What's New
Welcome to the What’s New section of the ASCERT website.
Here you will find all of the latest news and updates from our organisation, along with listings of events and activities we are planning, attending or profiling that may be of interest.
You can also check out our Blogs section which contains interesting, informative and engaging personal perspective pieces from a range of contributors who are either directly connected to ASCERT, or whom are like us, keen to impart knowledge and experiences that may support others to address alcohol and/or drug related harm and support positive change.
You may also like to visit the Training section of this website for a full listing of available training courses and programmes.
ASCERT NEWS
Alcohol Costs UK Workplaces £1.4bn a Year Charity Offers Free Alcohol Awareness Sessions to NI Businesses
Alcohol-related absence is estimated to cost UK businesses £1.4 billion each year in lost productivity, with poor wellbeing often going unnoticed in the workplace.
To address this, ASCERT is offering FREE “Rethink Your Drink” Alcohol Awareness Sessions to organisations across Northern Ireland to support ongoing workplace-based wellbeing initiatives.
ASCERT Urges Public: Never Drink and Drive This Road Safety Week
As Road Safety Week gets underway across the UK, ASCERT, Northern Ireland’s leading alcohol, drug-related and mental health charity, is reminding everyone that the safest choice behind the wheel is to never drink and drive.
ASCERT urges women to ‘Rethink Your Drink’ during Menopause Awareness Month
ASCERT, Northern Ireland’s leading alcohol, drug and mental health charity, is raising awareness about the impact of alcohol on menopause symptoms, urging women to “rethink their drink” as part of a new information campaign highlighting the often-overlooked connection between midlife hormonal changes and alcohol consumption.
ASCERT Wins Campaigner of the Year Award at 2025 UK SMART Recovery Awards Ceremon
ASCERT is thrilled to announce that we have been awarded Campaigner of the Year at the SMART Recovery UK Awards 2025, held online on 30th September.
Supporting Pupils Starting Secondary School: ASCERT Highlights Counselling Support for Year 8 Students
ASCERT supports Year 8 pupils in Northern Ireland with the HOPE Counselling Service, helping young people manage stress and wellbeing at secondary school.
Belfast City Hall to Light Up Purple for International Overdose Awareness Day
On 31st August 2025, Belfast City Hall will be lit purple for International Overdose Awareness Day, uniting with a global movement to honour lives lost, raise awareness, and call for action to prevent future tragedies. ASCERT, Northern Ireland’s leading drug and alcohol charity, is urging communities to stand together in compassion, remembrance, and hope.
ASCERT BLOG
Celebrating Health and Wellbeing Week at ASCERT: 23rd–27th June 2025
Celebrating Health and Wellbeing Week at ASCERT
From 23rd–27th June, ASCERT marked Health and Wellbeing Week – a time dedicated to pausing, connecting, and prioritising what truly matters: our wellbeing. Each day offered themed activities focused on mental, physical, emotional, and financial health, helping staff recharge and reconnect.
Highlights included mindful art with Tina McGleenan, a practical financial wellbeing session with Margaret McCloskey, a showcase of staff wellbeing resources, a comforting ‘Taste of Home’ potluck, and a fun-filled quiz to round off the week.
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 Warns Against Drug and Alcohol Use as Exam Stress Peaks
As exam season intensifies across the region, ASCERT, Northern Ireland’s leading charity dedicated to reducing drug and alcohol-related harm, is urging young people and families to be mindful of the risks of using alcohol or drugs to manage stress. The appeal comes as data shows a decline in youth mental health, with academic pressure emerging as a major contributing factor.
ASCERT’s Recovery Choir Takes Centre Stage for BBC Sing!
ASCERT’s Recovery Choir is delighted to be part of BBC Sing!, an inspiring initiative by BBC Radio Ulster that unites choirs from across Northern Ireland to form the region’s “Biggest Ever Community Choir.”
Rethink Your Drink: Raising Awareness for a Healthier Workplace
Our Rethink Your Drink awareness sessions are designed to inform and educate people about alcohol, the recommended guidelines for drinking, and the short- and long-term effects it can have on health. More importantly, they highlight how small changes can make a big difference.
Alcohol Support Groups Northern Ireland: Discover the Benefits of SMART Recovery with ASCERT
ASCERT hosts FREE weekly SMART Recovery meetings in both Lisburn and Omagh, making it easier than ever to find Alcohol Support Groups Northern Ireland that suit your needs.
Events
ASCERT NI WEBINAR RECORDING | Synthetic Opioids: Nitazenes in Focus
On Friday 1st March ASCERT hosted the first in a series of webinars on topical events in the field of alcohol and substances to be held throughout 2024, marking the charity’s 25th anniversary in providing support to communities across Northern Ireland with their prevention, intervention and training services.
Webinar | Synthetic Opioids: Nitazenes in Focus
You are warmly invited to attend the first in a series of online discussions ASCERT are hosting this year. On Friday 1st March starting at 10am we will be hosting a webinar focusing on the increasing unease around the availability and risk of harm from synthetic...
ASCERT Promoting PRIDE and Reducing Alcohol & Drug related PREJUDICE
ASCERT are proud to announce their involvement in Omagh Pride 2023 on Saturday 17th June.
Young People and Substance Use Online Seminar
ASCERT 2021 seminar seriesStatistics show that the prevalence of drug use for young people is generally declining but for those young people that have substance use problems, they have increasingly significant and complex needs. This free online event considered the...
Online Parent Support Group
Our Parent/Carer Support Programme is open again for registration. It will commence on 28th October at 7-8:30pm. It will take place every Tuesday for 6 weeks via Zoom. The programme is aimed at parents /carers of young people aged 11 – 15yrs and is FREE to join. This...
Addiction and Gambling Online Seminar
Online Seminar 28th September 2021 Addiction and Gambling is the third event in ASCERT’s 2021 seminar series. This free online event considered the impacts of gambling addiction, increasing prevalence in gambling problems in the UK and Ireland and the...