Eastside Advertiser 67

Issue 67 - Belfast BT4 • BT5 • BT16

Let’s Glow!

The Belfast Christmas Lights are on!

The Lord Mayor of Belfast lit up the city for the Christmas season recently and was joined by an array of talented local performers on stage at Belfast City Hall.

Belfast is set to be a host city for UEFA EURO 2028 after the UK and Ireland recently won the right to stage the tournament. Those celebrating the announcement include Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Ryan Murphy; Irish FA Chief Executive Patrick Nelson, Ulster GAA CEO, Brian McAvoy and Head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service, Jayne Brad.

Belfast set to be UEFA Euro 2028 host city!

Belfast is set to be a host city for UEFA EURO 2028 after the UK and Ireland recently won the right to stage the tournament.

Bringing one of the world’s biggest sporting events to Northern Ireland, and delivering impactful and lasting sporting, cultural and economic benefits, Casement Park, Belfast, is set to be one of 10 host stadia across the UK and Ireland.

The news follows the pioneering joint bid to host UEFA EURO 2028 submitted by the Irish

Football Association, the Football Association of Ireland, the Scottish Football Association, the Football Association of Wales and the Football Association being accepted by UEFA following a bid presentation at its headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.

Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Ryan Murphy, said: “I

am hugely proud that Belfast will take its place alongside other iconic host cities across these islands to welcome fans from Europe and beyond for UEFA EURO 2028.

“The inclusion of Belfast in the successful UK and Ireland bid to host UEFA EURO 2028 is testament to our city’s rich and diverse tourism and culture

offering, coupled with our proven expertise and track record of success in hosting world class major events. I know we will deliver a fantastic visitor experience, creating lifelong memories, and I am excited at what the future holds for our wonderful city.”

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Cool FM’s Pete, Paulo and Rebecca brought plenty of energy and that magic Christmas touch to the festivities on stage. The evening Celebrated Belfast’s status as a UNESCO City of Music, and everyone got moving to the beats with leading NI soul band Manukahunney and emerging electro pop queen FYA Fox. Lyric Theatre introduced Hansel and Gretel, giving a flavour of their spectacular Christmas adventure full of heart, for all the family.

DU Dance (NI)’s youth dance group, Belfast Boys performed

an upbeat routine guaranteed to warm the crowd and get everyone moving. A singalong medley of popular Christmas songs from Fortwilliam Musical Society spread some Christmas cheer.

The celebrations will continue with activities in 2 Royal Avenue’s https://www. belfastcity.gov.uk/Events/ Winter-s-Den every day during the Christmas season.

There are plenty of other Christmas activities taking place across the city this festive season. Go to our events page www.belfastcity. gov.uk/eventsfor more information.

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Your Community News – Got a story? Call 02897 511002 or email editorial@edamedia.co.uk

BELFAST RESIDENTS ARE THE NOISIEST IN THE COUNTRY

New government data analysed by CompareNI.com has shown 11,338 noise complaints in Northern Ireland this year.

This report analyses noise complaints received by all 11 councils between 1 April 2022 and 31 March 2023.* During this period 11,338 noise complaints were received in Northern Ireland. This is a 14.5% decrease in the total number of complaints received compared to the previous year, which was 13,261.

The statistics showed that 77% of noise complaints were made for domestic noise with 8739 complaints received. Domestic noise includes music, televisions, parties, house alarms and animal noise.

Anti-social behaviour saw the largest decrease for noise complaints since the previous year, dropping 40% from 302 complaints to 182.

Belfast had the highest rate of complaints by far than any other council area, with 17 complaints per 1000 people and a total of 5,705 complaints altogether.

Antrim and Newtownabbey had the next highest rate of complaints, with 6 complaints per 1000 people and a total of 821 complaints.

Newry, Mourne and Down and Fermanagh and Omagh had the lowest rate of complaints with 2 per 1000

people and a total of 391 and 282 respectively.

Other complaints were rarer than others, with a total of 5 complaints made for ice cream van chimes and 6 made for noisy wind farms.

The council have a series of measures to deal with noise complaints if the warning notice is ignored, such as a fixed penalty notice of £110, if not paid within 14 days the person can be prosecuted – if convicted they could receive a fine of up to £1000.**

Issue 67 - Support Local

Air Ambulance appeals for the gift of life this Christmas

With just weeks to Christmas, Air Ambulance NI is highlighting the fact that the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service team will be on duty on Christmas day, and every day of the year, there for us all should the worst happen.

During the month of December, the medics anticipate being called upon on over 60 occasions.

Glenn O’Rorke, Operational Lead of HEMS said, “As we come into the winter season the profile of missions starts to reflect the time of year and people’s activity.

For example, we may be called out to less sporting accidents at this time of year but more road traffic collisions.

Whatever has caused the critical emergency situation, our commitment to the public is to be there, day in, day out to look after the people of Northern Ireland. The doctors, paramedics and medical equipment is the provision and governance of the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS), but it’s never taken for granted by our team the support from the public that enables us to fly to the sickest people who need us, on average twice per day.”

Kerry Anderson, Head of Fundraising said, “When most of us will be off work and enjoying time with family and friends, the air ambulance service will continue. You can play your part by donating,

attending our Santa abseil on 10th December, skydive on a date of your choosing, or subscribe a loved one to our charity membership, ‘Club AANI’.

Alternatively, you could stock up on merchandise items as Christmas stocking fillers https://airambulanceni.org/ shop/.

If you would rather host your own event with family or work colleagues, simple options include a Christmas Jumper Day, or coffee morning. There’s a way for everyone to get involved, check out our festive fundraising ideas here https:// airambulanceni.org/ festive-fundraising/ and give the gift of life this Christmas.”

The Santa abseil is at Belfast Castle and will involve 40 people donning their Christmas jumper or Santa suit and abseiling 100ft down the castle tower, whilst enjoying views over Belfast.

Registration is £40 with a fundraising target of £100. Sign up here https:// airambulanceni.org/ santa-abseil-2/ For an even greater adrenalin rush, consider a Santa Skydive jumping

out of a plane at 15,000ft!

During this extreme and exhilarating challenge you will freefall at 120mph before the parachute is deployed and you gently descend for a soft touchdown.

You can register for £99 at https:// airambulanceni.org/ upcoming-events/ and will need to raise a minimum of £550.

The HEMS has been operational for 6 years and

during that time has been called out on almost 4,000 occasions. It is provided by way of a partnership between the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service and the charity, Air Ambulance NI. Each day the charity needs to raise almost £7,000 to sustain and develop the service.

You can contact the charity directly on 028 9262 2677 or by email on info@ airambulanceni.org

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Hundreds of families light up the night for autism

Stormont Estate was glowing bright recently as hundreds of families got together and took part in Autism NI’s annual Glow Walk event.

Families took part in a dance warm-up with Fitness Freddy and fun and games from the U105 crew, before embarking on a ‘glow in the dark’ walk up the iconic Prince of Wales Avenue.

Autism NI’s CEO Kerry Boyd said: “It was fantastic to get together with so many families at our sixth consecutive Glow Walk, to shine a bright light on autism acceptance within the wider community. This event was even bigger and better than last year,

and it was great to see all the families have fun and dress in their brightest neon gear and glow sticks.

Fundraising events like this are vital in the work Autism NI carries out and helps the charity provide life-changing services. All funds raised go towards the running of Autism NI’s invaluable Helpline service which supports over 7,500 people in Northern Ireland every year.”

Autism NI supports over 35,000 autistic people and their families

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successful bid to host UEFA EURO 2028 alongside our counterparts across the UK and Ireland.

“Together, our vision is to stage the greatest ever UEFA EURO

Irish FA Chief Executive Patrick Nelson said: “The Irish Football Association is delighted to be part of the

across Northern Ireland and campaigns to raise awareness of autism in the wider society.

For further information on Autism NI please visit www.autismni.org or call 028 9040 1729.

tournament, an event that unites and inspires everyone – delivering football for all, football for good, football for the future.

“We will make fans very welcome here in Northern Ireland and our role in this tournament will remind the world what a great city Belfast is.”

Irish FA President, Conrad Kirkwood, said: “’This bid is a game changer for football on our islands.

“We have worked hard with our fellow home nations, and the Republic of Ireland, to reach this point and this spirit of collaboration will continue as this exciting project continues to

develop.”

Ulster GAA CEO, Brian McAvoy, said: “The GAA prides itself in delivering for society and the inclusion of Casement Park in this successful UEFA EURO 2028 bid is recognition of the major role we play in enriching the lives of our communities.

It is also testament to the partnership that has developed with the Irish Football Association.

“Casement Park hosting top level international soccer matches as part of UEFA EURO 2028 will be a compelling symbol of the power that sport has to unite people from every generation and background.

Issue 67 - Support Local

Local charity MACS urges people to take part in Sleep Out 2023!

NI Charity, MACS Supporting Children and Young People (MACS) are challenging people to give up their bed for one night to raise funds that will help MACS to sustain the crucial housing and support services.

MACS is also the Northern Ireland member charity of Every Youth, a UK-wide network of charities who have joined forces to tackle the UK’s youth homelessness crisis on a national scale.

MACS will host the Sleep Out challenge at Banana Block in Belfast on the 23rd November.

Kate Martin, MACS’ CEO describes how, “It would be impossible to recreate the fear, loneliness and discomfort of not having a safe place to call home but Sleep Out gives participants a glimpse into the reality some young people are facing.”

MACS reassures, ‘Sleep Out is a fun filled evening.

We’re thankful to Banana Block for donating their venue hire, and to comedian Ciaran Bartlett and musician Joshua Burnside who’ll both be performing on the night alongside a drum circle by Gathering Drum and some bedtime yoga from Yoga Quarter. There’ll be warm drinks and food courtesy of Bodega Bagels and there’s always a great sense of camaraderie.

Hinting at further celebrity participation Kate Martin quips ‘well, you never know who you’ll end up sleeping with at Sleep Out!’ Previous Sleep Outs have been attended by well-known supporters of

MACS including actors Colin Salmon and Niamh McGrady; country singer Lee Matthews, chart topper Pixie Lott and author Glenn Patterson.

MACS emphasise how crucial fundraising is to continue their services, stating ‘Homelessness on the streets is now a visible problem but it is only the tip of the iceberg. The hidden homeless are sofa surfing or staying in temporary accommodation which doesn’t always offer appropriate conditions or support for young people’.

Youth homelessness, in particular, often involves a complex history of family conflict, adverse childhood events, poverty, mental health issues, generational trauma and low levels of educational attainment. Once young people experience homelessness their risk of substance dependency, poor mental health, self-

harm and involvement in crime increases as does their risk of becoming longterm or street homeless so MACS approach is to act early and holistically, supporting each young person’s needs on an individual level.”

MACS are tackling the problem locally, providing a home and support to almost 700 vulnerable young people across NI last year.

MACS’s Shared Tenancy scheme is another innovation designed to give better access to the rental market. Working closely with the NIHE and funded

by Supporting People, MACS matches individual young people to live with others, therefor splitting and reducing the costs for each young tenant. In addition, Every Youth’s Housing Fund can be accessed by MACS to provide a rent deposit , or rent in advance, which can massively help young people overcome a difficult

barrier to accessing private rental properties, especially if they are without family who are able to support in this way.

MACS and Every Youth’s core belief is that ‘With the right opportunities and support, homeless young people can move on with their lives and ambitions and build positive futures’.

Every single person taking part and raising money will make a difference to the lives of young people throughout Northern Ireland.

To take part, register on Eventbrite or click here: https:// MACSSleepOut2023. eventbrite.co.uk Early bird, half price registration of £10 applies until November. Children £5.

For further info or to plan your own Sleep Out event email events@macsni. org and to donate www. justgiving.com/campaign/ macssleepout2023

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LQ BID AIMS TO CREATE FIRST LIVING WAGE DISTRICT

Linen Quarter BID as partnered with East Belfast’s Mary McManus to create Belfast’s first living wage district in Living Wage Week, which took place in early November.

The initiative could see thousands of employees across the Linen Quarter receive a wage increase as the BID pledges to fund its members’ first year Living Wage accreditation fee. The Real Living Wage which now sits at £12.00 allows for a more accurate reflection of the cost of living above NI’s minimum wage which currently stands at £10.42.

As an incentive to offer the Real Living Wage, the BID has pledged to fund first year accreditation fees for businesses with up to 500 employees.

Northern Ireland’s minimum wage currently stands at £10.42, with the Real Living Wage set at £12.00 allowing for a more accurate reflection of the cost of living. Recent research conducted by Survation for the Living Wage Foundation reveals that despite inflation easing, many individuals continue to endure hardship due to the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.

The incentive could result in a wage uplift for thousands of employees across the Linen Quarter and serves to bring Northern Ireland up to speed with the rest of the United Kingdom.

Currently Northern Ireland is lagging with just 82 businesses signed up compared to 13,895 in the UK.

LQ BID is one of the first organisations in the district to be accredited by the Real Living Wage Foundation.

According to the Real Living Wage Foundation currently one in eight employees living in Great Britian and Northern Ireland receive less than the living wage, leaving an estimated 14.3 million people living in poverty. The Real Living Wage is the only UK wage rate based on the cost of living and considers factors such as housing costs, food prices, and utility expenses.

Living Wage campaigner

Mary McManus, from east Belfast, has been coordinating the anti-poverty Living Wage for East Belfast Campaign since August 2021. In that time, she has seen the Living Wage movement in NI take off resulting in a wage uplift for around 400 people.

Mary said, “The Living Wage is an income that targets in-work poverty by allowing workers to live decently and decrease the risk of households falling into financial difficulty.

Increasingly, businesses here are seeing that paying

the real living wage is the right thing to do. Not only does it enhance employee’s well-being but it’s a benefit to their business in terms of recruitment prospects, staff motivation and can even increase productivity as well as having a wider societal benefit by encouraging other businesses to sign up.”

For more information on the event visit LQLivingWage.eventbrite. co.uk or to find out more about the Living Wage Foundation visit livingwage. org.uk

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Worms Make the World Turn.

Issue 67 - Support Local

Plants are the basis of all life on earth, but they couldn’t grow and thrive without help from many non-plant species, and there is one which is particularly important and special…. worms.

Charles Darwin called them the most important animal in the history of the world and dubbed them ‘nature’s ploughs’.

They specialise in moving through the soil, creating networks of burrows, and mixing the earth, which enables oxygen and water to flow, and are particularly important in allowing water to drain away after heavy rainfall…which might be ever more important in our era of climate change. And

they eat, break down and recycle dead leaves and plants, which helps soil microorganisms, fungi… and plants…to thrive, because their poo, known as worm ‘casts’, is high in the nutrients that plants need.

But, despite their importance, earthworms, like so much of our wildlife, are in decline, possibly by as much as 50% in the past few decades. The typical causes include chemical pollution, industrialised farming,

development, and the trend to pave over gardens and lay plastic ‘grass’.

Everyone with a garden can help by not using herbicides, removing excess paving and certainly not laying down green plastic, but also by being a wee bit messy, leaving dead leaves and plants to naturally decay.

Last autumn, the leaves from a tree in my garden were mostly allowed to decay on the lawn, and

eventually they simply disappeared, mostly as food for worms, and this past spring I enjoyed watching a pair of blackbirds feed their young with hundreds if not thousands of worms from that relatively small area.

Remember, it’s not just plants that benefit from an abundance of earthworms, but birds, and other animals such as hedgehogs. In nature, everything is connected.

I’m grateful to the Wildlife Trusts and RHS for inspiring and providing some of the

information in this short article.

JVA

Applying for a School Place

Visiting a school is an important step in choosing a school, and this personal touch reflects Leadhill’s approach in supporting families.

As a smaller, nurturing school in the Castlereagh area, working to support parents and children is central to what Leadhill has to offer. Leadhill parents recognise the value of a primary school setting where every adult knows every child. Our school welcomes and

supports children from all backgrounds and promotes inclusivity and childcentred approaches.

This year, Leadhill are offering a range of flexible opportunities to visit.

Bring your nurseryage child to ‘Stay and Play’ sessions on Fridays from 2:30pm to 3:15pm between 10 November and 1 December. Parents can enjoy a cuppa and a chat while children enjoy a range of activities in the P1 classroom.

Arrange for a visit at a time that suits you, throughout December and January. Mrs Millis, the Principal will take the time to tailor your visit to address the things that matter to your family.

Visiting Leadhill during the school day gives a fantastic opportunity to

experience the nurturing, family atmosphere and meet our fabulous staff and pupils.

For younger children, Toddle Time, Leadhill’s toddler and adult group, meets every Wednesday during termtime from 9 - 11am. This provides another great opportunity to get to know Leadhill and to see how the school

can meet the needs of your family.

The Leadhill Website provides a useful window into life in Leadhill. Visit us on www.leadhillps.com.

Leadhill would love to welcome you for a visit.

Contact the school office on 028 90401101 or email Mrs Millis on amillis370@ c2kni.net to arrange for a suitable date and time.

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CHRISTMAS EXPERIENCES

Second Nelson Newsagents With ‘Bags go Free’ HANNON Coach & Sail is perfect for Christmas shopping Vapes & American Sweets in Glasgow! is on way for Braniel!

Direct Belfast – Glasgow Express now departing from Belfast, Europa Bus Station.

Nelsons Newsagents Vapes & American Sweets is always at the forefront of the confectionary market procuring America Sweets and Drinks as well as the most comprehensive range of the best vapes and oils in the market.

The shop at 52 Belmont Road opened just a few years ago and thanks to their innovative approach is providing a delivery service the shop an ever increasing demand has now led to the opening of a second shop at 33 Glen Road, Braniel!

Both shops are owned by Kyle Nelson. If you crave tasty American treats like Hersheys, Nerds , Prime or Dr Pepper - you need to visit Nelson’s Newsagents Vapes & American Sweets.

Buying a gift for someone with a sweet (or sour!) tooth?

Their American Mystery Boxes are just the perfect Christmas Gift!

And with a choice of price points you can choose the level of sweetness to gift.

For more information contact kylenelson_97@ h o t m a i l . c o . u k Yo u can also pop into the store at 52 Belmont Road BT4 2AN or 33 Glen Road. w w w . nelsonsnewsagents. co.uk

An award-winning service offering hassle-free travel with very generous baggage allowance, HANNON Coach & Sail is ideal for Christmas shopping in Glasgow and the perfect antidote to flying and airport stress!

Already hugely popular with those in the know, the Belfast – Glasgow Express Coach Service is rated 5-Star on TripAdvisor.

A shopper’s paradise, Glasgow is recognised as having the best retail therapy in the UK outside of London. Consistently voted ‘top of the shops’, the city is Scotland’s premier shopping destination.

Not just shopping, Glasgow is also famous for its fantastic nightlife, and great choice of restaurants and bars. Glasgow is the perfect choice for your next break and getting your Christmas shopping off to a great start.

With a simple flat fare

of £44 which includes the cost of the ferry and a very generous baggage allowance the Belfast – Glasgow Express offers a really attractive, convenient and low-cost alternative to flying.

The service is operated by HANNON Coach and leaves twice a day from Belfast, Europa Bus Station 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 makes a perfect travel option for city shoppers bringing gifts home for Christmas. There are also a great range of hotels just minutes from Glasgow Buchanan Bus Station.

Company director Aodh Hannon says people seem to really love the convenience of the service as we take you right into the heart of the city centre.

“People love the fact that it’s so hassle-free compared to flying, no airport transfers and with no extra charge for luggage it is a massive help with keeping the cost of a break down.” said Mr Hannon.

The service can be

booked online at www. hannoncoach.com up to 1 hour before departure or by phone using the very friendly telephone booking service.

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

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Christmas Essentials at Home Festive wreaths: A wreath is a classic Christmas decoration that can be hung on your front door or inside your home. You can choose from a variety of styles, including traditional greenery, modern metallics, and whimsical designs.

Candles: Candles are an essential part of creating a cosy and inviting atmosphere during the holiday season. You can choose from a variety of scents and styles, including pillar candles, votives, and tea lights .

Garlands: Garlands are another classic Christmas decoration that can be used in a variety of ways. You can drape them over your mantel, wrap them around your staircase, or use them to decorate your tree.

Stockings: No Christmas is complete without stockings! You can choose

from a variety of styles and materials, including traditional red and green felt, modern metallics, and whimsical designs Ad1.

Tableware: If you’re planning on hosting a Christmas dinner or party, you might want to invest in some festive tableware.

You can choose from a variety of styles and materials, including classic white porcelain, modern metallics, and whimsical designs.

What themes are hot trends this Christmas?

Scandi-inspired colour schemes: This trend features a cosy and calming neutral palette with naturalfeeling materials such as wood and faux foliage.

Polar Planet is a popular theme that incorporates this trend .

Art Deco: This trend is expected to make a

comeback for Christmas decorations in 2023. Expect to see lots of geometric patterns, metallic accents, and luxurious fabrics like velvet and satin.

Rainbow of neon and joy:

This trend embraces bold tones and retro materials.

Shimmering baubles come in a range of textures including shiny balloonstyle pieces, rough glitter, and tactile satin Ad1.

Traditional red and green tones: Ideal for a country or cottage-style setup, or for anyone who prefers classic decor.

Vintage prints: This year’s themes centre around

the magic of nostalgia and the enchantment of Christmas with the design team taking inspiration “from our archives, giving treasured vintage prints a new lease of life” .

Newtownards Market still at the heart of celebrating Christmas in Ards!

Everyone knows the benefits of shopping local and shopping in the open air so Newtownards Market continues to thrive!

Newtownards market takes place every Saturday at Conway Square and to add to the amazing offering at the Great Christmas Market on Saturday 25th November the market can be found at Kennel Lane (beside the Old Cross) .

The market which already had a very strong base of amazing traders has attracted even more

businesses, so there are now even more great reasons to shop here!

Market manager Clive O’Neill said: “We have lots of Artisan Gourmet Food Producers so why not check out our ‘food hub? Along with all the regular traders there really is something for everyone – from comber early potatoes to crafts, fresh flowers to home furnishings!”

On the big day The Traders are providing FREE entertainment for the children.

Newtownards Market

has been running for over 46 years. The market traders work very closely with shop owners to ensure that business remains strong and this was made clear by their success at the Great British High Street Awards 2019. Their work ensures that the town centre remains vibrant and attractive for everyone, especially now that we are permitted to get out and about again – what could be better than shopping safely out in the open air?

Clive would strongly urge everyone to “shop

local, keep it local” and for anyone requiring further information on how to start trading in the market, please give Clive

a call on 077 7063 3287.

For this annual Christmas Market on 25th November the High Street will be pedestrianised.

A community stage is also planned for Conway Square where local schools & clubs will perform various acts.

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Belfast Christmas Market

Belfast Christmas Market will return this year with an authentic feast of quality Christmas international cuisine alongside a carefully curated mix of handcrafted goods and bespoke artisan products.

Set against the spectacular backdrop of Belfast City Hall, Belfast Christmas Market, in the heart of the city, is the perfect pit stop for coach parties, day-trippers and city shoppers, offering a unique and exciting festive experience.

If culinary delights are a passion, you can enjoy a warming mug

of hot Glühwein, feast on hog roast or indulge in some mouthwatering Belgian chocolates, baklava and crêpes.

Or sample specialty cheeses and savour the delicate flavours of meats from across the continent, all in an atmosphere overflowing with Christmas cheer.

Bring the children

to visit Santa in his magical grotto.

After meeting the big man, why not take a ride on the vintage carousel, or get a bird’s eye view of the market from the top of the helter skelter?

Opening times Monday to Wednesday, 10am to 8pm

Swimming is accessible to all at Templemore!

Templemore Aquatic Sports Club and Templemore Swim School aims to make swimming accessible to the entire local community.

Offering affordable lessons to both children and adults is core to the values of the Club, which is part of Templemore Users Trust, a charity that previously ran this facility.

Lessons are from the age of 1, following an exciting partnership with Water Babies. The Trust has recently partnered with Waterbabies to offer swim lessons for children aged 1 to 4 years.

Children are taught right through to competition swimming should they wish. A Swim Academy (for those that wish to keep fit but has more of a social side) is available from the age of 10. Junior Triathlon available from age 7.

Throughout the various lessons and Club schedule, life saving skills are taught.

In addition to the swim lessons program, there are also specific sessions for the community, families, adults and also for budding or experienced triathletes alike with Templemore Triathlon Club. All community swimming takes place at the newly restored and refurbished Templemore ‘Heritage’ pool.

You can become a

9pm and Men Only Wednesday & Friday 9pm.

Courtesy of funding from Parkinsons UK, on Wednesday evenings

member of the regular community swim program for ONLY £5 per year and you can swim in the heritage

pool for JUST £2 per session!

Community Open Swims Monday, Tuesday, Thursday &

Friday 3pm. Community Length Swimming Tuesday & Thursday 5pm; Ladies Only Monday & Thursday

there is now a 1 hour session with a coach and physio for those with Parkinsons Disease.

To find out more see www.templemore.org.uk

(bars until 9pm) ; Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 10am to 10pm (bars until 11pm)*; Sunday, 12 noon to 6pm *Market closes at 6pm on Friday 22 December w w w . marketplaceeurope. co.uk

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Dressing Your Christmas Tree Professionally

As the focal point of your Christmas display, you need to make sure that your Christmas tree is eye-catching and beautiful.

When it comes to colour scheme, the options are seemingly endless. It could be red, gold, silver, green, pink or white – you can choose what is best for

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CHRISTMAS EXPERIENCES

you! The colour scheme should compliment the existing colour scheme of your home, rather than clashing and causing a dazzling display of colour.

Thematic Christmas tree displays are becoming more and more popular. The options are limited only by your imagination – from Disney characters to the nutcracker and stars to minimalism, you can do just about anything.

As a general rule, many would recommend 10 large ornaments per square foot height of tree; however this is down to taste. Some will prefer a tree to be covered head to toe in lights and decorations whilst other will prefer a simpler, minimalist approach.

Evenly distributing the decorations is an important factor to consider. The human eye is inclined to appreciate symmetry – something to consider when placing decorations.

Be sure to place the heavier decorations on the interior branches as these will be better able to bear the weight, leaving the lighter decorations on the exterior – keeping branches from stooping with heavy décor.

Christmas lights are another troublesome consideration.

These come in the traditional yellow, contemporary white or alternatively they also come in multi-coloured.

Whichever you decide to go for, make sure that they are placed evenly across your tree. This is a mistake that is often made and can make a tree appear uneven and will seriously hinder the aesthetically pleasing nature of your tree.

GRAND PLANS FOR THE STRAND, OUR EAST BELFAST GEM

An exciting £6.5 million project to preserve Northern Ireland’s only operational Art Deco picture house gets underway early next year and will secure The Strand’s future for the community.

The Strand will reopen mid-2025 in time for their 90th birthday, boasting: • World-class performance space in their former balcony seating 240 with back-stage facilities • Disability access throughout • Restored front stalls as a unique theatre and screening space for 160 • High-end screening room for 60 • Two creative learning studios • An interactive exhibition celebrating Northern Ireland’s picture house past • Brand new licensed café The refurb will result in an exciting year-round programme including: • Quality live theatre, music and comedy • Attracting touring productions and festivals • Screening the latest blockbusters plus classic, cultural and educational films with top quality projection and sound

• Performing and visual arts classes • Creative industries skills development workshops • Hire space for community and charity groups History Dating back to 1935, the Strand was originally a single screen cinema.

Its maritime design was influenced by its proximity

to the Harland & Wolff shipyard. The cinema thrived for decades, and became established as an east Belfast landmark.

In the 1980s, the building’s interior was subdivided to meet public demand for more film choice.

In 2013, the Strand Arts Centre was established to prevent the closure of the building. The charity

repurposed the building as a thriving arts centre.

Be part of it You can contribute to the refurbishment through the ‘Name a Seat’ campaign, by having an inscribed plaque on their new seats for years to come. If you have memories of The Strand, or picture houses past, you can get in touch by emailing rosie@ strandartscentre.com

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Turn Your Garden into a Winter Wonderland

Outdoor Christmas decorations are a fantastic way of spreading the Christmas spirit with one and all.

For many, it is a Christmas tradition to outdo your neighbours when it comes to your outdoor decorations and we have some tips that can help you do just that.

Lights are the number one choice for outdoor decorating and for good reason; they are eyecatching, beautiful and incredibly festive.

In order to captivate your audience, it is important to have variety in your lighting.

This variety can consist of alternating between multi-coloured lights, illuminated figures in the shape of festive characters and even more traditional white lighting to

give the illusion of icicles.

You can also incorporate a mixture of twinkling lights to really catch the eye and traditional lights to form the basis of your display.

Decorating both the exterior of your home as well as your trees and hedges is a fantastic way of spreading decoration across the entirety of your property. When it comes to hedges, it is best to opt for net lighting – they are likely to be slightly more

expensive, however the convenience that they offer is second to none.

Lights can also be used to illuminate your driveway to create both a festive and convenient path to your home for visitors.

For those who are more daring, you can wrap spheres of wire mesh or even grapevines, which can then be adorned with fairy lights to create orbs of light that are incredibly special.

Portview Christmas Market returns on 16th and 17th December 2023 Little Fox Events is back with their hugely popular Christmas market. This year’s festivities will again take place at Portview Trade Centre and Banana Block on the Newtownards Road starting Saturday 16th from 6 - 10pm and continuing Sunday 17th December from 12 - 4pm.

Portview Christmas Market sees Banana Block, and the stunning top floor of historic Portview linen mill, transformed into a magical shopping extravaganza. Showcasing the best local makers of art, craft, fashion, jewellery, vintage and much, much more there is something for everyone.

This free family-friendly event will have the best local DJs plus a range of hot food and bars throughout the space.

Expect loads of surprises and dogs are welcome too!

Little Fox Events has built an excellent reputation of delivering beautiful bespoke events including the monthly uber cool East Block Bazaar, East Block Food and Fashion markets at Banana Block, the long standing eclectic Belfast Flea Market, plus large scale markets in 2 Royal Avenue, St Anne’s Cathedral, Hillsborough Castle, Belfast Maritime Festival and CQAF. Little Fox winter events for your diaries: 23rd Nov - Boundary Collectives: Jewellery

showcase, Boundary Taproom (6 - 9.30pm) 26th Nov - East Block Bazaar, Banana Block (1 - 5pm) 29th Nov - East Block Fashion, Banana Block (7 - 9.30pm) 7th/14th/21st Dec Twilight Markets, 2 Royal Avenue (5 - 9pm) 7th Dec - Boundary Collectives: Print showcase, Boundary Taproom (6 - 9.30pm) 16th & 17th Dec Portview Christmas Market, 310 Newtownards Road

Photo courtesy of Bryony Coles

Eastside Advertiser Page 15

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Eastside Advertiser

Issue 67 - Support Local

CHRISTMAS EXPERIENCES

Christmas Trees - Real or Fake

Christmas is typically a time for celebrating with the festive season approaching fast, many of us are starting to think about buying a tree.

The idea of a real Christmas tree sounds great but in reality, dragging a 8ft tree through the house leaving needles all over the place makes you think real or fake?

Some people are repulsed by the thought of purchasing a plastic tree, but reality is a quality fake fir can actually last longer.

What are the Benefits of artificial Christmas Trees?

• You don’t have to worry about them drying out or losing needles you can keep them up all year if you want • Easy to transport • You can get them pre-lit so no worries about untangling strings of Christmas lights.

• They are more convenient to put up, however many feel that going to choose your fresh Christmas tree is part of the Christmas experience.

• They will last forever - unfortunately even in the landfill.

Around 6 million real trees are sold in the UK every year. Picking out

a real Christmas tree is also a memorable event and for some families a tradition.

What are the Benefits of Real Christmas Trees?

• If it doesn’t fit you can simply grab the shears and trim it.

• The smell is totally awesome and very Christmassy • Christmas tree farming is sustainable – 2 or 3 trees are planted for every one that is cut.

• Tree farms provide green space and habitat for wildlife. These farms are maintained in an early succession forest with young trees and plenty of ground covers.

This provides habitat for

wildlife • Real trees absorb carbon dioxide while they grow, which helps reduce the impacts of climate change.

• Real trees can be recycled as mulch, compost or wildlife shelter How to Care for Your Real Christmas Tree?

• When you bring your Christmas tree home, make a fresh cut to the base of the stem. A vertical cut made a few inches up into the center of the stem will increase water uptake.

• Make sure to keep them well watered at all times. One tree can use

four litres of water per day!

• Keep all heat sources and open flames far away from the trees including fireplaces, candles, stoves, and electronics.

• Turn of the lights on your tree when leaving the house or going to bed.

• If your tree dries out briefly, you will have to take off all the decorations and recut the base of the stem make another vertical cut at the base of the tree in the opposite direction of your first cut.

Whatever tree you choose real or fake, we are sure you will have a very magical Christmas.

Issue 67 - Support Local

Be there in Conway Square!

Newtownards Christmas Market returns on Saturday 25th November 2023.

For this annual Christmas Market the High Street will be pedestrianised with Chalets for local crafts & artisan traders to compliment the strong retail offer that Newtownards offers! Of course, it wouldn’t be Christmas without an outdoor Bar & Street Food area at the base of Conway Square!

Attractions include a Christmas Gift Village, Outdoor Bar & Street Foods, Santas Grotto, Light Switch on & Entertainment and Community Performers will entertain all day!

A community

Eastside Advertiser Page 17

CHRISTMAS EXPERIENCES

stage is planned for Conway Square where local schools & clubs will perform various acts.

The Christmas Light

Switch on and show will start at 17:00.

There will be extra Car Parking available to cope with the increased demand.

Facts About Reindeer

Despite what popular mythology might suggest, Reindeers do not fly - however, they do sometimes have red noses.

The image of Reindeer pulling Santa’s sleigh around the globe accompanied by the sound of bells and trampling hooves have graced the dreams of children worldwide for generations. They are as much a part of Christmas as the decorated tree or even the turkey dinner, but what do you know about the animal itself?

Reindeers are part of the deer family – or Cervidae – which also includes similar animals such as the elk and the moose. All of these animals share various features ranging from long legs and

hooves to antlers and snouts.

The name ‘reindeer’ refers only to the Eurasian populations of the species, with the North American equivalents being named Caribou.

Reindeer differ from their biological cousins in that both males and females grow antlers; however they also lose and re-grow these each year. A male reindeer’s antlers can grow up to 130cm long and weight up to 15kg.

The female equivalent is slightly smaller, growing up to approximately 50cm. Male reindeer tend to lose their

antlers in November, but females keep theirs for a significantly longer period. This means, in theory, that all of Santa’s reindeer must have been female as they are depicted as having antlers as late as

25th December.

When one thinks of Reindeers, they might immediately think of Rudolph and his red nose.

Whilst the glowing red nose of Rudolph might be a work of

fiction, it is true that reindeers have some 25 percent more capillaries carrying oxygen rich blood in their nasal architecture than humans, making a distinctive red colour more likely.

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Eastside Advertiser

Issue 67 - Support Local

BEST IN BUILD

Olympic Lifts, passenger lifts or Stairlifts we have it all!

Olympic Lifts supply ,install, test and maintain Passenger Lifts, Access Lifts, Goods Lifts and Stairlifts along with escalators & Moving walkways.

We have installed over 17,000 projects throughout the UK & Ireland over the last 35 years. Based in Lisburn, our premises offer a recently renovated showroom with two Home Elevators on display. The location offers ease of access to customers just off the M1 and, importantly, allows us to maintain and respond to calls quickly and efficiently throughout Ireland.

In the event of an unforeseen fault;

vehicle tracking gives us the ability to allocate the closest technician to your area.

Our wide range of stairlifts have been designed to blend seamlessly with your interior. Whether you live in a classic or contemporary home, or if you have a straight or curved staircase, we will help find the right stairlift for you.

Our range includes curved, outdoor and straight stairlifts.

The curved stairlift is

designed specifically to cope with winding or complicated staircases.

It even negotiates curved bends on either side of the staircase, intermediate landings and corridors with ease. This revolutionary outdoor stairlift is perfect if you live in a hilly or mountainous area, have a cliff-set seaside home or need to access a garden, garage or cellar.

Our stunning new stairlifts for straight stairs reveal our refreshingly modern approach to design.

Our aspirations are driven by continual development of our people, continuous investment in systems and procedures along with an unremitting desire to advance our product offering. These important measures benefit our existing and new customers by improving the

purchasing experience, generating improved efficiencies and costs savings which we pass on to our clients and allowing Olympic Lifts to offer the most up to date products and services available, all of the highest quality.

For more information contact: 02892 622331or visit our website at www. olympiclifts.co.uk

Issue 67 - Support Local

BEST IN BUILD

Eastside Advertiser Page 19

The Importance Of Regularly Servicing Your Boiler Whether you have oil boilers, gas boilers, or even electrical, it is essential that you have regular servicing carried out for many reasons.

A lot of individuals don’t even realize when their boilers start to lose efficiency, usually not until there is a major break down. At times, there are no outward indicators that there are any problems since internal belts, the heat exchanger, and other electronic parts may be inaccessible to most consumers.

Now there is routine maintenance that you should also be doing, changing out the filter systems on the unit, listening for any odd sounds, and keeping an eye on any variations in the heat output around your home. However, as mentioned before, there are quite a few boiler elements that are not accessible, and ones that if mucked about with by

the owner, could affect the warranty. In quite a few instances, if you have oil boilers, or gas boilers, the producer’s warranty will say that the unit must be serviced solely by a licensed technician.

Some of the other reasons to have regular servicing is that if you don’t have regular maintenance, small issues can trigger major breakdowns, costing you much much more money compared to just replacing a small part, and may in actual fact cause you to have to completely change the unit, costing hundreds or even thousands of euro’s. In order to stop this a regular maintenance program should be in place.

The next step in this approach is finding the

prevent cold spots in the house, and prevent major difficulties in the long

suitable company to help you. You want to ensure that the person you hire is familiar with the brand of gas boilers or oil boilers you own. You need to call around and discover a specialist that can not

only service your unit, but one that is affordable.

Each company is a little different, but quite a few offer yearly, semi annual, and also monthly maintenance programs.

Some give discounts on

fixes if you use them for your servicing.

So in order to stay warm in the wintertime and have hot water if you have a combination boiler, you need to have regular boiler maintenance. Doing so can

Make the smallest room feel bigger!

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.

run, costing you hundreds of euros in repair. Getting an efficient boiler can

additionally save you an abundance of money on your energy bills.

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Issue 67 - Support Local

BEST IN BUILD

Eastside Advertiser

Choosing a building contractor

Making the decision to have work done on your home is a big enough decision.

You have thought long and hard about what you what to have done and

how to pay for it. Home improvements will raise the value of your home

and you know this, but hiring the wrong home improvement contractor could turn your dreams into one long nightmare.

But you can find the perfect home improvement contractor by just following a few simple steps and doing your homework. Do not hire the first contractor you come across, even if your best friend swears they’re a dream come true.

Always evaluate the contractor from your own perspective.

You may have very different standards.

•1 ASK YOUR FRIENDS That being said, go ahead and ask your friends for their recommendations!

It’s a good place to start.

Someone with firsthand experience will tell you if the contractor was timely, neat, thorough, and easy to work with. You can

also their work first hand.

• 2 VISIT YOUR LOCAL HOME IMPROVEMENT STORE Most small home improvement stores, such as paint stores, decorating businesses, tile stores and such, have contractors that they recommend to customers. They will be happy to share this information with you.

• 3 READ ONLINE REVIEWS The best home improvement contractors of all types have websites and local networks, such as City Search, allow people to post reviews.

See what you can find out about contractors in your area.

• 4 VISIT THE CONTRACTOR’S WEBSITE This won’t tell you how good their work is or if

they’ll show up on time, but it will tell you how seriously they take their business. Any business, large or small, worth its salt has a top notch website. Read it and get a feel for what they believe is important. A good contractor will have before and after photos as well.

• 5 Make a list of contractors MAKE A LIST OF THREE Collect a list of three contractors who have made an impression on you so far. Now it’s time to meet them face to face, get an estimate, check their credentials, and call their references. A reputable contractor will be happy to provide you with the names of three previous customers and their phone numbers.

• 6 Talk with Home Improvement Contractor

CAN YOU COMMUNICATE WITH THE CONTRACTOR? When you are sitting and talking with potential contractors, ask yourself if you feel like he understands what you are looking for. Do you understand their answers to your questions? Do you have a good rapport with them? Do they return your phone calls promptly? These things will be vitally important down the road if you choose them to do your home improvement work.

• 7 C H E C K REFERENCES Do actually check their references. Don’t assume that just because they gave you three names on a piece of paper, that they are good references. Call them!

Don’t be shy. Most people are happy to share this information, good or bad!

Most home improvement contractors belong to professional organizations in their trade, the Better Business Bureau and/or local community organizations.

• 8 C H O O S E YOUR HOME IMPROVEMENT CONTRACTOR Once you have found your favourite, jump in. Home improvement projects are never without their problems,

so be as flexible as possible without giving up quality. Above all, make sure you have a signed contract with the contractor you choose that covers all contingencies.

If the project is large, you might want to have your lawyer take a quick look at it to make sure you’re well protected should something go awry. It’s worth the extra money

Keeping Your Windows Clean Over Winter Winter often means spending less time outdoors, however there are still jobs to be done around the home and this includes cleaning your windows.

Dirt and grime accumulates on your windows year round, but with increased wind, rain and debris falling from trees, you might find that you need to clean your windows more regularly during the winter months.

Keeping your windows clean has the added advantage of both being aesthetically pleasing and allowing the greatest amount of sunlight into your home during the darker days.

More natural light also means that you will require less artificial light, allowing you to cut back on your electricity bills during what is already a traditionally expensive time of the year.

If the weather becomes freezing, it is best to add some rubbing alcohol to your soapy solution to prevent it from freezing over on the glass while you clean your windows.

Your ratio might need to adjust depending on the temperature; however we would recommend a 3:1 ratio.

Regularly changing

your towel or cloth is advantageous as this will limit streaks being left on your windows by the dirt that will have been accumulated.

Similarly, regularly replenishing your water will ensure that your windows are getting the best

possible clean and dirt is not being reapplied through filthy water.

Be sure to clean from top to bottom. This will allow your soapy (and dirty) water to run downwards, leaving the glass above it clean and fresh.

Issue 67 - Support Local

Eastside Advertiser Page 21

SPIKE IN BURGLARIES ACROSS NI: HOW SAFE IS YOUR AREA?

Crime data analysed by CompareNI.com has revealed the most dangerous towns and cities in Northern Ireland for burglaries.

Recent policing data showed burglaries were up 15% from June to July 2023 with 49 more burglaries across Northern Ireland than the previous month.

The report also showed a 29% increase from July 2022 to July 2023 with 83 more burglaries committed across Northern Ireland than in the same month last year.* There were 3,676 burglaries in total across Northern Ireland in the 12 months from 1st August 2022 to 31st July 2023.

With this in mind, CompareNI.com has researched which cities and towns in Northern Ireland have the highest and lowest rates of burglary.** Belfast had the highest rate of burglary with

1,287 incidents recorded, at a rate of 4.59 burglaries per 1000 people.

Newry had the second highest rate of burglary in towns and cities across Northern Ireland with 3.49 burglaries per 1000 people and a total of 94 burglaries.

Ballymena also had a high rate of burglaries, with 3.25 per 1,000 people, followed by Coleraine with 2.52 burglaries per 1000 people and Derry City with a rate of 2.48 burglaries per 1000 people.

Carrickfergus had the lowest rate of all towns and cities for burglary with a rate of just 0.61 burglaries per 1000 people and only 17 recorded incidents.

Bangor also saw low levels of burglary with

a rate of 0.80 burglaries per 1000 people, followed

by Larne and Cookstown which both had a rate of 1.21 burglaries per 1000 people.

CompareNI.com’s tips on protecting your home, that don’t rob a bank: 1.Stay alert The majority of break ins happen during the day so keep an eye for suspicious behaviour and don’t hesitate in asking callers to the house for their ID. 2.Don’t forget the basics Use padlocks, bolts and window locks to tighten up home security; these measures are relatively inexpensive and will help reduce chances of a break in.

3.Upgrades could add savings Improve security

with an upgrade to BSI approved doors and windows – it could also reduce the cost of your home insurance.

4.Reduce opportunities Lock gardening tools away in the shed so they can’t be used by opportunist thieves to break in and keep valuables tidied out of sight or hidden with frosted glass or tilted blinds.

5.Join in Becoming an active member of your local neighbourhood watch scheme can help keep you and your community safer plus help to reduce your home insurance premiums.

Commenting on the figures, Ian Wilson, Managing Director of CompareNI.com said:

“Although the overall trend in burglaries is declining, it is worrying to see such a spike across Northern Ireland in the last month so it’s important for homeowners to remain vigilant.

“At a time when the cost-of-living crisis has many families feeling the pinch, additional security equipment may be too

expensive. However, there are a number of easy and cost-effective ways to help prevent break-ins. Simple measures such as welllit driveways, keeping valuables out of sight, window locks and lights on timers are all relatively cheap precautions to help reduce the risk of a break in and will also help keep home insurance costs down.”

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Issue 67 - Support Local

Eastside Advertiser

Weather or not?

Playing it safe outdoors Ideally it’s recommended for children to get up to 60 minutes of physical activity each day. The winter season brings snowflakes and ice and a playground full of outside activities like sledding, snowman making, ice-skating, building forts and snowball fights. Families will likely spend time

outdoors playing and it is important to keep children safe while having fun. Physical activities can be great stress relievers for children who are cooped up inside at school and home for one too many hours during the cold winter months. Play can be broken up into intervals anywhere between 10 to 20 minutes .

When is it too cold for your child to go outside and play? Follow the coloured safety zone guide.

Green zone.

The safest temperature to go outside to play is 1 degree Celsius or higher.

Yellow zone. Playing in temperatures between -6d to -1 degrees should be carefully watched by parents as the weather will affect body temperatures to cool

quickly.

Red zone. Your child should not play outside in temperatures less than -6 degrees. Keep in mind the wind chill factor can cause the actual temperature outside to be much colder, especially if skin is not properly covered.

In the UK ice brings challenges of its own with slips and falls a very real danger.

Bundle Up Properly Dress in layers. Keep the body warm with hats, mittens, scarves, socks, boots and a coat or snowsuit depending on the activity and exposure. Your child may become sweaty from playing outside but with proper layering, some layers may be taken off.

Supervise and bring extra clothing. Clothing may become wet from

the snow and sometimes children are unaware when they are so caught up in having fun with friends. Be sure to always supervise children playing and bring extra clothing to switch out with wet clothing.

Take breaks. Watch for any signs of your child being too cold such as

shivering and take quick breaks inside between intervals of around 40 minutes of play to keep body temperatures warm.

Hydrate.

Be sure your child is hydrating with water in order to help regulate body temperature.

Get creative and join in on the fun with your

child. Parents can help build snow forts, protect the forts with a snowball battle, build snowman families or pretend to hike together on an epic journey up Mount Everest! Remember to watch the temperature, bundle up and most importantly have fun with your child this winter season.

Northern Ireland tops leaderboard for region with highest number of people without a Will, survey finds A shocking 75% of people in Northern Ireland do not have a will, new research has found.

A poll commissioned by charity will-writing

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campaign Will Aid, found that 59% of the UK population do not have paperwork protecting their loved ones in the event of their death.

The statistics for Northern Ireland paint an even bleaker picture for the region and Peter de Vena Franks, campaign director for Will Aid said it was vital that those without one considered the benefits of getting their affairs in order.

He said: “The results show that nationally we have a population that is burying its head in the sand when it comes to preparing their loved ones for the inevitable.

“And in Northern Ireland we can see that the situation is also concerning. Our poll delved into the many reasons why people avoid drawing up a will with many citing the difficulties they have talking about and thinking about death. We recognise that this is a tricky conversation to have with the people you care about, but drawing up paperwork to protect the ones you love, after you are gone comes with a sense of peace.

“Another barrier to making a will was cited as expense which, in light of the current cost of living crisis, is understandable.

Will Aid can provide a cost-effective solution that

comes with the security that a will is being drafted by a professional, regulated and insured solicitor, while you also help vulnerable charities that are also struggling at this time.”

The study showed that in Northern Ireland the main barriers to making a will were seen as a lack of time with 36%, fear of thinking about death with 31%, and feeling that they were too young to think about making a will with 25%.

Regions also within the top five areas of people without a will are the North West in second place with 67%, in joint third position are the West Midlands and Yorkshire and the Humber with 62%, ranking fourth is Wales 61% and the North East is in fifth with 60%.

Will Aid runs for the month of November and raises money for nine of the UK’s best-loved charities: ActionAid, British Red Cross, Christian Aid, NSPCC, Save The Children, Sightsavers, Age UK, SCIAF (Scotland) and Trocaire (Northern Ireland).

Solicitors volunteer their time to charity to write wills for members of the public.

Instead of paying the usual fee for the will, the client is asked to make a voluntary upfront donation to Will Aid. The suggested donation

for a basic Will Aid will is £100 for a single will and £180 for a pair of mirror wills.

Mr de Vena Franks said: “There are still so many people in the UK who do not have a will and this needs to be addressed. A will is the best way for a person to make an active choice about inheritance and estates, not to mention make decisions on the guardianship of underage children.”

According to the research, 59% of adults don’t have a will in the UK. Of those who do have a will, only 29% of people questioned claim to have a will that is up to date.

What’s more, just 46% of parents surveyed have a will and have named guardians

for their children.

The region’s shortage of people with wills is also reflected in the results found by city, where Belfast also takes the top spot of the city with the highest percentage of people not to have a will.

Belfast (75%), is joined in the top five by Liverpool (73%), Sheffield (67%), Glasgow and Manchester (both 64%) and Bristol (62%).

Those who wish to book an appointment with a solicitor to make a will in November can do so from September onwards via our website or by calling us on 0300 0309 558.

For more information www.willaid.org.uk

Issue 67 - Support Local

Eastside Advertiser Page 23

Winter motoring: How to stay safe and avoid a breakdown this winter

Breakdowns and accidents are more common in the winter when road conditions are challenging. Here are the AA’s top tips for driving in winter and staying safe on snowy and icy roads.

Top up your antifreeze in cold weather Antifreeze only costs a few pounds, but a frozen and cracked engine costs hundreds to repair.

You need a 50-50 mix of antifreeze and water for the winter – this protects your engine down to -34C. Most modern cars use long-life antifreeze but some types of antifreeze need changing after only 2 years. Make sure you use the right type and check your service schedule.

How to drive safely in snow and ice The roads can be dangerous in winter when there’s snow, ice

or sleet.

Our top tip is to take it slow. Stopping distances can be 10 times longer when it’s icy.

Gentle manoeuvres and slow speeds are the key to safe driving in ice and snow.

In the season of winter colds, don’t drive with a cold if you’re feeling unwell and are on any medicine that could make you drowsy. It could affect your reaction times.

Before you set off Allow extra time for winter journeys.

Plan routes around major roads, which are more likely to be cleared and gritted.

Try to get up at least

have at least a quarter of a tank in case of unexpected delays.

Clear all windows using a scraper and de-icer and wait until the windscreen’s fully demisted.

If you drive an automatic, check the handbook – some have a winter mode or recommend

10 minutes early to give you time to de-ice the car.

Wear comfortable, dry shoes for driving so your

feet don’t slip on the pedals.

Check fuel levels –

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

Then look no further than Garolla, the UK’s first nationwide roller garage door installer.

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 the initial survey of your property and will always be on hand to answer any questions you might have. Offering style as well as substance, Garolla electric garage doors are available in 21 colours and come 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 9503 0058

selecting ‘2’ in slippery conditions.

Driving on winter roads Pull away in second gear, easing your foot off the clutch gently to avoid wheel-spin.

If you have to use your brakes, apply them gently.

Driving uphill – leave plenty of room between other cars or

wait until it’s clear so you don’t have to stop part way up.

Keep a constant speed and try to avoid having to change gear on the hill.

Driving downhill – slow down before the hill, use a low gear and try to avoid braking.

Leave as much room as you can after the car in front.