Our blog and news stories

Ultan began his journey with a placement at the Bobbin coffee shop in Belfast City Hall, quickly standing out for his exceptional customer service and positive attitude. Recognising his potential, Piia, the café manager, enthusiastically recommended him when Karen, Loaf’s Academy and Quality Coordinator, was selecting candidates for the first Customer Service and Barista Academy. Piia shared that customers consistently praised him, describing him as a reliable and valued te

James joined NOW Group in March 2025 and began a placement at the Bobbin Coffee Shop , located in Belfast City Hall. From the outset, he demonstrated clear potential, and the Bobbin staff quickly recognised his aptitude for food preparation and catering. As a result, James was recommended for further development opportunities. On 4 August, James commenced training at Loaf Academy, where he expressed a keen interest in both catering and caretaking. His motivation was clear. He

John expressed a strong interest in catering and food preparation to his key worker in July, just ahead of the commencement of the next Loaf Academy intake in August. Demonstrating enthusiasm and commitment, John joined the Food Preparation Academy on August 4th. From the outset, John showed great potential. He attended classroom sessions every Monday and completed three practical shifts each week across the Ewart Café and Loaf Café on Grosvenor Road. During his first week,

NOW Group is delighted to announce a new sponsorship agreement with Everway, a global leader in accessible and neuroinclusive technology, to support Fandom Junior, its free social programme for young people with learning difficulties, neurodivergence and autism. Everway, formerly Texthelp and n2y, creates technology that removes barriers to communication, learning and expression. Their mission is to ensure everyone can understand and be understood, Welcoming the partnership,

NOW Group proudly announce its CEO, Maeve Monaghan, has been named an Enable Advocate on the 2025 Involve Enable Role Model List, sponsored by Dow. The Involve Enable Role Model List celebrates business leaders from around the world who are championing disability inclusion and creating meaningful opportunities for people of all abilities. The Enable Advocate category recognises individuals who are driving change both within their organisations and across wider society, settin

Dara Calleary, Minister for Social Protection, Chris Brown (CEO of Connor & Brown) NOW Group Board Member, and Maeve Monaghan, CEO of NOW Group NOW Group was delighted to welcome Minister for Social Protection Dara Calleary to its Belfast headquarters this week, following the Department’s recent announcement that it has become a JAM Card friendly organisation. Minister Calleary was greeted by NOW Group Chief Executive Maeve Monaghan and Chief Services Officer Sean Hanna. The

Caitlin - NOW Group Participant We’re delighted to introduce Caitlin, our very first participant in Donegal. Caitlin, 20, from Letterkenny, is passionate about animation, gaming and reading — she’s currently enjoying Heaven Official’s Blessing . She has taken a year out from her Animation degree to explore work and creative opportunities, and with support from the NOW Group, she has grown in confidence and secured her first ever job in retail after impressing at her interview

Catalyst has officially opened its new hub on Bedford Street in partnership with Deloitte, marking a significant milestone in Belfast's...

(Left to right) Michael McAlister (NOW Group), Mavoureen McLarnon, Bronagh Crossey (MAC), and Michael Stewart (MAC) If you’ve visited the...