Consumer

Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart with a representative from The Schoolwear Association.

Plea to scrap VAT on school uniforms

Lady Mary Peters officially opens the new Melanie Bond boutique in Dromore. Pic credit: MM Photography, Dromore

Lady Mary Peters officially opens Melanie Bond's new boutique in Dromore

Tyler Letson, Ryan Gallagher, Stephen Gamble (Housing Executive’s Good Relations Officer), Paul Johnston (Project Manager), Daryl Clarke (Project Coordinator), Iryna Lykhosherst (volunteer), Macauley Judson (young leader), Kailey Francey (young leader), Billy Snoddy (Chairperson), Jayden Mullan, Cllr Mark Cooper, Mayor), David McCrea (chair of Monkstown Jubilee Centre), Eva Bennet and Anna Stitt (young women's ambassador).

Community backs Monkstown scheme

Lisburn CAP Debt Centre Manager Paul Bailie. Pic credit: CAP

Martin Lewis says CAP are unsurpassed when it comes to debt help

The Driver and Vehicle Test Centre in Mallusk. Picture: Google

Northern Ireland MOT and driving test fees to rise from October

Firmus Energy has announced a reduction of 7.56 per cent on their regulated gas tariffs for domestic and small business customers in the Ten Towns area. Picture: Pixabay

Firmus Energy announces gas price cut in Ten Towns area

Food supply. Local Democracy Reporting Service

Food and fuel vouchers to ease cost of living crisis

Lisburn Credit Union is changing its loan rates for members. Pic credit: Google

Lisburn Credit Union is changing its loan rates to meet changing needs

The Red Turtle is one of the films being screened by Cinemagic. Pic credit: Cinemagic

Young cinema fans can enjoy a free film and help local foodbanks

Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council, Cllr Mark Cooper, joined with members of Monkstown Over 50s Group as they showcased their portrait of King Charles III at the Coronation Garden at Hazelbank Park. (Contributed).

Support for older residents

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Ald Gerardine Mulvenna with Jackie Patton, Head of Community Planning and Development for MEABC and Michele Campbell, Operations Director for Mid and East Antrim Community Advice Services. (Colm McCann/Mid and East Antrim Council).

Uniform donations welcomed

A new state-of-the-art Innovation Centre, developed on the site of a former police station, has been officially opened in Cushendall. The project is of huge significance for the Glens of Antrim and will bring new offices, workspaces, and communal areas to facilitate remote, flexible and hybrid working as well as helping new and growing businesses

Grow the Glens’ new Innovation Centre helps people to work locally

Carol McCabe, Manager of Community Advice Lisburn & Castlereagh is concerned about the impact of the cost of living crisis on people in Lisburn and Castlereagh. Pic credit: Community Advice Lisburn & Castlereagh

Serious concern about the impact of the cost of living crisis for local people

Lisburn CAP Debt Centre Manager Paul Baillie. Pic credit: CAP

Lisburn CAP Debt Centre Manager discusses the benefits of setting a budget

Some fantastic beauty brands have been created in Northern Ireland.

9 Northern Irish beauty brands you need to try

MACE Cookstown staff, from left, Darragh Nugent, Laverne Mitchell, Nomi Bagar, Aileen Loughran, Sam Bhatti (Store Owner), Darren Campbell and Gary Derby. Credit: NICHS

Cookstown MACE go the extra mile to raise funds for charity

Connor Martin from Fareshare collects food product donations from Musgrave NI’s Director of Marketing, Desi Derby. Pic credit: Musgrave NI

Musgrave NI launches food donation scheme in partnership with FareShare NI

Two shops run by the Coleraine-based producer of a wide range of ice cream flavours and low-fat sorbets have been named among the very best in the United Kingdom in three major surveys including one by BBC Good Food, the leading gourmet food magazine. Pictured enjoying a Morelli’s ice cream in Portrush

Two NI ice cream shops rated by taste experts among the best in the UK

William Newell, Owner of Abode Café with Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Cllr Mark Cooper. (Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council).

New cafe opens on Main Street

Celebrating their 50th milestone this year, Farlows fruit and vegetable shop was first opened in Brook Street in June 1973, a week after the Railway Road bomb. (Picture from Facebook)

One of Coleraine's oldest businesses closes the doors after half a century

Changing your shopping habits can help reduce wasteful packaging.

7 zero waste shops across Northern Ireland to help you make a difference

Eight Northern Irish food and drink experiences have been included in Lonely Planet's new Gourmet Trails Europe. Picture: Jay Wennington / unsplash

Lonely Planet's new book highlights NI's fabulous food and drink experiences

Spend a relaxing few hours at the weekend browsing at one of Northern Ireland's vibrant markets.

7 weekend markets to visit across Northern Ireland

Portstewart Boat Trips' vessel was vandalised and slashed with a knife. Picture from Portstewart Boat Trips Facebook

Portstewart Boat Trips' vessel vandalised and slashed with a knife

The White Company to open first standalone store in Northern Ireland

St. Joseph’s Primary School pupil Daíthí McGeary is pictured with Gillian Hunter, store manager at EUROSPAR Donaghmore, who welcomed Daíthí to the store’s official opening after he wrote to the store to say he’d like to work in a SPAR. Credit Ricky Parker Photography

Expansion at Co Tyrone store leads to creation of 11 jobs

Charity leader Emma Davis is encouraging local people to make use of the School Uniform Bank at Trinity Methodist Church. Pic credit: SUB

The SUB in Lisburn is on hand to offer a lifeline for families

Police in Causeway Coast and Glens are aware of objections from the community in Portrush to a proposed 'pop-up market' which was granted an occasional liquor license at Ballymena Magistrates' Court on Friday, June 16

Police respond to ‘legitimate concerns’ over plans for pop-up market in Portrush

Avondale Foods in Craigavon has been named by the HMRC for failing to pay some of its workers the minimum wage. Photo courtesy of Google.

9 firms from NI named by HMRC for failing to pay staff minimum wage

Sean and Trudy Brolly of the new Ocho Bistro at The Cranagh Marina, near Coleraine

Tasty tapas…and much more food at new eatery on banks of the Bann

Coffee chain Bob & Berts has been named among the UK’s 100 fastest growing founder-led private companies. Founded in Portstewart by Colin McClean in 2013, Bob & Berts is known for its distinctive style, quality offering and local community focused approach

Bob & Berts is only NI firm among the UK's 100 fastest growing companies

East Antrim Alliance MLA Stewart Dickson during a visit to Hollybank Pre-School unit on June 14. (Credit: East Antrim Alliance).

Pathway allocation welcomed

An artist's impression of the new apartment development planned for Portstewart's York Hotel

Portstewart's York Hotel to become apartments

Running the length of The Promenade in Portstewart, the banner of over 100 little hand-knitted yellow ducks and flags had been destroyed allegedly by youths and some of the ducks ripped off the cable ties, with some left without bodies

Video: ‘Bring our hand-knitted ducks back’ urges Portstewart traders

Everyone has their own favourite when it comes to ice cream and lollies.

22 ice creams and lollipops we love to order and those that are long gone

Alderman Lewis Boyle.

Teenager becomes one of the youngest aldermen in the UK

Soon time to vote for High Street Heroes!

There are some great unique gifts suitable for Father's Day which are unique to Northern Ireland.

13 funky Northern Ireland-made Father’s Day gifts

Power NI and SSE Airtricity gas announce tariff changes effective from July 1 when the Energy Price Guarantee will reduce to zero

NI energy firms announce price cuts but bills will actually go up

Niall and Mark Gribbin, Directors at Setanta Construction pictured with The Gallagher Family, Parents Courtney & Michael with their children Cillian and Liam.

Lucky Mid Ulster family ‘excited’ to be living rent and rate free for a year

Housing Executive Chair Nicole Lappin inspects the organisation’s new fleet of 10 electric vans along with staff members (l-r) David Roe, Fleet Support Operations Manager,
Stephen Moore, Assistant Director of the Direct Labour Organisation (DLO), and John Lamont, DLO Operations.

NIHE workmen get new electric vans

Planning permission has been granted for new residential accommodation at a spa in Coleraine.

Green light for residential accommodation at spa retreat in Coleraine

Ian with the crown cake he designed for the royal visit to Newtownabbey.

Glengormley baker makes cake for royal visit

NI World Top Stories

Pictured at the Millburn Smile Project’s fun day are (back row from left) Joel Cromie, Housing Executive Patch Manager, Gareth Doran, Housing Executive Good Relations Officer, Jenny Millar, Margaret Glendinning, Stella Boyd, Millburn Community Association, Billy Ellis, Millburn Community Outreach worker. Including (front row from left) Karen Douglas and Marilyn Donaghy of Millburn Community Association. Credit NI Housing Executive

Hundreds attend the big finale of Millburn’s Smile Project

Niamh Bratton pictured with lecturer Tracey Cameron Rainey. Credit NWRC

Worldskills place for Portstewart's Niamh

Past and present members supporting the rowing.

Holestone YFC members mark 80th anniversary with fundraising effort