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Things are starting to change outside as we get nearer the Autumn. So, outside we are beginning to change things as well.

Recently Mark one of our directing managers secured some funding to begin investing in the enclosed courtyard space at the hostel.

We've had outdoor games, we have BBQ'd a few times but it's time to make the outdoor space more than just an enclosed yard. Some of the staff team have gotten involved as have a few residents, Mark found a great fella on FB market place to building us some planters, seating a picnic table will be arriving soon and residents requested a herb garden so I believe we have one of those inbound also in the next few days.

I've heard it said, "to plant a garden is to believe in the future". With homeless awareness week coming soon I think it's good to remember that things in life might not be perfect but so long as it's possible then believing in a future that is full of potential is yours!

I've also heard it said that a wise man plants trees he might never sit under. Investing in people is never a waste of time. Plant a few seeds, you might just bless someone you'll never meet, I think that's a lovely thought.

More to follow with project garden soon!!!
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✨ Just a reminder that we’re now on TikTok!

📲Follow us for behind-the-scenes, housing advice, and policy updates
www.tiktok.com/@housingrightsni
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🔸MAY TRAINING🔸

These courses are FREE to those working in the
community, voluntary & statutory sectors

Sign up to our monthly newsletter for direct links to each course!
www.ascert.biz/sign-up-for-updates/

Register below 👇
👉training@ascert.biz
👉https://training.ascert.biz/

#ASCERT #ReducingHarm #SupportingPositiveChange #Training
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Lizzy & Scott were looking into some online training opportunities this morning, using our little internet cafe in the hostel common room. This space is available for residents to click n connect to any online resource that may be helpful for them. From YouTube and other socials. Then, there is getting familiar with a computer, operating systems and computer skills, . Everyone has a goal, today Scott wanted to, with the support of his key worker look to see if there is anything he might be able to train in. ...

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Looking to learn more about mental health this May? 💛

AWARE NI is offering a range of FREE mental health education programmes designed to support wellbeing, build confidence, and provide practical tools for everyday life.

This month’s upcoming programmes include support for:
✨ Expectant parents and parents of young children
✨ Individuals living with or affected by cancer
✨ Anyone experiencing anxiety, low mood, or negative thinking

All programmes are free to attend.

If one of these programmes feels right for you - or someone you know - you can find full details and sign up via the link below:
aware-ni.org/news/free-mental-health-programmes-may2026

#MentalHealth #MentalHealthSupport #AWARENI #MentalHealthAwareness #MentalHealthEducation
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Reminder: During the Easter Holidays our teams are working. There is never a time when our support team is not available to provide residents with support. Lighthouse Hostel operates 24/7 year round. Through the good, times and the rest. Over Easter every resident will receive Easter Eggs, the support teams also received some sweet treats. It's Easter, we do what most are doing. Besides everything else that may be going on, a little chocolate helps ...

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A wee appreciation post. We have an amazing team at the Lighthouse Hostel. It's coming up to our one year anniversary at our new location on George Street Ballymena. I'm gonna do a few posts to highlight what our first year has been like for us between 2025 and 2026.

Personally I wanna say thank you to our whole team. I have said it before and I'm saying it again, there is no other team I would rather be a part of leading!
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Today we had a visit from another local church. Victory Praise Community Church dropped in wellbeing packs with some long term food items included.

External support from organisations set within our local community is always very welcome. These avenues of blessing really make a difference. Oftentimes, landing at just the right time.

We want to thank Stephen who pastors Victory Praise Community Church and the team who joined him today to make their donation to the Lighthouse Hostel residents.
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Yesterday Lizzie announced she wanted to get creative and deliver a baking session for residents to get involved with.

Learning new skills is important.
Building relationships is as well.

Delivering creative approaches to support practical skills that our residents can learn and take with them into their own independent housing when that occurs is priceless.

Lizzie has recently come on team with the Lighthouse and has been a great asset to the support team and residents.

Love seeing this!
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For your interest.🔸APRIL TRAINING🔸

These courses are FREE to those working in the community, voluntary & statutory sectors

Sign up to our monthly newsletter for direct links to each course!
www.ascert.biz/sign-up-for-updates/

Register below 👇
👉training@ascert.biz
👉https://training.ascert.biz/

#ASCERT #ReducingHarm #SupportingPositiveChange #Training
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For your interest.

Friday night past something very important happened on location at Titanic Belfast. Our directing manager Mark Forsythe was invited to represent the Lighthouse hostel for the 2026 CIH All-Ireland Housing Awards which celebrate excellence and innovation across the housing sector, recognising the individuals, teams and partnerships that are making a real difference in communities across Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Choice Housing , in partnership with Lighthouse Hostel and Supporting People, relocated specialist homelessness services to the 1George Street development in Ballymena. Choice developed and we now deliver our person centred approach to residents within the homeless sector via 18 modern, self-contained apartments, our dedicated support team work to improve outcomes for residents who access our service and they demonstrate a positive impact through strong multi-agency collaborations across Northern Ireland and beyond

While we did not win our category, we were absolutely delighted to be nominated. We would like to congratulate Alpha housing and the turnaround project on their successful and well deserved win.

Understanding the value in being nominated for this award did not go unrecognised as a very special moment in Lighthouse History we are grateful to have been nominated and are continuing to support the homeless, delivering a very valuable service within Northern Ireland.

We will continue to do what we do and we will keep doing it to the best of our ability.

Thankyou to everyone out there for your continued support!
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What do we actually do. Well, as an officiated response I would say. We are the Lighthouse Hostel, we accept men between 18 and 65 years of age from all over Northern Ireland. We are staffed 24 hours a day 7 days a week. We have partnered with Choice Housing one of the leading housing providers in Northern Ireland to deliver support from 18 one bed apartments located at 1 George Street Ballymena.

NIHE: Our partners at the Northern Ireland Housing Executive work to refer their customers to our service. Through an interview process and initial assessment we then book individuals into our service where support is delivered by our teams.

Our support team is developing all the time and is available to residents 24/7, supporting, advocating between sector partners and associated external.services, assisting, signposting, helping individuals or small groups learn about cooking, looking after a home, being honest about drug/alcohol use, open about where we are at reference our mental health, cleaning, tidying, personal hygiene, sexual health.

CHAMPIONS: We have champions in some areas (e.g sexual health champion) and are working to develop commitment to roles our team can embrace which means residents have a point of contact on a specific areas they may require support with.

SUPPORT TEAM: Each Keyworker has both primary and secondary residents they follow up with regularly. Completing, needs assessments, reviews, risk assessments and support plans which are person centred and led by residents within a S.M.A.R.T framework. Specific/Measurable/Achievable/Realistic and Time Framed.

NURSE: We have planned visits by a community homeless nurse who meets with residents on a whole raft of support needs. We are extremely blessed having this when we do, in-house.

EYE CARE: A holistic service brought together by our department recting manager Mark Forsythe. To serve the homeless community and beyond with professional optician services among other things.

DEPUTYS: Our Deputies work together to support our teams and oversee day to day operational duties, from managing and recording finances to assuring correct operational practices are followed.

Our structure goes beyond this to senior management and directors and an advisory board.

But what do I say we do.......... For me it is this simple. We love people and we try everyday to do that well. We care about one another and we are learning how to improve upon what has been achieved by those who invested and began the Lighthouse Journey some 25 years ago now.
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Yesterday's Brunch Club was brought to you by Debbie n Betty. Brunch Club is very successful within the hostel and a very positive point of support for everyone.

Builds relationship.
Opportunities for relaxed conversations.
Positive Support contacts
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www.facebook.com/share/1SartvC6X9/🚨 We’re Hiring! 💊

Ballee Pharmacy is looking for a Pharmacy Assistant to join our busy and friendly team!
If you’re reliable, enjoy working with people, and thrive in a fast-paced environment, we’d love to hear from you. It’s a great opportunity to be part of a supportive team delivering excellent care to our community.
📅 Applications close: Friday 27th March
📩 Get in touch or apply today via indeed.com!
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https://www.facebook

We are growing. The management team is welcoming a fantastic young lady to our team. Please welcome Corrie Lee to the management team as a second deputy manager who will be working alongside Gavin the current deputy.

Corrie Lee has worked with our teams for a few years now and it should be recognised that she wasted no time since her Inception as an agency worker and then bank staff to begin learning systems and processes, policies and all other manners of support related material, keeping us all in check along the way and not being afraid to bring her own flavour for life to the Lighthouse team.

We as a team benefit from her passion for the homeless we serve.

Corrie Lee has said that I am her greatest advocate. I would say her actions always spoke louder than her words, and in her own words "TO BE FARE" there are plenty of them. Personally I am delighted with her coming into the management team and to let you know when her position was announced to the support team in our WhatsApp there were more hearts
than you might see on valentine's day.

CONGRATULATIONS CORRIE LEE🎉🎊 you left us little choice and that's a good thing!!!
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Just get me a ‘*******’ house.”
How would you feel if someone you were trying to help became aggressive and abusive?
We know that it can be frustrating going through processes and procedures and we do our best to help and support you.
Please be patient, polite and respectful.
We will not tolerate abusive, threatening or violent behaviour towards our staff and contractors.
Any incident will be reported to senior staff, and we could withdraw our help and support.
Where necessary, incidents will also be reported to Police.
#ZeroTolerance
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Good bye's, these can be planned or unplanned. Yesterday we were saying good bye on a positive note. Deirdre from the Gleam Team got a wee send off as she is moving to employment pastures new, we appreciate that this can occur with agency staffing on occasion.

It has been a pleasure having Deirdre on the Gleam Team. She is fun & diligent and has worked to keep the Hostel positively sparkling along with wee Winnie (Liz) for just shy of a year now something many visitors to the location comment on regularly.

I will miss the morning hello, the healthy breads and the, "oh you should try this" and Deirdre's smile around the Hostel.

Believing for only good things for you Deirdre and all the very best moving into pastures new.
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When Jordan got stuck for puppy day care on Friday we welcomed Mabel to the team for bring your pup to work day. The Lighthouse Hostel has had three dogs visit the team within it's first 11 months. Following the correct format, I hope we can continue this very positive contact. 😊

When done right! This can be extremely positive.

Bringing a dog to work is known to enhance employee well-being & reduces stress

Key Benefits of Pet-Friendly Workplaces:
Improved Mental Health & Lower Stress.
Increased Productivity & Creativity: Short.
Enhanced Teamwork & Communication.
Better Work-Life Balance.
Improved Recruitment & Retention.
Increased Job Satisfaction.

Who's idea anyway? Mark Forsythe, directing manager. Thank you, done by due process this has the potential to continue to be very positive for everyone.

Have animals been in the hostel before.......A few times actually, at our previous address. A miniature Yorkie, a British bulldog, a french dog Bordeaux, an abandoned puppy, a rescued kitten a snake and occasionally when the pool room window was left open we had a pigeon, ohh and an egg a resident found and was trying to hatch in his room under a lamp. Enough said, we have stories!

Ok, I remember a resident, many moons ago that experienced a monkey untying his shoe laces who also required NIFRS to rescue him from said circumstance. Now, enough said ,🙊🙊🙊

Remember: Follow/Like/Share

Donate: Unrestricted funds help our service to deliver support creatively outside of funding restrictions. You can donate via the Lighthouse website (www.lighthousehostel.org) simply hit donate and follow the guidance. Thankyou for your consideration your generosity matters!
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