George Gillespie, Community Network Manager, had the privilege of representing NIRN at the third Westminster Repair Café, an event that proved the “Right to Repair” is no longer a niche interest; it’s a national priority. Organised by The Restart Project and Back Market, the event brought together a powerful coalition of activists, volunteers, and policymakers. The goal? To advocate for a future where repair isn’t just a hobby, but an accessible, affordable, and standard part of the economy.

The stage of the Market Place Theatre was transformed into a vibrant runway on March 20th, as 16 local designers debuted a collection that proved style doesn’t have to cost the earth.

Compass Advocacy Network (CAN) is proving that environmental sustainability and social impact can go hand in hand. During a recent visit to their office at Lislagan Farm in Ballymoney, Community Network Manager Katie met with Linda to discuss the organisation’s proactive approach to the circular economy.

At the recent CIWM “Collaboration for a Green Transition” event, the conversation centred around people working together to achieve a sustainable future. The Sustainable Conversations Panel gave a real insight into the realities of everyday life in Northern Ireland and how, through diverting what some consider to be “waste”, we can change not only environmental goals but the lives of those in our local community. Two NIRN members were part of the panel: Jenny Williams from Habitat for Humanity and Gail Redmond from Via Wings. They shared the lived experiences of people in our local communities and championed the power of diverting waste and surplus, transforming it into the everyday essentials our communities need now to thrive.

Following a conversation at the recent NIRN – Northern Ireland Resources Network conference, Co. Antrim charity Hope365 highlighted a practical need: durable flat-pack cardboard boxes for their portable collection trailer, which supports donations from schools, businesses and churches across Northern Ireland.

Lions Clubs International is committed to environmental stewardship, and their latest global initiative focuses on a pressing modern problem: electronic waste (e-waste). From computers and mobile devices to large household appliances, e-waste poses a significant threat to our public health and local ecosystems if not managed correctly. By educating communities and establishing safe pathways, Lions are proving that impactful environmental leadership is rooted in local service.

Last week, Ebrington Primary Year 5 pupils joined our “Food Waste Wastes Everything” workshop, part of the NIRN Circular Schools Programme in partnership with FareShare Northern Ireland.

Recently, our Community Network Manager, Catherine Mullin, coordinated a major eyewear collection across Omagh, resulting in a phenomenal response from local opticians. This initiative perfectly demonstrates the circular economy in action, preventing high-quality goods from going to waste and giving them a second life where they are needed.

As families across the island of Ireland continue to feel the pinch of rising costs, Toy Libraries offer a playful solution. A new episode from the Sustainable Conversations podcast brings together three advocates of the Toy Library movement to discuss how “borrowing instead of buying” is helping local communities.

NIRN and members are developing a Circular Communities Pilot Programme to support communities across Northern Ireland in taking their first exciting steps into reuse and repair.

NIRN held the first Local Authority Forum meeting of 2026 at the impressive facilities of one of our members, Rostrevor Men’s Shed. It was a highly productive and energetic session, filled with progress updates from each council on their latest local waste initiatives.

We are delighted to introduce two fantastic organisations that have recently joined NIRN. Our Community Network Manager, George Gillespie, has been busy visiting these new members to discuss the resources, networking opportunities, and support available through their NIRN membership.