Belfast Times

Belfast Times Belfast Times, a lifestyle brand and online magazine. Est 2011. www.thebelfasttimes.com

The Day I Had Lunch With An Astronaut !That was an epic day; such an honour to meet someone who has been into space to h...
10/10/2025

The Day I Had Lunch With An Astronaut !

That was an epic day; such an honour to meet someone who has been into space to help build the International Space Station 🧑‍🚀

Thanks for the invite Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex 🚀

Read our October magazine at https://issuu.com/belfasttimes/docs/belfast_times_-_october_2025?ff

October marks Positive Ageing Month, and Lidl Northern Ireland and charity partner Age NI have together revealed researc...
08/10/2025

October marks Positive Ageing Month, and Lidl Northern Ireland and charity partner Age NI have together revealed research findings around the prevalence of loneliness amongst older people in NI.

Two thirds (65%) of over 65s say they can feel ‘invisible’ or ‘overlooked’.
Two in five say they feel lonely often or on occasion.
A quarter (25%) of older people said they often or sometimes go a day or more without speaking to anyone.

The groundbreaking new research, conducted by Ipsos in September 2025, aimed to explore the challenges facing older people in Northern Ireland as part of a new campaign tackling misconceptions, promoting positive ageing and celebrating the vital and vibrant contributions older people make in society.

The hard hitting new ‘Making Age Visible’ campaign by Lidl Northern Ireland and its official charity partner Age NI was launched this week to mark Positive Ageing Month at a special event in Belfast’s Victoria Square where a powerful new artistic installation will be on display until 28th October 2025.

The charity also offers a dedicated ‘Check In and Chat’ telephone service for anyone over 60 in Northern Ireland who may feel isolated or lonely.

For Age NI services, to donate or to find local ways to connect with older people in your community, visit ageni.org

Pupils from five Belfast schools are celebrating after being named winners of Belfast City Council’s 2025 Billboard Chal...
08/10/2025

Pupils from five Belfast schools are celebrating after being named winners of Belfast City Council’s 2025 Billboard Challenge.

The initiative, launched earlier this year, invited both primary and post-primary schools across the city to take part in a creative competition, designing billboards that highlight important community issues. This year, pupils focused on themes such as littering, dog fouling and graffiti.

From the many entries received, five winning designs were selected and proudly displayed on billboards in the winners’ local areas, sending an important message to thousands of people across Belfast.

This year’s winning schools were Cranmore Integrated Primary, Dunmurry Primary, Holy Family Primary, Holy Evangelist Primary and St Oliver Plunkett Primary. Each winning design tackled local issues in a fun, creative and memorable way:

St Oliver Plunkett Primary School focused on dog fouling with a creative billboard featuring partying dogs and the slogan: “Don’t be a party pooper. Scoop your poop.”

Holy Evangelist Primary School encouraged residents not to be lazy and lift their litter. They also tackled dog fouling with the cheeky reminder: “We don’t live in a zoo, pick up your poo!”

Holy Family Primary School got straight to the point with their slogan: “Don’t leave poo for someone’s shoe!”

Dunmurry Primary School took a sporting approach with a clever design of a bin as a basketball net alongside the slogan: “Slam Dunk the Junk.”

Cranmore Integrated Primary School tackled graffiti with a strong message: “Think before you spray, put the paint can away.”

Speaking with pupils from Dunmurry Primary School, the Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Tracy Kelly, praised the initiative and the creativity of the young people involved:

“I had the pleasure of spending time with the wonderful pupils from Dunmurry Primary School to celebrate their success in our challenge. This fantastic initiative gives pupils across Belfast the chance to highlight important community issues like litter, graffiti and dog fouling through their own creativity. I’m so proud of the winning designs, which have been displayed on billboards close to their schools, a powerful reminder that we all have a role to play in looking after our communities.”

The Billboard Challenge offers a fun and engaging way for pupils to use their creativity to promote positive community action. Seeing their artwork displayed on real billboards is a rewarding experience that helps them understand the impact of their messages and encourages pride in their local area.

The challenge forms part of Belfast City Council’s wider efforts to engage with young people, empower them to take pride in their neighbourhoods and encourage positive behaviour that benefits everyone. If you would like more information on other workshops and initiatives on the topic of litter and waste, email the Environmental Education Outreach team at [email protected].

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Belfast Times

I started Belfast Times in 2011 to share with the world everything that is great about Belfast. Starting with reviews and event news, I went on to introduce a range of designs and products which also celebrate the City and Northern Ireland. Belfast Times has fans across the world who enjoy catching up with our reviews and who love owning a Belfast Times design! Jeff