ULSTER HOCKEY LUNCH
Ulster Hockey will welcome Olympic athlete Sally Gunnell to Belfast on Friday September 20 as special guest and keynote speaker at its Club 1896 gala lunch.
Set to take place at Titanic Belfast, the lunch is the main fixture in a programme of events that the networking forum has delivered this year.
Formed to bring the worlds of sport and business together to create valuable partnerships and ultimately drive the development and profile of hockey in Northern Ireland, Club 1896 events feature inspirational athletes, leaders and entrepreneurs.
The gala lunch is built around the theme of ‘inspiring greatness’ – something that accomplished athlete Sally Gunnell will undoubtedly deliver.
The only female to hold four major track titles concurrently – Olympic, World, European and Commonwealth, Sally will share stories from her incredible athletics career and insight into lessons she learned throughout that journey. Since her retirement from sport, Sally has enjoyed an impressive career in television and has written four books on health and wellness.
The event will also feature a panel discussion between local business leaders and successful sportspeople, exploring how they have managed challenges throughout their career and obstacles they have overcome.
Panellists confirmed include director of women’s football at the Irish Football Association and chair of the Female Sports Forum Angela Platt; managing partner of Arthur Cox Lynsey Mallon; and international hockey star Eugene Magee.
Tickets for the lunch, which is supported by Arthur Cox, are available via Eventbrite (search Ulster Hockey Club 1896) or from Ulster Hockey.
SOMA FEST RETURNS
The SOMA Festival will be returning to Castlewellan from July 19-21, with a host of musical performances, exciting activities and holistic experiences.
The three-day festival, which has been specially curated by the SOMA volunteer team to ensure the best artists from across the island of Ireland and beyond will be in attendance, will feature a variety of performances, offering audiences the chance to embrace the alternative festival vibe that can’t be found anywhere else.
With funding from Newry, Mourne & Down District Council, Foras na Gaeilge, and sponsors and partners Whitewater Brewing Co., Glór Uachtar Tíre, Excalibur Press, Dolmes Climate Action Network, and Cumann Phobail Garbhdhoire, SOMA Festival 2024 tickets are available and can be purchased for individual events or as a weekend access pass to all concerts.
With a full line-up set to be released in due course there will be a number of festival hubs scattered around the town with SOMA on the Square, Little Gems and Mind, Body & Soul also making a return.
Full details including tickets can be found at www.linktr.ee/thesomafestival
LRA PRIDE DISCUSSION
To raise awareness of the challenges faced by LGBTQIA+ employees experiencing domestic violence and abuse, the Labour Relations Agency (LRA) is hosting a panel discussion on the subject during Belfast Pride Festival 2024. This will provide employers with insights and strategies to better support their employees.
The event, themed ‘Safe at Home, Safe at Work’ will take place on Wednesday July 24 at the LRA’s office at The Gasworks in Belfast from 9.15am to 1pm, with the panel discussion chaired by Belfast lawyer Jude Copeland from Cleaver Fulton Rankin.
The focus of the LRA panel discussion is set against the backdrop of the Department for the Economy’s consultation on the implementation of the Domestic Abuse (Safe Leave) Act (NI) 2022. The panel discussion also builds on the LRA’s ‘Safe at Home, Safe at Work’ guidance, published in partnership with the Irish Congress of Trade Unions.
Panellists include Patrick Quigley, Labour Relations Agency; Cara McCann, HERe NI; Scott Cuthbertson, The Rainbow Project; Clare Corkey, Men’s Advisory Project; Geraldine McGahey, Equality Commission; and Clare Moore, Irish Congress of Trade Unions.
To register for the event visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/safe-at-home-safe-at-work-pride-panel-discussion-tickets-942185661677
SOCIAL ENTERPRISE AWARDS
The deadline for entries to the 2024 Social Enterprise Northern Ireland Awards has been extended until midnight on Wednesday, July 31, which gives social enterprises a further opportunity to submit their entries for one of the 16 prestigious awards.
These awards are not just about recognition but come with significant benefits. They allow organisations to reward their teams, enhance credibility, increase brand exposure and trust within their peer network, and seize PR and marketing opportunities. Winning can open doors to new business and boost sales, all while showcasing the sector’s excellence.
The Social Enterprise Awards, in partnership with Go Succeed highlight the talented individuals, teams and organisations who are making a real difference, changing lives, building inclusive communities, and making a positive impact in society, all while making a profit through their respective business.
Winners will be announced at a gala award ceremony on Friday, November 8, hosted by radio presenter and Social Enterprise Northern Ireland ambassador Cate Conway.
The 2024 award categories cover a broad spectrum, including best new start up, best use of social media, community wealth building, consumer facing social enterprise, cooperative, council, credit union (with categories for both assets up to £25 million and over £25 million), emerging leader, leader of the year, outstanding team award, product based social enterprise (new), rural social enterprise of the year, social enterprise of the year (both for turnovers up to £500k and over £500k), social impact award, social value partnership, and young person. There are also specific private & public sector categories such as the social value partnership award and council of the year.
To enter the 2024 Awards, visit socialenterpriseni.awardsplatform.com