News And Events

News: ACE 2026-What People Told Us About Positive Futures

Every year, Positive Futures carries out its Annual Consultation Exercise (ACE) to listen to the people who matter most: the people we support, their families, carers, health professionals and wider stakeholders.  The findings from ACE 2026 paint a positive picture of the quality, impact and person-centred nature of support delivered across Positive Futures.  This year saw the […]

News: Live Here Love Here and Positive Futures celebrate ‘Caring for our World’ Class of 2026

Live Here Love Here and Positive Futures yesterday hosted an event for graduates of the Caring for our World programme– Northern Ireland’s first climate awareness training for people with a learning disability. Over 100 people have completed the training since its launch in January of this year. Many graduates attended a ceremony yesterday in the Whitla Hall […]

News: Positive Futures Statement on Inclusion, Privacy and Respect

“Positive Futures is a values-led organisation. Every day, we support disabled people to live their lives as active members of the local community, exercising the same rights, choices and opportunities as we all do.  Our unwavering commitment is to inclusivity and people’s right to live an ordinary life. Our approach is to not single out those we support, therefore our staff do not wear uniforms or highly visible identifiers – so as not to draw attention to the people requiring our support when they are ‘out and about’. For too […]

News: Positive Futures Appoints Kevin Doherty as Next Chief Executive

Former Disability Action NI CEO and disability rights advocate to lead next chapter for organisation, following retirement of founder Dr Agnes Lunny, OBE. Positive Futures today announces the appointment of Kevin Doherty MSc, MCIPD as its next Chief Executive Officer. Kevin will join the organisation on 1 October 2026.  One of the most experienced leaders […]
30 Years Transforming Lives campaign graphic promoting the Positive Futures blog "From Crisis to Progress: Building the Workforce of the Future", exploring recruitment innovation, workforce challenges and attracting talent into social care.

30 years transforming lives: From Crisis to Progress: Building the Health and Social Care Workforce of the Future 

A couple of years ago, the picture across our frontline services was a difficult one. Vacancy rates sat at around 36%, our recruitment systems were creating obstacles for applicants, and our approach to recruitment marketing was not attracting the candidates we needed. For an organisation based in Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland whose people sit at […]
Learning Disability and Autism Awards Winner Northern Ireland

News: Celebrating Success at the Learning Disabilities & Autism Awards 2026

Positive Futures Northern Ireland is proud to celebrate an inspiring evening of achievement at the Learning Disabilities & Autism Awards 2026, with recognition for our Chief Executive, our Positive Behaviour Support team and one of our dedicated support workers. As a leading Learning Disability Charity Northern Ireland, we are passionate about creating opportunities for people […]

Positive Futures plants 30 trees to mark 30 years transforming lives 

All Ireland learning disability, acquired brain injury and autism charity, Positive Futures, continues to celebrate its 30th anniversary with a special tree planting event at Crom Estate National Trust in Fermanagh recently.  Thirty native trees, donated by the National Trust, were planted to symbolise three decades of supporting people to live the lives they choose. The event brought together staff and people supported by the charity, with Councillor Debbie Coyle, Chair of Fermanagh […]

News: Dr Agnes Lunny, OBE, CEO Positive Futures, reacts to the Muckamore Abbey Hospital Inquiry findings:

We recognise that this is a difficult day for all impacted families, especially those who have given evidence to the inquiry.  Whilst the publication of the report is welcomed, as the Chair (Tom Kark KC) himself noted, this is the closing of one chapter but the opening of another – the work that now needs […]

News: Positive Futures gets ready for growth in Bangor

We have announced that we are splitting our existing East Coast Supported Living Service into two Supported Living services in Bangor: Castle Supported Living and Marina Supported Living. The expansion marks a significant milestone for our organisation, in the city where we opened our very first Supported Living service 30 years ago. As demand for […]
Paul Roberts

30 years transforming lives: Three decades of person-centred support, person-centred by design 

By Paul Roberts, Executive Director, Positive Futures  I sometimes feel as though I’ve spent more than thirty years trying to unpick the meanings of words most people take for granted. “Care.” “Support.” “Service user.” Words that slip off the tongue yet carry assumptions about the people they describe and those doing the describing.  My journey into social […]