News
Charity Warns Young People About the Risks of Vaping to Cope with Exam Pressures
ASCERT is encouraging young people and families across Northern Ireland to be aware of the growing risks associated with vaping during exam season, as pressure linked to school performance continues to impact young people’s mental wellbeing.
European Champion Sports Stacking Champion from East Belfast Leads Challenge to Inspire Young People Across Northern Ireland
European Champion Sports Stacking Champion from East Belfast Leads The ASCERT Sport Stacking Challenge to Inspire Young People Across Northern Ireland.
Alcohol Costs UK Workplaces £1.4bn a Year Charity Offers Free Alcohol Awareness Sessions to NI Businesses
Alcohol-related absence is estimated to cost UK businesses £1.4 billion each year in lost productivity, with poor wellbeing often going unnoticed in the workplace.
To address this, ASCERT is offering FREE “Rethink Your Drink” Alcohol Awareness Sessions to organisations across Northern Ireland to support ongoing workplace-based wellbeing initiatives.
ASCERT Urges Public: Never Drink and Drive This Road Safety Week
As Road Safety Week gets underway across the UK, ASCERT, Northern Ireland’s leading alcohol, drug-related and mental health charity, is reminding everyone that the safest choice behind the wheel is to never drink and drive.
ASCERT urges women to ‘Rethink Your Drink’ during Menopause Awareness Month
ASCERT, Northern Ireland’s leading alcohol, drug and mental health charity, is raising awareness about the impact of alcohol on menopause symptoms, urging women to “rethink their drink” as part of a new information campaign highlighting the often-overlooked connection between midlife hormonal changes and alcohol consumption.
ASCERT Wins Campaigner of the Year Award at 2025 UK SMART Recovery Awards Ceremon
ASCERT is thrilled to announce that we have been awarded Campaigner of the Year at the SMART Recovery UK Awards 2025, held online on 30th September.
Supporting Pupils Starting Secondary School: ASCERT Highlights Counselling Support for Year 8 Students
ASCERT supports Year 8 pupils in Northern Ireland with the HOPE Counselling Service, helping young people manage stress and wellbeing at secondary school.
Belfast City Hall to Light Up Purple for International Overdose Awareness Day
On 31st August 2025, Belfast City Hall will be lit purple for International Overdose Awareness Day, uniting with a global movement to honour lives lost, raise awareness, and call for action to prevent future tragedies. ASCERT, Northern Ireland’s leading drug and alcohol charity, is urging communities to stand together in compassion, remembrance, and hope.
Pride, Progress, and SMART Recovery: ASCERT Offers Inclusive Support at Omagh Event
ASCERT, Northern Ireland’s leading charity dedicated to reducing drug and alcohol-related harm, were once again at Omagh Pride on Saturday 14th June 2025, showing its ongoing commitment to supporting the LGBTQ+ community in the West Tyrone area.
Got a story to share? — Suggest a news article to ASCERT
What will happen when you submit a suggestion for a contributor blog? ASCERT’s Marketing & Communications Coordinator will work with you to draw together a synopsis of your proposed submission. This will then be shared with ASCERT’s wider management team to ensure that the proposed contribution fits with ASCERT’s ethos, aims and operational remit (please note this process could take between 2-4 weeks).
Only if approved by the wider ASCERT management team will a potential contributor then be asked by the Marketing & Communications Coordinator to go ahead and prepare a full draft piece. Once submitted, the draft blog may be edited/amended by ASCERT and will once again need to be approved by ASCERT’s wider management team prior to any publication (please note this process could take between 2-4 weeks).
The contributor will then be shown the approved version and asked to complete a consent form that gives ASCERT permission to publish their contribution. Normally ASCERT prefers to identity ifs guest bloggers and it will be that guest blogger’s responsibility to ensure their submitted content does not mention another without that person’s express consent, does not defame or liable another, breaches the confidentiality of another or in any other manner is constructed and written in a manner that would breach any applicable laws or regulations. ASCERT’s Marketing & Communications Coordinator can help give you guidance based on these content restrictions.