Professional News
What’s in Your Glass? Time to Rethink Your Drink?
ASCERT encourages people to take control of their drinking this Alcohol Awareness Week ASCERT, Northern Ireland’s leading charity dedicated to reducing drug and alcohol-related harm, is urging the public to consider, “What’s in Your Glass? Time to Rethink Your...
ASCERT Triumphs at the CIPD Northern Ireland Awards 2025
ASCERT has achieved a remarkable victory at the CIPD Northern Ireland Awards 2025. Against fierce competition, we emerged victorious, securing the prestigious Best Flexible Working Initiative award.
ASCERT launches Recovery Choir: A Weekly Safe Space for Healing Through Song
ASCERT, NI’s leading alcohol, drugs and mental health charity, are delighted to announce an inspirational new initiative – the ASCERT Recovery Choir. The choir meets at 6.45pm for an hour long practice starting at 7pm, finishing at 8pm, in the Westcourt Centre, Barrack Street, Belfast BT12 4AH.
ASCERT launches SMART Recovery Group in Omagh
NI’s leading alcohol and drug charity ASCERT announce their partnership with SMART Recovery to deliver free in person weekly meetings in Omagh for adults seeking support with addictive behaviour starting on Wednesday 7th August 2024.
Taking place weekly every Wednesday morning between 11am and 12.30pm in Omagh Library, these meetings do not require advanced booking and are free to anyone aged 18 and over.
Implementing Trauma Informed Approaches in NI
ASCERT’s Training Manager Colin Robinson and Training Officer Elena Brewer virtually attended Queens University’s research launch earlier this week. The Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland had commissioned Queens to undertake research to provide recommendations for the advancement of Trauma Informed Approaches across Northern Ireland.
It Was My Normal – A Story About Young People Living with Hidden Harm
This video was made by young people who have received support from ASCERT. They came together to share their experiences of living with hidden harm and to offer reassurance and help to others in similar situations. There were two groups—one in Belfast and one in...
World Hepatitis Day 2023
As part of Health & Wellbeing Week 2023, ASCERT encouraged staff to get moving for Tone-Up Thursday. Staff went for a walk both around their offices and their own homes, and shared pictures with each other!
ASCERT Impact Report 2021-22
We have published our latest Impact Report for the 2021-22 year, demonstrating the work we have been doing over the period and the impact we have had in the community and for our service users. ASCERT Chief Executive Gary McMichael says, "ASCERT has continued to...
Drug and Alcohol Resources for Youth Workers
ASCERT and Boys & Girls Club have developed a Drugs and Alcohol curriculum for delivery in youth settings. This was a regional development project funded by the Education Authority to develop a drug and alcohol curriculum for the youth work sector and a set of...
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.

