Andy Allen MLA

Andy Allen MLA 🎖️Royal Irish Regiment Veteran | UUP MLA for East Belfast & Communities Spokesperson | MBE Awardee 2019 | Social Justice Champion

Delighted to be reappointed as Chairperson of the All-Party Group on Fuel Poverty this afternoon, a position I have been...
22/06/2026

Delighted to be reappointed as Chairperson of the All-Party Group on Fuel Poverty this afternoon, a position I have been honoured to hold since the APG was established several years ago.

A huge thank you to National Energy Action NI for their excellent support as secretariat to the Group throughout that time.

Following the AGM, members received an important update from the Department for Communities on the forthcoming Home Heating Oil Support Scheme.

The scheme is intended to provide a one-off ÂŁ100 payment, in the form of a digital prepaid card (voucher), to eligible households that use home heating oil as their main source of heating. The Department is aiming to have the scheme operational by the end of the summer, subject to the necessary legislation being put in place.

There will be three main eligibility routes:

• Those in receipt of an income-related benefit, including Pension Credit, Universal Credit and Income-Related Employment and Support Allowance.

• Those in receipt of a disability-related benefit, including Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Attendance Allowance and Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP). I have also raised the need to include other disability-related support payments, including those received through the War Pension Scheme and Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit, which the department have assured is being worked on.

• A single person or a couple (including pensioners) with a joint annual
income that equates to less than ÂŁ30,000 (net of allowable deductions).

The scheme will operate on an application basis and applications will be made online, with a telephony option available for those who require assistance with the process.

Applications are expected to remain open until 31 March 2027.

I will share further information and updates as they become available.

As Chairperson of the APG on Fuel Poverty, I welcome this support and will continue to engage with the Department to ensure those who need assistance can access it as easily as possible and that further measures are developed to support households experiencing fuel poverty.

Delighted to attend the Renaissance Chamber Choir’s 50th Anniversary Concert at Cregagh Presbyterian Church this evening...
20/06/2026

Delighted to attend the Renaissance Chamber Choir’s 50th Anniversary Concert at Cregagh Presbyterian Church this evening.

A fantastic evening of music and a fitting way to celebrate such a significant milestone. As Belfast’s oldest chamber choir, the Renaissance Chamber Choir has been part of the city’s cultural life for 50 years, and that is a tremendous achievement.

The choir delivered an excellent programme of music, and it was also great to hear the Cregagh Presbyterian Handbell Choir perform as part of the celebrations.

Congratulations to everyone involved, both past and present, on reaching this anniversary. Thank you for the invitation and for a very enjoyable evening.

Wishing the choir every success for the future.

19/06/2026

On Thursday, the Minister for Communities joined the Committee for Communities for our quarterly engagement session.

I began by thanking the Minister for the way he has engaged with me throughout his tenure to date. We may not always agree on every policy or approach, but it is important that we work constructively together to deliver for Northern Ireland and the people we represent.

I then raised a number of issues. Firstly, I sought an update on the ÂŁ150 million Warm, Healthy Homes funding and the efforts being made to secure the investment needed to improve energy efficiency in homes across Northern Ireland.

I also highlighted the ongoing need for sufficient investment in social housing to deliver the homes that are urgently needed. In particular, I touched on concerns regarding recent warnings from housing associations about changes to grant funding and the potential impact this could have on future delivery.

Finally, with time limited, I asked about the Department’s timescales for monitoring the rollout of the Right to Try employment support scheme in Great Britain and assessing whether there are lessons that could be applied here in Northern Ireland.

Applications are open for the Coca-Cola 2026.Grants of between ÂŁ4,500 and ÂŁ13,000 are available to non-profit organisa...
19/06/2026

Applications are open for the Coca-Cola 2026.

Grants of between £4,500 and £13,000 are available to non-profit organisations supporting young people aged 16–25 to reach their potential through education, training and employment opportunities.

The closing date for applications is Friday 26 June 2026.

Find out more and apply at: https://www.coca-cola.com/ie/en/social/tyf

16/06/2026

We are seeking donations of pre-loved uniforms for all East Belfast schools and Priory Integrated College. Please get in touch with us if you can help, thank you

đź“š Free School Meals and Uniform Allowance for the 2026/27 School YearThe 2026/27 application process for Free School Mea...
15/06/2026

đź“š Free School Meals and Uniform Allowance for the 2026/27 School Year

The 2026/27 application process for Free School Meals and School Uniform/Physical Education Clothing Allowances opened on 1 June 2026.

All parents and carers who believe they may be eligible are encouraged to apply as soon as possible to ensure support is in place for the start of the new school year in September.

Applications can be made online via:
https://connect.eani.org.uk/parent/Login

⚠️ It is important to note that applications must be made each year, even if you received support during the previous school year.

Parents and carers should ensure they provide all required supporting documentation when applying. Incomplete applications may result in delays.

Children with a Statement of Special Educational Needs who require a special diet may also be eligible, even if they do not meet the standard financial criteria. An eligibility check must be completed first to access the relevant application.

Further information, eligibility criteria and frequently asked questions are available here: https://www.eani.org.uk/parents/pupil-applications-and-grants/free-school-meals-and-uniform-grants/frequently-asked

If you need assistance with an application, the Education Authority Free School Meals and Uniform/Physical Education Clothing Allowance Helpdesk is available Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 4.00pm by email at [email protected] or by telephone on 028 9047 0233.

Alternatively, if you are an East Belfast constituent and require assistance, please do not hesitate to contact my office on 028 9046 3900.

Those who may be eligible are encouraged to submit their application before the last Friday in July to help ensure support is in place for the start of the new school year.

11/06/2026

Update from Translink

Good afternoon,

Please be aware that all Translink bus and train services are currently operating as normal.

The safety of our staff and customers remains our top priority, and we thank everyone for their continued patience and understanding during this period.

In light of recent events, the following plan will be put in place for this evening (Thursday 11 June):

- There will be no Belfast Metro / Glider departures and Ulsterbus services operating out of Belfast after 5:30pm.
- The last NI Railways services will operate on or before 8:15pm from Belfast Grand Central Station.
- A reduced timetable will operate this evening on Enterprise services - customers should check details online before they travel.
- Outside Belfast, local Ulsterbus services are expected to operate largely as normal, including Foyle Metro, with some adjustments.
- Goldliner services operating within Northern Ireland will have no departures after 7:30pm.
X1, X2, X3, X4 and Ulsterbus 300 airport services will operate as normal.

Customers are advised to check the latest travel updates via Translink social media channels, the Journey Planner app, and our website – Travel Updates | Translink .

We are grateful for your continued understanding at this time.

11/06/2026

THE WAIT IS ALMOST OVER🚨🔥👀

You’ve asked for it. You’ve talked about it. You’ve waited long enough…

🎾 LET’S GO PADEL IS COMING TO SHORTS! 🎾

For months we’ve been asked when padel is arriving, and we’re now one step closer to bringing one of the world’s fastest-growing sports right here to Shorts Recreation & Football Club.

Fast-paced. Social. Addictive. Competitive.

Whether you’re looking for a new hobby, a new sport, or just an excuse to get your mates together, padel is for everyone — and trust us, once you play it, you’ll be hooked.

The excitement is building, the plans are moving forward, and we can’t wait to welcome you onto the courts.

This isn’t just another facility…
This is set to be one of the biggest additions to Shorts in years. 🔥

Keep your eyes peeled for updates, announcements and opening details coming soon.

The countdown has officially begun… 👀🎾

10/06/2026

Message from Translink

Please be aware that, due to expected protests, all Translink bus and rail services will be suspended this evening (Wednesday 10th June).

There will be no bus departures after 5pm and no train services will depart after 6pm.

There is currently a temporary suspension of some bus services until 1:30pm, after which time services will resume.

We are working closely with a range of stakeholders, including the PSNI, our Trade Unions, and other key partners to make appropriate arrangements to keep our passengers, staff and the wider public safe.

Passengers are advised that services may be subject to alteration or cancellation. Where possible, passengers should travel earlier in the day and allow extra time for their journeys.

Suspending services is always a last resort, but the safety of our customers and staff remains our top priority. We want to give people as much advance notice as possible so they can plan accordingly.

We thank our staff and customers for their continued support at this time.

We intend to be in a position to resume normal services tomorrow morning, and passengers are encouraged to check the latest travel updates via Translink social channels and the Journey Planner app, and online at www.translink.co.uk

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