CoG Training

24/02/2026

An important reminder as mini eggs are on sale for Easter

It’s that time of year again when mini eggs are lining the supermarket shelves. But, did you know that, just like grapes, they are the perfect size to block a small child’s airway and choke them? And, their hard shell can make it difficult to dislodge with standard first aid techniques.

With whole grapes we advise cutting them in half lengthways and ideally into quarters to create thin strips. But chopping up mini eggs isn’t as easy. So, what can you do?

1. Hide them from the children and eat them yourself – good luck with that!

2. Break them into small pieces with a rolling pin. Or, crush them in a pestle and mortar. Or melt them a little first.

3. Opt for a different treat. Larger, hollow eggs are much safer for little ones.

For more practical tips and advice to keep children safe from choking take a look at our guide: https://capt.org.uk/resources/choking-fact-sheet/

11/02/2026

We are all set up and ready to go for Day Two of QA Level 3 Mental Health First Aid in the Workplace.

Do you or your group need training? We offer training that meets your needs. We offer

🩹First Aid Training 🚑
🛑Health and Safety Training🚧
🚒 Fire Safety Training🧯
😁Mental Health First Aid Training☹️
👨‍🦽Safeguarding Training👥
👨‍🎓Education and Training Award 👩‍🎓

We offer great prices, including 25% of for groups of 12.

www.cogtraining.co.uk

06/02/2026

Check your first aid kits for these wipes

⚠️ Burkholderia found in certain wipes.

is a bacteria that rarely causes harm in healthy people but sometimes causes serious infections, particularly for those with certain medical conditions or managing IV lines at home:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/public-advised-to-stop-using-certain-non-sterile-alcohol-free-wipes

30/01/2026

A useful directory of service available in the Belfast Trust Area from Public Health Agency with more information on their website: https://lnkd.in/dadPy3cj

02/01/2026

Are you aware of RIDDOR? Have a read at this link from HSE to gain an understanding of your responsibilities.

Employers, self-employed people and people in control of premises have a legal duty to report work-related deaths, major injuries or over-three-day injuries, work related diseases and near miss accidents.

Find more information and download our RIDDOR booklet here: https://www.hseni.gov.uk/report-incident

23/12/2025

Wishing all those who have supported us in whatever capacity a very Merry Christmas.

15/12/2025

Some health advice from the HSENI. Especially at this time of year when we tend to be lifting a lot more.

If manual handling represents a significant portion of your workload – do you understand the risks?

Click here to learn more➡️ https://www.hseni.gov.uk/publications/guidance-prevention-and-management-musculoskeletal-disorders-msds-workplace

13/11/2025

Do you know that we are Social Enterprise?

CoG Training is a social enterprise that was established in 2019 as a response to ever-increasing costs of training our volunteers. As a social enterprise, we offer high quality, affordable and accessible training and education courses including First Aid Training, Mental Health First Aid in the Workplace Training, Health & Safety Training, Fire Safety Training, Education & Training and Safeguarding Training. All our First Aid, Mental Health First Aid, Health & Safety, Fire Safety, Education & Training courses are regulated by Ofqual through Qualsafe. This ensures that we deliver all our training to the highest standards and that our learners can have confidence in the qualifications they are working towards.

We believe in making training affordable without losing a high-quality learning experience. We understand the budget pressures that every organisation experiences and believe that training should never be unaffordable. As such the costs of all our Training Courses are stated upfront in a clear and transparent way. We offer group discounts of 25% on most of our courses. The profits from all training courses are put right back into the work that we do within the community through CoG Shankill & Conway Youth Centre.

If you have a training need or would like further information about how we deliver training that meets your needs, please get in touch with us by calling 07791568218 emailing info@cogtraining or visit our website www.cogtraining.co.uk.

04/11/2025

❤️Apply for a free defibrillator for your community ❤️

Find out if your community group is eligible for a free, British Heart Foundation-funded defibrillator and see how you can apply.

Applications are open until February 2026.

Eligibility criteria apply.

For full details visit https://www.bhf.org.uk/how-you-can-help/how-to-save-a-life/defibrillators/apply-for-a-free-defibrillator-for-your-community

If you are not sure if your organisation is eligible, or you have a question about the application process, please contact the British Heart Foundation at defibs@bhf.org.uk.

03/11/2025

This is a helpful reminder for anyone who keeps chemicals on their business premises

Hazardous substances can be stored in your property but they must be stored correctly.

✔️ Never store hazardous substances near foodstuff or cooking utensils
✔️Store hazardous substances by following the instructions on the label
✔️If a substance leaks or is expired, you should dispose of it properly
✔️Never pour substances down drains, follow the disposal advice on the label or take it to your local recycling centre who will dispose of it safely

👉 For more safety advice visit: https://www.nifrs.org/home/staying-safe/community-safety/home-fire-safety/

01/11/2025

It’s a new month and another wellbeing calendar from Action for Happiness

A great way to feel happier is to try a new activity or take a different approach ✨ Join us for and get daily ideas to help you find new ways forward http://actionforhappiness.org/new-ways-november

31/10/2025

With lots of fireworks being lit over the next few days, here is some helpful first aid advice put together by our first aid trainers.