Positive Futures

17/03/2026

Great piece from our placement student Chloe Torrans for Shared Lives Plus Community who recently completed her 17 week placement with our Families Matters Shared Lives Service in Belfast 🥰.

Have a read: https://sharedlivesplus.org.uk/2026/03/17/shared-lives-creates-a-real-sense-of-belonging-social-work-student-chloe-reflects-on-placement-for-world-social-work-day/

For World Social Work Day, social work student Chloe Torrans shares what she learned during her Shared Lives placement.

During her time with the Families Matter Shared Lives service at Positive Futures, Chloe saw how Shared Lives supports people through relationships, everyday life and community connection.

She explains why the experience strengthened her confidence as a future social worker - and why more people in the profession should know about Shared Lives.

“Seeing Shared Lives in practice showed me that it is built around community, inclusion, and a real sense of family and belonging.”

Read Chloe’s reflections.

https://sharedlivesplus.org.uk/2026/03/17/shared-lives-creates-a-real-sense-of-belonging-social-work-student-chloe-reflects-on-placement-for-world-social-work-day/

16/03/2026

Be part of what’s next in Belfast supported living 🌱

As we prepare to welcome someone new to our Ormiston Supported Living Service, we’re strengthening leadership across the team.

We’re recruiting Specialist Senior Support Workers to help shape this next chapter:

☀️ Day shift roles leading the team and supporting practice on shift:
https://pulse.ly/qem8b15z4j

🌙 Waking night roles overseeing the service and maintaining a safe, well-run environment overnight:
https://pulse.ly/7iz4fzsvf5

In both roles, you’ll guide shifts, mentor colleagues, and model strong practice in supporting people with a learning disability, autism or brain injury.

Please note, this post has a Genuine Occupational Requirement (GOR) and is open to male applicants only.

If you want to join a service that’s evolving, and play a key role in building it well, we’d like to hear from you.

15/03/2026

The young people, supported by our Lakeland Family Support Service have been busy decorating cupcakes and making cards for all their Mums. Thanks to Deliciously Eatable for coming in to help our kids decorate their cupcakes. Happy Mother's Day to all those mums out there - you are doing a great job.

13/03/2026

Graham and others from our Windermere Supported Living Service in Co Antrim enjoyed seeing 'Give My Head Peace' in the Waterfront Hall in Belfast. Here is Graham pictured with Tim McGarry, one of the stars.

11/03/2026

Somethings coming…

Thank you to minister Mike Nesbitt for visiting Annagh Social Farm CIC, in Co. Fermanagh, an exciting new project we are working on with Jennifer and Simon.

This partnership is about creating an environment for people with a learning disability to call home and exploring new ways to enable them to thrive with the support of Positive Futures.

Watch this space!

09/03/2026

Lakeland Supported Living Service is growing, and we’re looking for an experienced and values-led Senior Support Worker to join our team.

This is a role rooted in real relationships. You’ll work closely with individuals with a learning disability, autism or brain injury, making sure their support reflects who they are, what matters to them, and how they want to live.

If you’re ready to take the next step in your social care career, and you lead with empathy and good judgement, we’d love to hear from you.

Apply today: https://pulse.ly/ac8eejhztk

08/03/2026

As we celebrate , 🎥 we’re delighted to share this clip of Gill and Amy from our NAHVI service in Donabate, North Dublin: a beautiful example of this year’s global message “Give to Gain”, which highlights how generosity can empower women everywhere💪.

By giving her time as Amy’s sight guide, Gill helps open doors to independence - travelling across Dublin, trying new activities and confidently taking part in community life. In return, both gain connection, joy and shared achievement✨.

Their journey also reflects the UN Women 2026 theme “Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls”♀️, which urges us to build a world where women like Amy can access the same opportunities as everyone else, supported by systems and people who champion equality.

It’s in relationships like theirs that these themes come alive: women empowering women, taking action together, and shaping their own lives.

07/03/2026

At Positive Futures, we believe that supporting people also means including them in caring for the world around us 🌍.

Our Caring for Our World approach is about making positive choices that protect our planet, promote sustainability and create lasting benefits for future generations ♻️. Brothers Patrick and Michael, supported by our Sperrin Supported Living Service, in Co. Omagh, have discovered different ways in which they do their bit for the environment, such as buying preloved clothes or using food waste for compost.

Every step counts, and together we can make a real difference.

Find out more here: https://positive-futures.net/caring-for-our-world/

A training course on climate change has been specially developed for people with learning disabilities

06/03/2026

This International Women's Day♀️, we celebrate Ann - a woman who truly lives the spirit of 'Give to Gain'. For 9 years, Ann who is supported by our Families Matter, Shared Lives service in Belfast has quietly knitted scarves, snoods and hats for ‘The Peoples Kitchen’, helping to keep those experiencing homelessness warm. Stitch by stitch, year after year, her kindness has wrapped comfort around hundreds of lives. By giving her time and talent, Ann has gained something powerful: community, purpose and the knowledge that she has made a real difference. Ann recently told us that she spotted a homeless man being interviewed on TV wearing one of her snoods - that made her feel “happy and worthwhile”.

06/03/2026

We’re hiring three Relief Community Support Workers to join our Lakeland Family Support Service in Omagh.

In this role you’ll support children and young people aged 5–18 with a learning disability, autism or acquired brain injury to take part in activities they enjoy – things like swimming, outings, games or simply spending time in their local community.

The role is flexible: afternoons, evenings and weekends during term time, with more daytime hours available during school holidays.

If you’re reliable, friendly and comfortable working one-to-one, this could be a great fit.

Apply now: https://pulse.ly/u0yrl24ilw

05/03/2026

Looking for a hands-on leadership role in Coleraine?

We’re hiring a Deputy Service Manager for our Willows Supported Living Service.

In this role, you’ll support the Service Manager, oversee day-to-day operations, guide staff, and make sure everything we do reflects our values and standards.

You’ll lead from the front: communicating clearly, supporting your team, and stepping into shifts or on-call when needed.

At Willows, we support people with a learning disability, autism or brain injury to live independently in their own homes. Your leadership helps make that possible.

If you’re organised, steady, and confident in managing people, this could be your next step.

Apply now: https://pulse.ly/8wv2obk42s

03/03/2026

International Women’s Day 2026 ♀️ - an opportunity to celebrate our women who embody .

A huge thank you to the team at QUB Knowledge Transfer Partnerships - KTP for their support through Innovate UK's Knowledge Transfer Partnership giving their time and expertise, combined with the dedication of Eunice Adejinmi, has made a real difference to Positive Futures especially in terms of meaningful data capture and analysis📈.

Eunice has been a fantastic addition to our Digital and Analytics department, led by Alison Beckett, helping us drive forward our ambition to digitally transform the organisation. Her work is already easing administrative burdens for our support worker teams, giving them more time to do what they do best: provide truly person centred support✨.

As Eunice reaches the end of her KTP with QUB, we’re delighted to share some brilliant news…she has accepted a permanent role at Positive Futures as our Data Analysis Lead.

It’s disappointing to see the Knowledge Transfer Partnership initiative stepping away from the voluntary sector, as their support has made such a difference. We hope they might find a way to include the sector again so the positive social impact of these partnerships can continue.

https://ow.ly/vzCi50YoHg2

Positive Futures, a leading Northern Irish charity based in Bangor, Co. Down, is working with Queen's Business School to deliver a bold digital transformation, reshaping how it uses data, shifting from static reporting to dynamic, live insights that drive real-time decision-making. At the heart of t...