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!
Image by senivpetro on Freepik
As the year comes to a close, we are delighted to share that our ESOL classes have successfully concluded for the year. It has been a remarkable journey filled with learning, growth, and the forging of new connections.
A heartfelt thank you goes out to our incredible Volunteer Tutors who have dedicated their time, expertise, and unwavering commitment to make our ESOL programme a resounding success.
To our Learners, we extend our sincerest appreciation for your hard work, determination, and enthusiasm throughout the year. Your dedication to improving your language skills has contributed to the vibrant and diverse community we are proud to be a part of.
As we approach the holiday season, we wish each and every one of you a peaceful and joyful break and great start of the New Year.
Looking ahead, we are excited to announce that our ESOL classes will resume from Monday, 15th January, 2024. We eagerly anticipate another year of learning, collaboration, and growth.
For any information and updates on our courses, please contact Claudia on ESOL@burc.org.
Once again, a giant thank you to our Volunteer Tutors, Learners, and everyone who has contributed to the success of our ESOL programme. Your support is invaluable, and we are truly grateful for the positive impact you’ve made.
Looking forward to working together for a positive 2024!
The Consumer Council regularly update theirwebsite with information that would be helpful for consumers. This includes a number of free resources and practical tools to help consumers reduce their energy bills and find the best tariffs available. You can access the advice on energy saving here. Here you can find advice on switching suppliers, energy price comparision tools, price comparison tools and grants and schemes available to support with energy costs.
In addition to energy advice, we have a range of other free support, advice and tools to help consumers with the cost-of-living crisis. The Consumer Council can provide help and support on a range of topics including your food shop, your home energy bills, your transport and more. Use the link here to browse by area relevant to you. You can access consumer information relating to the cost of living here.
The Money and Pensions Service (MaPS), financial wellbeing is about feeling secure and in control. It’s about making the most of your money from day to day, dealing with the unexpected, and being on track for a healthy financial future. In short: financially resilient, confident and empowered.
People who experience financial wellbeing are less stressed about money. This, in turn, has positive effects on their overall mental and physical health, and on their relationships.
As many people face an unprecedented squeeze on their budget, MaPS have developed effective tools and resources to give the right information to people quickly. Use this link to go directly to their website to find out more about what supports are available Share MoneyHelper’s cost of living campaign | The Money and Pensions Service (maps.org.uk) or Free and impartial help with money, backed by the government | MoneyHelper
For more in-depth information on coping with the rising cost of living, they have produced a 28-page booklet which can be downloaded from the MoneyHelper website
Forward South Partnership are hosting a range of Community Meals for individuals 55 years and over who are facing hardship due to the costs of living crisis. At each of the community meals a range of organisations will be in attendance to provide advice and practical support due to the cost-of-living crisis. Booking is essential for the community meals and numbers are limited. Please directly contact Emily at emily.brown@forwardsouth.org Please see attached poster with date, times, and venues for each community meals.
Energy Price Comparison Tables for all available tariffs in NI. The tables compare Electricity, Gas and Economy 7 tariffs Price Comparison Tables | Consumer Council
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We are all feeling the pinch at the moment with our energy bills, if you are not sure how to check tariffs, or how to go about changing provider, the consumer council have some great tips and resources to help us to understand tariffs and switching providers safely. Use this link to go directly to the consumer council website Considering Switching Supplier? | Consumer Council
Check out the short video on youtube Understanding energy tariffs and how to switch supplier – YouTube
Open Botanic will be a community street event and is being delivered in partnership with local residents, community groups, Queens University Belfast, Policing, Community Safety Partnership, Department for Communities, Public Health Agency, Northern Ireland Housing Executive, Ormeau Business Park, and Belfast Roma Support Hub.
The festival will include community designed spaces, health and wellbeing fair, kids’ activities, music, greening workshops, games, and pop-up cycle path. Local businesses on Botanic Avenue will be operating and extending on to the street helping to transform Botanic Avenue, enhancing local character and sense of place.
We are welcoming to you to join us on Sunday 20th November (12 noon – 3pm) to celebrate with us as we Open Botanic for local communities.
Looking forward to seeing you there!
Talk Money Week is an annual public awareness campaign, run by the Money and Pensions Service, to get the nation having conversations about money. Talking about finances has been shown to help people make better informed and less risky financial decisions, feel less stressed or anxious and more in control, have stronger personal relationships, and help their children form good lifetime money habits. Talk Money Week will take place from 7-11 November 2022. TMW – 01
About the Money and Pensions Service
The Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) is here to ensure every person feels more in control of their finances throughout their lives: from pocket money to pensions. When they are, communities are healthier, businesses are more prosperous, the economy benefits and individuals feel better off. MaPS delivers free and impartial money and pensions guidance to the public through MoneyHelper, which recently brought together legacy services the Money Advice Service, The Pensions Advisory Service and Pension Wise.
MaPS is working to make sure the whole of the UK understands that financial, physical and mental health are all deeply connected. MaPS’ role is to connect organisations with the shared purpose of achieving the five goals set out in the UK Strategy for Financial Wellbeing.
MaPS supports innovation so that everyone can use the most effective methods to help people feel more in control of their money, targeted to those most in need and inclusive of people from all backgrounds. MaPS is an arm’s-length body sponsored by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
For further information visit www.maps.org.uk. Members of the public can get free guidance about their money and pensions via: www.moneyhelper.org.uk / 0800 138 7777