Belfast’s May Day programme for 2026 was launched on Thursday (April 16th).
The event at the Oh Yeah Music Centre heard from a number of people from the labour movement and the arts sector ahead of a series of events, including the annual May Day parade through the city centre.
Chilean musician Victor Henriquez set the mood for the evening with a number of songs.
Assessing the importance of the May Day events, Paddy Mackel, president, Belfast Trades Council and a trade union official with UCU (University and College Union), told those gathered: “The point, for us, is to make this a recognised public community festival for years to come.
“It is really exciting for us to be building this year on year.
“You see how community festivals in other countries develop and what we are seeing here in this one is that is the direction we are going.
“The May Day festival itself, on the day, will have things for families and young people. It’s a fun day out for people but there will also be politics in that, as there rightly should be.
“Because all of this is about politics. It’s all about protecting human beings in this world of chaos – and that’s our role.”
The May events will run from April 25th to May 9th.
They include live music, discussions, walks, book and pamphlet launches and the march and rally – on Saturday, May 2nd.
Gerry Murphy, assistant general secretary, ICTU, said at the launch: “This is the biggest celebration of working people across the island. It’s founded on action. Three actions in particular: those actions are to educate, to agitate, and to organise.
“The programme of events that we are here launching brings together the trade union movement, the arts, ethnic minorities, and the under-appreciated community and voluntary sector in a celebration of both the traditions of the labour movement and a demonstration of the determination of working people and communities across this city to continue the work of previous generations in bringing about positive change.”
You can view the May Day Belfast 2026 programme here
Belfast 2024 programme team is delighted to invite you to our Belfast 2024 Open Day! Come take a leap and do something creative with us on Thursday 29th February!
We will be hosting a day of creativity at 2 Royal Avenue, free and open to the public from 2pm to 7pm.
Everyone is welcome to drop in at any stage and find out all about the opportunities to get involved and be part of this creative programme. From boat building to making your own clothes, dancing to gardening, there’s something for everyone in Belfast 2024.
On the day you’ll be able to take our quiz and find out what kind of ‘Creative Me’ profile you are, try out activities and make a creative resolution for the year by writing a letter to your future self (which we’ll post back to you in 2025!).
Looking forward to seeing you on this leap day
At GEMS NI Office, 34 Shaftsbury Square, Belfast
Wednesday 21st February 2024, 10am – 1pm
For more information click on the link
The Consumer Council provde Advice and Information, Investigate and Resolve Compliants, they will also Advocate on your behalf!
The Counsumer Council have recently launched their new website and it looks fantastic. Here you can find Money Saving Tools, Compliants Resolution, and Advice and Information.
The Cliff Edge Coalition is pleased to see the restoration of the Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive and is looking forward to working with the Department for Communities and the new Minister for Communities, Gordon Lyons, to protect people from the damaging effects of poverty in Northern Ireland.
The harsh impacts of welfare reform and significant budget cuts to the Department for Communities are increasing hardship for households in Northern Ireland. This situation is further exacerbated by the ongoing cost-of-living crisis and action is urgently needed to address growing poverty levels.
The Cliff Edge Coalition is calling for three key asks to help strengthen the social security system which will provide important protections against poverty and reduce the risk of debt and destitution.
To read the full statement, click here:
BURC encourages Tax Credit claimants to seek independent advice before making a claim for Universal Credit in order to maximise entitlement to benefit uprating from April
With the Department for Communities currently issuing thousands of Migration Notice letters each month to people on Tax Credits as part of its ‘Move to UC’ programme, we want to make sure that those affected get the right advice about the timing of their claim in order to maximise their entitlement to the 6.7% benefit uprating from April.
‘Move to UC’ refers to the UK Government’s plan to move ‘legacy’ benefit claimants, including those currently receiving Child or Working Tax Credit, on to Universal Credit. As part of this programme, the Department is currently issuing Migration Notice letters instructing people on the ‘legacy’ benefits that they have three months to make a claim to Universal Credit before their existing benefit awards will end.
Kevin Higgins, Head of Policy, Advice NI, sets out the crucial importance for some claimants of delaying their claim for Universal Credit until April.
“Comparing the amount of money someone would receive on Universal Credit as opposed to their current Tax Credit award is often a complicated task, but there are some fundamental truths:
In particular, we know that benefit uprating amounting to 6.7% will apply from April, whilst the support provided for help with rent for claimants living in the private rented sector will also see a substantial boost.
If Transitional Protection is in place prior to these changes, any increases in support will be offset against the Transitional Protection element. In other words, the claimant will not benefit fully from the increases and so will be worse off.”
The key message is if you are currently receiving ‘legacy’ benefits and you receive your Migration Notice letter about moving to Universal Credit you should ALWAYS seek independent advice so that you can make an informed choice based on your individual circumstances.
Your Migration Notice will give the exact date by which you need to make your claim, and an independent adviser will be able to help you figure out whether you have the option to delay moving until April and whether this is the best choice for you.
Call us on 028 9096 1111 or email Joanne.Farrell@burc.org for advice. You can find your local advice provider at Local Advice | Advice NI.
Kevin Higgins continued:
“We understand that the ‘Move to UC’ Discovery Phase in Northern Ireland highlighted that 87% of claimants were entitled to Transitional Protection. This evidence indicates that people need to take the issue of when to make the move very seriously, and if they can, they need to check their deadline and consider delaying making the move until on or after 8th April.”
‘Legacy’ benefits refer to the number of working age, means-tested benefits that are to be replaced by Universal Credit. They are: Income Support, income-based Employment & Support Allowance, income-based Jobseekers Allowance, Housing Benefit, Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit.
Save Money & Energy! Check out the latest money saving tips Energy efficiency campaign 2023 Communications pack (1)
Are you looking to get back into employment, would you like support to navigate the different areas. If you are 50+ and this is something you would like to know more about, Still Ready for Work click on this link and read how to make contact and start the process. Good luck!
Happy New Year! We hope this message finds you well. We’re excited to announce the return of our free online ESOL classes starting from Monday, January 15th.
To our Tutors: we appreciate your dedication and look forward to your continued support.
To our Learners: welcome back! We’re eager to see you make progress and succeed.
If you haven’t registered yet, there’s still time. Visit our website or contact Claudia on ESOL@burc.org for any information.
Thank you for being part of the BURC ESOL community. Looking forward to working together for another positive and successful year!
