News Articles

  • Meeting Members’ Needs and Quality Requirements for the Sector

  • A NEW training scheme by Advice NI is putting 15 unemployed people on the path to delivering advice.

  • As you may know the Department for Communities (DfC) is rolling out measures to ensure the advice sector is prepared to assist the general public through the implementation of the ongoing changes to the welfare system. 

  • We are delighted to launch our latest training brochure which is packed with lots of new and exciting courses and training programmes.

  • The only nationally accredited, Northern Ireland Specific, Level 3 Independent Advocacy Qualification allows practising Independent Advocates to learn and develop the skills required for employment in their Independent Advocacy role and it has begun this September with overwhelming demand.On this run of the qualification we are proud to welcome 24 candidates from organisations such as The Patient Client Council, Alzheimer’s Society, Bryson Care, Mindwise, Mencap, Age Concern Causeway, Leonard Cheshire Disability, The British Deaf Association and Disability Action.Our candidates have a busy academic year ahead of them and by July 2015 they will be submitting their portfolios of evidence. We are very much looking forward to working with them over the next 10 months.We are also developing a level 2 award in Independent Advocacy suitable for those who wish to gain a better awareness of Advocacy but who do not necessarily practice, such as trust staff, social workers, criminal justice staff and associated professionals.You can find further details of all of this in our training brochure.If you have any enquiries about our Advocacy training please contact our training and Development Practitioner, Ryan Fitzsimmons.

  • Aimed at older peoples’ groups province wide, ‘Managing Your Money Better’ talks are funded by Comic Relief and delivered by Outreach Worker John Bradbury.The talks are free, last about forty five minutes and cover a range of topics including: budgeting, maximising your income, dealing with debt, saving, borrowing and credit and avoiding scams.‘I also give people some additional information, benefits information and contact details within Advice NI for further free advice.‘So far, we have reached over 1,000 people with almost half living in rural isolated areas. The talks are aimed primarily at people over sixty and over 350 people reached are aged over 75.‘I usually find people are most interested  in benefits uptake and avoiding scams. As an organisation, we are delighted to provide as much help and information as possible,’ added John.So far, community groups, womens’ groups and churches have been amongst the venues visited.More talks are planned for late Winter and Spring. If you would like a contact, please contact John.