along and see your teeth like

the Dentist does and see how digital dental care can change your smile in ways you didn’t know?

Contact info@ helensbaydental.co.uk to book in or see more at helensbaydental. co.uk or on instagram

Issue 55 - Support Local

Hospitality Exchange 2022 Launched

Hospitality Exchange 2022 will take place on the 11th and 12th October 2022 in the Crowne Plaza Belfast.

The two-day conference was launched at a lunch event this week hosted by Pamela Ballantine and the Northern Ireland Hotels Federation (NIHF). Hotel members, along with suppliers and supporters of the industry, came together at the Crowne Plaza to get an insight into this year’s conference programme.

Northern Ireland Hotels Federation (NIHF) President, Stephen Meldrum, said: “After what can only be described as an unprecedented couple of years, I am delighted that we are at the stage where we can plan in-person events and come together once again. While there is still uncertainty in relation to challenges and ongoing adjustments, as an industry we have learnt that we can adapt, pivot and survive

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Top Achievers

through difficult times.

This year’s event will consider a framework to facilitate the recovery of the sector, look at its future and examine the challenge of sustainability.

“People remain a theme and we will be launching a new awards event for rising stars within the industry. This will form part of a suite of Key Awards to recognise and reward the excellent staff within our industry. There will also be an analysis of hotel development, industry support and innovative solutions.

“Food, like other elements of the industry, is going through a bit of a revolution. Hot topics include ‘microwave v michelin’ and ‘fast or fine’.

Interesting times lie ahead.

The one great advantage about the food served at

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Victoria Park Primary School staff shine at Families First Education Awards 2022 The Awards were held at Titanic Belfast in April.

the launch event centre on the fact you could have everything on the side and, if you wanted to lodge a complaint, you just had to have a stern word with yourself about the service!

My biggest concern on the day was that Pamela and I may have been asked to go to the kitchen to wash up afterwards.

This may be a glimpse of the future. It certainly presented a thoughtprovoking exercise to stimulate debate around the provision of solutions.”

The final programme for Hospitality Exchange 2022 will be released in late August and exciting elements will continue to be revealed this summer.

Victoria Park Primary School was delighted to be back on a winning streak after having had a very successful year of local and national awards in 2019.

Bouncing back from lockdowns and covid, the school was back on track to win a number of awards at the Families First 2022 Spring Awards in Titanic in March.

Two special needs assistants, Mrs Karen Kane and Miss Carla Ferguson,

were recognised for their outstanding contributions to education and support within class, the school was awarded Best School with links to the Community, Best Overall Primary School and Mrs Gourley was awarded Best Principal.

The school is delighted and thankful for the recognition and amazing support that parents give in nominating the school for these

and then submitting their comments and views of the school which adjudicators take

note of in the judging process.

Congratulations to Victoria Park Primary School!

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Issue 55 - Support Local

Top Achievers

HILLSBOROUGH HONOURS FOR EAST BELFAST LOCALS

East Belfast people swept the boards at a recent ceremony at Hillsborough Castle, honouring members of the Reserve Forces and Cadet movement.

Receiving the Lord Lieutenant’s Certificate for Outstanding Meritorious Service Above and Beyond The Call of Duty, one of the highest accolades that can be conferred on members of the Reserve Forces and Cadet movement, were East Belfast men Sergeant Trevor McDowell, Staff Sergeant Andrew Lennox and Staff Sergeant Colin Gordon.

The Citation which accompanies his award describes how, during his 32 years in the Reserve, Staff Sergeant Colin Gordon has excelled in military training, operational shooting, and charity fundraising. First

awarded the prestigious Bisley Top 50 Medal in 2008, he has maintained this ranking ever since, inspiring and helping to train many Reservists.

In 2010 he deployed on Op TOSCA to Cyprus as part of 40 Signal Regiment Group and was extremely proficient in an operational environment. In addition to his operational duties, he conducted a wide range of support activities, contributing much to the Regiment’s successful deployment. Staff Sergeant Gordon is commended in the award Citation for ‘a long and consistent record

of fundraising, organising events for local charity on an annual basis, outwith his busy professional and family life and his high level of commitment to the Reserve.’

Staff Sergeant Andrew Lennox earned his award for Reserve service described in the award Citation as ‘transformational’ in terms of building unit credibility and supporting recruitment.

Praised as ‘a transformational and exceptional leader’, the ‘inspirational and widely respected NonCommissioned Officer’ has demonstrated both character and commitment, stepping

up to challenges imposed by the recent pandemic by volunteering to be part of the national OP RESCRIPT. The Citation concludes, ‘He is invested in the welfare of his soldiers and is a key enabler of all Company activities.

Staff Sergeant Lennox is the Company lead for the Empowerment Project which is aimed at transforming how the Company delivers in the modern, productive, efficient Army Reserve.’

Sergeant Trevor McDowell who is based in the busy Clonaver Army Reserve in East Belfast is commended for a Reserve career encompassing more than three decades of service during which he has shown ‘commitment beyond reproach and has achieved the Commanding Officer’s Medal for Efficiency for an unbroken 32 years’.

The Citation which accompanies his award illustrates how, whether at home or on deployment overseas, Sergeant McDowell has consistently demonstrated a selfless commitment to those around him, nurturing skills and encouraging positive involvement in every aspect of life in the Reserve Forces.

His passion for rugby is also highlighted and Sergeant McDowell is given

credit for getting the sport back on the Battalion sports agenda after a period in the doldrums, and for building both sporting excellence and team morale.

Always ready to go ‘above and beyond’ and often working unpaid extra time, the Citation concludes, ‘Sergeant McDowell has consistently performed to a high level within his time in service. His level of selflessness, loyalty and commitment to the Reserve Forces is only to be admired.’

At the same ceremony Cadet Lance Corporal Matthew Neilly from Moneyreagh, Able Cadet Alex Sargent from Cregagh and Cadet Lance Corporal Bertie Turkington, a boarder at Campbell College, were appointed to serve as Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant’s Cadets for the City of Belfast for the coming year.

The three teenage Cadets will take on a largely ceremonial role attending Mrs Fionnuala JayO’Boyle, Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant for the City of Belfast, on civic occasions. In recognition of the position each will be entitled to wear a special insignia on their uniform.

Cadet Lance Corporal Matthew Neilly, a 16-yearold student at RBAI in Belfast, is praised in his

award Citation as an enthusiastic and capable member of the Clonaver Detachment ACF. His hard work and commitment are reflected in a Cadet career already marked by high achievement, including the Institute of Leadership & Management Level 2 Award for Young Achievers and he is currently working towards a Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award.

During lockdown he was part of the H Company Cadet ‘D-Day Dander’, walking 100km in 42 days, representing the length of the D-Day battlefront and the timeframe of the Battle of Normandy. As a Cadet in a Signals Detachment, Matthew recently made a highly praised video to commemorate the centenary of the Royal Corps of Signals.

Able Cadet Alex Sargent, a member of Training Ship Broadsword, Dundonald Sea Cadets, is described in her award Citation as ‘a committed, hard-working and generous young person; always well presented, enthusiastic and cheerful and the enthusiasm with which she engages in all activities is infectious’.

Her love of outdoor activities and sports is regarded as pivotal in attracting and retaining new

Cadet Lance Corporal Matthew Neilly from Moneyreagh receives his award certificate from Mrs Fionnuala Jay-O’Boyle, Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant for the City of Belfast.

Cadets and she has proved a capable sporting instructor.

Outside Cadets she coaches the Cregagh Wanderers junior football team and is a disabled football coach with Dungoyne FC. How sports prowess is also evident within her school community, with Alex ably representing Breda Academy in cross country competitions.

Cadet Lance Corporal Bertie Turkington is an outstanding member of

the Campbell College Combined Cadet Force, RAF Section, demonstrating a capacity for hard work coupled with enthusiasm.

His award Citation describes the 15-year-old as an extremely enthusiastic and charismatic individual who leads by example’ and praises his role in mentoring younger Cadets and highlights his interest in shooting which he is active in promoting within his CCF.

Catch 202 delivers value for money despite cost of living crisis Located close to the Dundonald Ice Bowl, and delivering to the BT5 and BT16 areas, Catch 2o2 Ltd is already an award winning fish and chip shop having celebrated the Best Newcomer Fish and Chip Shop in 2021.

This year, with the support of their customers, the Catch 2o2 team have been voted into position as finalists in the Best in Belfast Category of the Northern Ireland Fish and Chip Shop of the Year Awards 2022. Judging is in progress with the awards ceremony to take place at the end of June. Fingers crossed for the win!

A strong sense of community spirit runs through the business

heart of Catch 2o2. They employ local people and do things like support the local junior football team with prizes for Player of the Match etc. Like the community they serve, Catch 2o2 are also feeling the pain of price rises in gas, electric, fuel and products. “There are no caps in place for business utility prices so we’ve seen our bills skyrocket. We don’t feel that raising our prices in response can be

the only answer - that isn’t good for our customers’ pocket and therefore ultimately it won’t be good for us”, said owner Janine. “We haven’t been able to totally avoid price increases but we do try to find a bit of balance in how we address it. We’re very open with our staff about what we’re trying to do and together we have looked at daily processes.

They’ve had some great ideas that have been very

successful in reducing our running costs. In turn this has meant we’ve been able to hold back on increasing our prices to the levels some others have - we’re a long, LONG way off yet in charging £20 for a fish supper!” - an exaggerated headline from news reports earlier in the year. “Aye,” laughs Jason “We’re still making a profit but we’re never going to be rich.

However, they way we look at it is that we now have more time for family than we did when we worked for others and you can’t put a monetary value on the work/life balance we have at the moment.”

Of course the same award winning high standards are still maintained throughout.

Says Janine “We cook all our food fresh to order. We use 3 different thicknesses of batter to ensure a light crispy coating. We make our own chicken burgers and goujons with a light spicing for added flavour.”

Open from 12pm to 8pm Tuesday to Saturday Catch 2o2 cannot be found on the Just Eat platform, but you can order a delivery or collection over the phone, through their Facebook page or via their online app, https://catch202. touchtakeaway.net/menu.

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Belfast City Airport Charity Partnership with AWARE Belfast City Airport’s charity partnership with AWARE got off to a flying start, with staff members from the airport participating in the Belfast City Marathon.

A group of 17 staff from Belfast City Airport, including Airport Fire Service and Senior Management participated with several staff members running the full 26.2 miles.

Paula Bittles, from Belfast City Airport, said: “We launched our charity partnership with AWARE in February, with the aim of generating awareness of the often lifesaving work it does for people struggling with mental

health issues, as well as raising money to help implement the charity’s programmes across Belfast and beyond.

“The team here at Belfast City Airport is always keen to get involved in community projects and regularly supports our charity initiatives, so it’s brilliant to see so many participate in the marathon and really champion our first fundraiser for AWARE.” Lisa Abell-Farrelly at AWARE NI, which

hosts support groups for people affected by depression, anxiety and bi-polar disorder, as well as delivering education programmes in schools and businesses, said: “Poor mental health can affect anyone, and at AWARE, our vision is to build a future where people can talk openly about their mental health, access the services they need, and have the skills and knowledge to maintain positive mental health.

“With the help of

organisations like Belfast City Airport, we can realise this vision, and continue to deliver our training programmes, support groups and mental health services across Northern Ireland”.

AWARE is the only charity working exclusively for people with depression and bipolar disorder. If you would like to support it in continuing to deliver important services to people across Northern Ireland, you can make a donation today.

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EASTSIDE AWARDS CELEBRATING THE BEST OF EAST BELFAST

The much anticipated Eastside Awards in association with George Best Belfast City Airport, celebrating all that is good about East Belfast, returned after a year’s absence with winners being recognised in 16 sought after categories.

The sense of celebration was almost palpable as sponsors joined with finalists and their guests at the glittering awards ceremony, hosted by television presenter Tara Mills, in Hastings Stormont Hotel.

Emotionally charged, the evening climaxed with the announcement that Eileen Kerr of Care Counselling would receive the coveted Outstanding Contribution Award sponsored by East Belfast Enterprise.

Eileen’s counselling

service has been vital in East Belfast as she has helped men who faced a difficult upbringing, young people uncertain of the future, women who have lost a baby and cancer nurses stretched to their limit. She has worked with

ex-paramilitary men who thought they were sinners beyond forgiveness to clergy who were doubting themselves, members of the LGBTQA+ community, people who have faced abuse and people who felt they could no longer go on. Eileen has been there for all of them, supporting her clients no matter their background or the shape of their journey.

She has laughed with them and cried with them, supporting them to realise their full potential.

There was double delight for Pacem as the accountancy firm took the titles of The 2021 Eastside Award for Business Growth sponsored by Kainos and The 2021 Eastside

Award for Employer of the Year sponsored by Fleet Financial. Pacem previously won the title of Eastside Awards Employer of the Year in 2020. There was a double celebration too for LaVeau Hair being named Favourite Hairdresser for the second time, having won the category previously in 2019.

Eastside Awards in Association with George Best Belfast City Airport winners are: The 2021 Eastside Award for Favourite Teacher in East Belfast sponsored

by The Open University: Mrs Compton, McArthur Nursery The 2021 Eastside Award for Favourite Beauty Business in East Belfast sponsored by We’resure Insurance Services: Nails

by Lauren Ralph The 2021 Eastside Award for Favourite Takeaway in East Belfast sponsored by Belfast Live: Fryar Tuck, Bloomfield Road The 2021 Eastside Award for Favourite Hairdresser/ Barber in East Belfast sponsored by Wolseley Plumb & Parts Center: LaVeau Hair The 2021 Eastside Award for Favourite Eatery (Café/ Restaurant) in East Belfast sponsored by Solv Group: Dock Café The 2021 Eastside Award for Business Start-Up sponsored by Belfast City Council: Refresh Property Solutions Ltd

The 2021 Eastside Award for Business Growth sponsored by Kainos: Pacem The 2021 Eastside Award for Excellence in Health & Wellbeing sponsored by Millar McCall Wylie: East Belfast Community Development Agency Health Staff The 2021 Eastside Award for Sports Initiative of the Year sponsored

by GLL: Glentoran FC / Ashfield Boys’ Academy The 2021 Eastside Award for Contribution to the Arts sponsored by Phoenix Natural Gas: Ballymac Friendship Trust The 2021 Eastside Award for Employer of the Year sponsored by Fleet Financial: Pacem The 2021 Eastside Award for Tourism Experience sponsored

by EastSide Partnership: Maritime Belfast Trust The 2021 Eastside Award for Community Impact sponsored by Belfast Harbour: Ashfield

Girls’ High School The 2021 Eastside Award for Volunteer of the Year sponsored by East Belfast Mission: Angelike Dzenite The 2021 Eastside Award for Young Person of the Year sponsored by George Best Belfast City Airport: Gareth Wright The 2021 Eastside Award for Outstanding Contribution sponsored by East Belfast Enterprise: Eileen Kerr Stephen Patton, Human Resources and CR Manager at George Best Belfast City Airport, said: “This is the sixth year Belfast City Airport has had the pleasure of partnering with the Eastside Awards to celebrate the very best of this fabulous place we call home.

“Despite a challenging couple of years, spirit and hope have prevailed within our community and we have witnessed phenomenal efforts by businesses, charities,

community groups, and individuals, both old and young, towards making East Belfast a great place to live, work, and play.

“The bar was once again raised in terms of the calibre of finalists in this year’s awards and I would like to not only congratulate each and every nominee but sincerely thank them for their invaluable contributions to our community.”

Jonathan McAlpin, Chief Executive of East Belfast Enterprise and Chair of Eastside Awards Committee, said: “The Eastside Awards has truly established itself in celebrating all that is good about East Belfast and, in this our sixth year, I’m honoured and humbled in congratulating those who have achieved magnificent success within our community in this past year. Since our last in person awards ceremony just before the pandemic began, to recognising our heroes virtually last year with our film ‘East Belfast Our Story 2020’ and having the joy of meeting again this year to recognise 16 wonderful winners, I am filled with immense pride at how the people of East Belfast are recovering from the impact that COVID-19 has had on our community groups, our businesses, our sports initiatives and our people, both young and old. The 2021 Eastside Awards has been a truly memorable occasion and I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate every one of our award winners.”

Eastside Awards finalists were treated to a VIP reception courtesy of sponsor Belfast 1912 Gin and entertainment was sponsored by The Urban Villages Initiative.

The Eastside Advertiser is published by EDA Media, No 14 Windmill Business Park, 19A-31 Windmill Road, Saintfield. BT24 7DX - This Paper and its contents are copyright and no part may be reproduced without the prior permission of the publisher. 15000 copies with Royal Mail, TDNI and a network of shops. All Calls are recorded for training, quality and control purposes. Tel: 02897 511002 - Fax 02897 511008 - Email: info@edamedia.co.uk - Visit: www.edamedia.co.uk. Visit The Eastside Advertiser Facebook page for our Digital Issue.

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Top Achievers

UPS - the largest independent Estate Agency network in Northern Ireland UPS - the largest independent Estate Agency network in Northern Ireland

The dedicated, experienced, professional and long-serving staff at each branch is always on hand to offer the very best of real estate expertise for both buyers and vendors. Real people offering real advice: the expert team at UPS helps buyers to not only find their dream home but also to feel confident with their choice. Similarly, the team helps vendors to obtain the maximum possible exposure of their property to potential buyers, which will be reflected in the price

achieved.

Situated in the flourishing Ballyhackamore Village area of East Belfast, our Ballyhackmore branch offers a range of local experience and knowledge of the area.

With property to appeal to all, whether you are taking your first step on the ladder or are looking for a large family home, UPS Ballyhackamore can supply you with all the support and advice you need.

To find out what your house is really worth,

book in for a free valuation by calling us on 028 9047 1515 or

by filling in the simple free valuations form on our website www.

ulsterpropertysales.co.uk and we will be in touch as soon as possible!

Local Family firm Kenco Spares the name for Domestic Appliance parts and sales Kenco Spares is a family run business, established since 1960 under management of third generation Kinnear.

We have always been in the East Belfast area, with the first shop off the Newtownards road and now our latest premises on Prince Regent Road off Castlereagh Road.

Our primary objective is the supply of spare parts for domestic appliances, consequently promoting sustainability and brands whose ethics are the same.

In the case that an economic repair is no longer an option we can also advise and provide a customer with an extensive range of quality appliances from various brands.

We are an exclusive spare parts supplier for brand leader Miele in the UK and Ireland, as well as stockist for their appliances.

Kenco also stock spares parts and appliances for other leading brands such as Dyson, Kenwood,

Last photo of the three generations of Kinnears in 1995. L-R Gerald, Kenneth Snr, Kenneth Jnr and Michael (Current Managing Director)

Delonghi and many more.

We are currently running promotions in store and online on vacuum cleaners, washing machines and dishwashers.

In addition we also offer repair services on smaller household appliances such as vacuum cleaners, coffee machines, etc.

Kenco Spares is at Unit

3, 16 Prince Regent Road, Castlereagh, Belfast BT5 6QR Tel: 028 9070 1600 Website: www. kencospares.com

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ARDBRIN LANDSCAPING

The word “Garden” can be polarising to many people. For some it can be their peaceful, tranquil, haven, somewhere they want to spend hours of their time. While for others the very thought of the word brings thoughts of too much hard work, dirty hands and feet or simply the fear of doing the wrong thing.

At Ardbrin we put the emphasis on you.

• Your needs • Your hopes • Your dreams for your outdoor space and ultimately what you’d like it to become.

• We listen, we suggest, then we design, with you in mind.

At this point you will have an idea what your garden can or will become. The design can be discussed further and tweaked so that we get it just right.

When you choose to proceed the work can be done in stages or as one project. We will work to your budget and can provide guidance and help along the way to make

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it possible for you.

We provide all types of landscaping hard and soft. We can provide tarmac or SMA surfacing, Paving in Porcelain, Sandstone, Limestone, Granite and concrete products.

We can source and supply any type of tree, plant or shrub to your garden. Using suppliers directly in the UK, Europe and New Zealand.

We also supply and lay artificial grass.

To complete the transformation we partner with our own recommended electrician who can provide feature remote controlled lighting and power sockets so that your garden can

Ardbrin Landscaping undertakes both soft and hard landscaping work including tarmac surfacing

be enjoyed even in the darkest of nights.

After your garden has been transformed we offer a maintenance service as frequently as you require it, to help maintain the high standard we will give it to you in. Creating this outdoor space will enhance your

home and give you something to live in and enjoy for years to come.

If this service is something you require please contact us by whatever means suits you best.

For more i n f o r m a t i o n : 07974560402

Queen’s Students Battle It Out to Win £20,000 in the QUB Dragons’ Den Queen’s Students’ Union recently held its QUB Dragons’ Den competition final in the historic Ormeau Baths, where three students bagged a share of the £20k prize pot.

The annual competition, now in its seventh year, is one of the many initiatives run by the Queen’s Students’ Union’s Enterprise SU Team to: foster student entrepreneurship within Queen’s University Belfast; provide students with specialist training and mentorship; and help them to launch their own businesses.

The QUB Dragons’ Den competition, sponsored by MCS Group, QUBIS, Santander Universities, Tughans Solicitors, and the Engineers in Business Fund, came to an electrifying close when 12 competitors braved the Den to pitch their business ideas to a panel of expert judges.

Final year Mechanical Engineering student, Peter Gillan, from Ballymena, Co. Antrim, was crowned the Overall Winner and awarded £10,000 for his business, ‘Atlas Smart Tech’, which aims to transform the fitness industry with a smart adjustable dumbbell.

Peter said, “QUB Dragons’ Den has proven invaluable to our business … The funding and mentoring will allow us to commercialise the SmartBell. Thanks to it, we can stay on track with our plan to launch this summer.”

First year Finance student, Rory M c L a u g h l a n , from Bangor, Co. Down, was awarded

£5,000 for his business, ‘Shirt in a Box’, a mystery football shirt company which he set up in 2021.

Third year Computer Science student, Aaron Martin, from Belfast, was also awarded £5,000 for his business ‘Develamo’, a collaboration and social hub for developers.

Lindsey McArthur from sponsor Santander said, “As always, the standard of the student pitches was extremely impressive, and it was great to see such a diverse range of businesses!”

Judge Kirsty Dillon from MCS said, the QUB Dragons’ Den competition was “a fantastic experience for all involved [and

provided] emerging talent the opportunity to showcase their unique ideas and innovative solutions supported by the great guidance from the [Enterprise SU] Team.”

Francesca Morelli, of Queen’s Students’ Union said, “Thanks to all the talented students who took part this year and congratulations on their innovative and intelligent concepts. The Enterprise SU Team is also grateful of the Competition’s generous sponsors and mentors for their continued support.”

For further information regarding the Queen’s Students’ Union’s Enterprise SU team, visit www.qubsu.org/ EnterpriseSU

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VAUXHALL CORSA NAMED ‘BEST FLEET SUPERMINI’ AT 2022 FLEET WORLD ‘GREAT BRITISH FLEET AWARDS’

Vauxhall is celebrating another successful year at the Fleet World ‘Great British Fleet Awards’, after the Corsa was named ‘Best Fleet Supermini’ for the second consecutive time.

The fifth-generation Vauxhall Corsa was the UK’s best-selling car in 2021, with more than 40,000 models sold. It is available with a choice of efficient petrol and diesel engines or as the fully electric Corsa-e, which was highly commended in the ‘Best EV Supermini’ category.

The zero emissions-in-use Corsa-e features a 50kWh battery that allows it to travel up to 222 miles on a single charge under WLTP testing. Supporting up to 100kW rapid charging, an 80% charge takes just 30 minutes. Vauxhall enjoyed further success in the ‘Best Upper Medium Fleet Car’ category, where the Insignia was highly commended.

With up to 61.4mpg and CO2 emissions as low as 120g/km, the Insignia is an ideal choice for fleet operators looking for an efficient and economical vehicle.

John Challen, Editor, Fleet World, said: “The Vauxhall Corsa continues to impress with low running costs, refinement and a driverfocused interior. It’s not surprising that it’s the UK’s best-selling passenger car!”

Paul Willcox, Managing Director, Vauxhall, said: “It’s fantastic for the Corsa to be recognised

for the second year in a row by Fleet World as the Best Fleet Supermini.

With low running costs, an impressive technology offering and range of advanced powertrains, including the fully-electric Corsa-e, the Corsa is perfectly suited to fleet operators looking for a highly capable and affordable vehicle.”

The Fleet World Great British Fleet Awards were announced recently at a ceremony in London. Fleet World’s Awards have been running for nearly 25 years, celebrating the very best products and developments within the fleet industry.

For more information about the award-winning Corsa, please visit www. ballyrobertvauxhall.co.uk

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20 high quality training places on PwC Professional Services Assured Skills Academy Economy Minister Gordon Lyons has welcomed the sixth PwC Professional Services Assured Skills Academy offering the opportunity for 20 individuals to kick start a career in professional services This exciting opportunity is open to people with a 2:2 degree in any discipline, as well those with a Level 5 qualification (HND or Foundation Degree) who have some experience in an office, banking or professional environment.

Successful Academy participants will be part of Operate, PwC’s operational delivery business providing futurefocused solutions to challenging operational issues.

Funded by the Department for the Economy, this PwC Professional Services Assured Skills Academy will see participants receive eight weeks industry-relevant preemployment training delivered by Belfast Met. Course content will cover areas including: project management, business analysis, commercial awareness, financial accounting, Microsoft and Google tools, data visualisation

and design thinking.

Deborah Stevenson, Operate Director at PwC, said: “Investing in people is at the heart of everything we do, which is why we are delighted to once again support the Professional Services Assured Skills Academies at Belfast Metropolitan College.

These Assured Skills Academies have allowed us to not only invest in numerous talented people over the years, but have also been a great way for

us as a business to give back to the local economy by providing roles to participants following the Academy. Those taking part in the Academies will gain access to exceptional training across a range of skills and areas that are relevant in today’s world, with practical application and insight into working with PwC.” Applications for the PwC Professional Services Academy are open now and will close on 5 June 2002.

Training will be a blend of onsite and online learning and successful applicants will require appropriate IT access in order to link to the online tuition.

Video interviews will be held on 14, 15 and 16 June 2022 and training will commence for successful applicants on Monday 4 July 2022.

For more information and to apply visit: www. nidirect.gov.uk/articles/ assured-skills-trainingprogramme

Beginning the journey to excellence at Methodist College Preparatory Department

Downey House; Belfast’s finest prep school, part of Methodist College Belfast, is a non-denominational and co-educational school; we excel at providing a diverse and inclusive learning environment.

At Downey House we inspire our children to learn, and our outstanding teaching staff are able to do this in the welcoming, caring and friendly atmosphere that exists in our school.

Our staff are committed to ensuring each child thrives in a positive educational environment.

Downey House is set in a 40 acre site so the children have amazing green space to play in.

Our small class sizes ensure that the children receive quality time with their teacher and are

known well by all the staff, fostering confident and supportive relationships.

At Downey House and Fullerton House the children have access to a range of added value opportunities provided by our exceptional specialist teaching staff.

We are exceptionally proud of our happy, bright, confident children who move onto secondary education confident in their abilities and skills.

We are very proud of our pupils’ achievements this year where our average AQE score was 111.2 and 48% of

Downey House is set in 40 acres of green space.

pupils scored above 114.

We still have a few remaining places for

September 2022 and would welcome prospective parents to come and see the

school first hand. Contact us to arrange a visit: www. downeyhouseprep.org

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Habits of successful people

Building wealth takes years of smart decisions but research also shows that many maintain certain lifestyle habits.

They are (nearly always) early risers Nearly 50 percent of the self-made millionaires in the research got out of bed at least three hours before their workday actually started. The time was used to to tackle personal projects, plan their day, or make time for exercise.

They are extremely well read 88 percent said that they devote 30 minutes or more each day to education or selfimprovement through reading.

Reading material included biographies, history, and self-help books.

They make exercise a priority Working out regularly clears your head and makes you feel more They spend time with people who inspire them “You are only as successful as those you

frequently associate with,” Corley says.

If you don’t have highly-motivated people in your personal network yet, fear not.

Self-made millionaires volunteer, which is a great way to meet other positive, motivated individuals. You could also join groups for people who share your same career or personal interests, Corley suggests. Then develop the relationship by keeping in touch.

And be choosy about who you spend your time with. ”[Successful people] also make a point to limit their exposure to toxic, negative people,” says Corley.

They set, pursue monitor and achieve their own goals Most self-made millionaires plan to get rich and then make it happen. They refer to both daily and longterm goals regularly.

They get enough sleep Albert Einstein reportedly preferred to get at least ten hours of sleep a night.

They have multiple incomes Sixty-five percent had at least three streams of income that they

created prior to making their first million dollars such as a sidebusiness or income generating investments.

Diversifying sources of income allows you to weather the economic downturns that inevitably occur.

They avoid

time-wasters Money isn’t the only important resource for wealthy people. Time is crucial too. Be choosy about the apps you spend your time with, too, instead of spending hours on end watching Netflix or scrolling through Instagram.

Do your family and friends a favour! Tell them about Direct Glasgow Express Coach Service!

HANNON Coach offers a hugely popular Belfast – Glasgow Express Coach Service rated 5-Star on TripAdvisor.

Glasgow has always been a great destination and popular with local travellers but with the current restrictions and uncertainties around overseas travel the £39 each way luxury coach service operating twice each way, every day has pushed it up the list of best value staycation breaks for local travellers.

With a simple flat fare of £39 which includes the cost of the ferry and a very generous baggage allowance the Belfast – Glasgow Express offers a really attractive, flexible and low-cost alternative to flying.

The perfect option for students or anyone visiting Scotland.

The service is operated by Hannon Coach and leaves twice a day from Belfast City Hall and drops visitors right in the heart of Glasgow’s ‘Style Mile’.

The simple flat fare allows

passengers to pick and mix dates and times of travel to suit and with no luggage charges it all adds up to a great option for travel.

Company director Aodh Hannon claims that the service has attracted a lot of customers who might previously have flown and believes that people will respond well to the relaunch and the ability to travel ‘overseas’ without flying.

“People have responded really well to the service and love the fact that it’s so hassle-free compared to flying and with no extra charge for luggage it is a massive help with keeping the cost of a break down.

It’s been a long year and people have really missed visiting loved ones and are desperate to get to see their family and friends in and around Glasgow.” said Mr

Hannon The service can be booked online at www. hannoncoach.com up to 1 hour before departure over by phone using the very friendly telephone booking service.

Call 028 9265 0700 (Mon – Fri) or visit www.hannoncoach.com

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ID. BUZZ CROWNED ELECTRIC CAR OF THE YEAR AT THE TOP GEAR ELECTRIC AWARDS 2022

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The new Volkswagen ID. Buzz has been crowned Electric Car of the Year at the prestigious Top Gear Electric Awards 2022.

Judges praised the ID. Buzz which goes on sale later this year for its iconic style, which pays homage to the original Volkswagen T1’s design.

High quality and responsive driving capabilities were also highlighted as impressive elements of the vehicle.

The ID. Buzz was said to be ideal for those with an active lifestyle, with a plethora of space inside, especially the boot capacity which is double the size of that found in a standard SUV. Ollie Marriage, Head of Car Testing at Top Gear, said: “People who pretend to have an active lifestyle

drive an SUV, those who actually do drive a VW van. Everyone we met loved that VW has rediscovered its mojo and found the Buzz breezy, fresh, and invigorating.

Isn’t it great that VW has finally had the courage to reinvent the original?

It’s beguilingly simple and yet entirely uplifting.

And that’s why it’s our electric car of the year.”

The ID. Buzz is Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles’ first all-electric vehicle. Built on the Modular Electric Drive Kit (MEB) platform, the ID. Buzz has been built from the ground up with electrification

using sustainable components: battery housings and wheel rims are made from green aluminium and tyres from low-emission production.

The manufacturing and shipping of the ID. Buzz has a carbon neutral footprint, too.

Cian O’Brien, Director of V o l k s w a g e n Commercial Vehicles, said: “As a brand, we are on an important electrification journey, and the long-awaited ID. Buzz marks the start of this exciting in mind. It will be available at launch as a five-seat passenger car or in van form as the ID. Buzz

Cargo.

Sustainability is a core part the new ID. Buzz, with a recycled synthetic material and

leather-free interior in addition to the allelectric powertrain.

The ID. Buzz is manufactured

Toyota Yaris Cross named 2022 World Urban Car

The Toyota Yaris Cross has been named 2022 World Urban Car in the World Car Awards, selected by a jury of 102 automotive journalists from 33 countries. innovation that includes originating the now core market segment for recreational SUVs with the first RAV4 more than 25 years ago.

Developed under the theme of “Always on the Move,” Yaris Cross is perfectly suited to dayCommenting on the award win, Takatomo Suzuki, Chief Engineer of the Toyota Compact Car Company at Toyota Motor Corporation, said: “We are honoured to be awarded ‘World Urban Car’. Our foundation has always been to make good compact cars, and this philosophy guided us to develop Yaris Cross as a compact car with a spacious cargo area and utility, as well as sufficient power and fuel economy. This award will motivate us as we continue to develop highquality cars that can meet our customers’ needs and promote environmentally efficient vehicles that can help reduce CO2 emissions.”

Launched in 2021, the Toyota Yaris Cross brings

together Toyota’s rich experience and know-how in small car and SUV design and engineering, developed for Europe and specifically with European customers in mind.

It follows in the footsteps of Yaris, which was named Car of the Year in Europe in 2021. It carries forward the key qualities of its sister urban hatchback model, such as the “BigSmall” packaging that maximises interior space and practicality, fourth generation hybrid electric power, the highest safety standards with second generation Toyota Safety Sense and a genuine fun-todrive character.

These attributes are combined with authentic SUV features, founded on a Toyota heritage of

to-day use, but with an adventurous aspect that’s fundamental to a successful SUV. The design presents a stylish, urban look for a car that owners can feel proud to be seen in, blending the robust qualities of an SUV with more advanced dynamic driving appeal. It

is built on the Toyota GA-B small car platform which gives it the basic dynamic strengths that have also been so successfully delivered in the new Yaris.

For more information on the Toyota Yaris Cross, please visit www.toyota. co.uk

experience.

Being able to launch a car that is cool in design, with sustainability at the heart of its creation, is a great way to show our customers that you can still do all the things you enjoy and travel wherever you want, while also having a positive impact on the environment.

There are few better ways to celebrate this ahead of the car’s UK launch than with the highly prestigious Electric Car of the Year award from Top Gear.”

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Plan an En Suite Bathroom

If space is tight but you still want to squeeze in the tiniest of en suites, here’s how to make it feel bigger than it is.

Walls That Aren’t Walls Solid walls in a tiny en suite make it feel smaller and more claustrophobic, but the sliding, frosted glass panels shown above are a brilliant solution

- they let in light when they’re shut, making the room feel bigger, and can be opened right back to show the room off when not in use.

Walls That Stretch

Space You’ll need at least one solid wall for privacy. If your room is minuscule, cover it with a reflective surface like glass, or bright white or pale

tiles. Large tiles make a small space seem bigger, but conversely, so do very small ones, such as mosaics.

One Floor Is More Keep the same

bathroom flooring throughout. Failing that, fit a low shower tray and choose matching flooring. Trays come in all sorts of materials, such as slate, wood and Corian.

Eyes Up The taller the ceiling, the more enclosed the space will feel, so consider lowering your en suite’s ceiling. Ask the advice of your builder and perhaps experiment with white sheets pinned to the walls. Another must in a small space is good bathroom lighting,

so have halogen spots installed - they mimic daylight and will instantly make the room seem larger. Ensure you get lighting that conforms to current building regs for shower rooms.

Open Up Your Storage In the tightest of spaces, open shelves are much more practical because you don’t have to factor in space for opening doors and drawers. Have yours built under a vanity unit has a good range of off-the-shelf ones) to create more storage around the basin, too.

Match In & Out Choose a glazed shower panel that matches the sliding door panels to let more natural light

into the shower cubicle.

Similar glazed panels can be created by a glazier to your measurements and design.

Issue 55 - Support Local

Eastside Advertiser

Page 23

Tradespeople: Who does what?

If you’re thinking of taking time off to manage your own project, the best bit of background research is to learn as much about the work of the specialist trades as possible. You need to understand the methods and materials used by each trade so that you can pick up any problems at an early stage. Here’s a basic guide to who does what on site.

Groundworkers Groundworkers often work in gangs run by a foreman. They will do the hardest physical work on a site - such as the digging out of the ground for the foundations.

They will also be the group to call on for the drainage channels, trenches for utility supply pipes/wires and the ground preparation for hard landscaping and driveways.

Bricklayers On the majority of UK homes, the

brickie follows hot on the heels of the groundworks team.

If you’re building with SIPs (Structural Insulated Panels) or a timber frame, the shell of the building will be put up first and then the brickie will clad the exterior with brick.

Carpenters As timber frame building begins to gain ground on brick, the role of a good carpenter is becoming more important on many sites.

The carpentry team

battening ready for the fitting of the roof tiles or similar.

As a rule of thumb, the roofer will be responsible for everything on the roof (except chimneys), from the outer surface of the roof trusses outwards.

Electricians Leave anything with wires to the electrician, as all the work should be certified and this can only be done by a qualified electrician.

Timing

will be responsible for the building of suspended timber floors and either the installation of factorymade roof trusses or constructing a handcut roof-frame. They will work with the bricklayer on the installation of the doors and windows.

Roofers Once the timber roof structure is complete, the roofer will be responsible for covering the surface with the appropriate membrane and

Conservatories

If you’re looking for more space, a play area for your children, somewhere to put your dining table or an indoor area from which to enjoy your garden, a conservatory may be just what you’re looking for.

Adding a conservatory to your home can also be a relatively low cost, hassle-free way to extend your living area and can reap a good return in terms of adding value to your home. There are a number of things you need to think about when you’re planning your conservatory.

For a start, give careful thought to how the conservatory will alter the look of

your house. Do you want an Edwardian or Victorian style conservatory, or would something more contemporary be more fitting as an addition to your home?

There are a lot of conservatory companies on the market, so do ask friends and neighbours for referrals.

When deciding which company to employ, make sure you’re happy with

guarantees, costs, timescales and aftersales service levels.

Equally, if you’re planning on building it yourself, check out all the DIY options as there is a vast range of self-build products available.

Most importantly, be realistic about your DIY ability – it can be an expensive option to employ professional help to finish what you’ve started.

Finally, don’t forget to factor into your budget the cost of furnishing it once it’s built!

Remember: • Do your homework – make sure you’re completely happy with the style of conservatory you choose, the company building it, or your chosen DIY option.

• Check with your local planning authority and building control department that you can build without special permission.

• Think about how you’ll finance your project and remember you’ll need to buy blinds and furnishings once it’s finished.

of the electrical work can be crucial as these are some of the most highly-paid and difficult to find tradespeople.

Plumbers Plumbers will lay the pipework for your water supply and install central heating systems. They will connect up the sanitaryware that you supply but don’t normally get involved in building wet rooms or the constructional side of bathroom or kitchens

Patio Design Ideas Patios have become an essential ingredient in any garden, providing a place to entertain, dine and relax. They often form the transitional area between house and garden, so should be hard wearing, attractive and use sympathetic materials that will blend with their surroundings.

Three things you should consider when choosing what material to use are its appearance, whether it will be a practical choice of surface and the cost.

The appearance of the finished patio is often the first priority for many people. There are many choices of material available now, including natural stone flags, manmade slabs, slate paving, bricks, crazy paving, concrete paving and granite setts.

All of these are also available in a wide variety of colours and surface finishes too, making the choice even more difficult! But try to

choose materials that will complement the style and age of your house. Often, a combination of two materials can look great.

The surface must be a practical choice, a textured finish would be sensible if children or the elderly often use the garden, or if the patio is in a shady spot, especially under trees.

Uneven edges may be considered hazardous and crazy paving or natural stone is often un-predictable, with an uneven surface.

How much your patio will cost to install depends on many factors.

You will always have to

prepare a base for any product, and this cost will remain constant.

The price of each unit of paving will vary according to the quality of the product.

Natural stone is the most hard-wearing

and will look good the longest, so will be most expensive, whereas your local DIY supplier may have cheap pre-cast concrete slabs, but they may break easily when laying and colours will fade with time