The leader of Northern Ireland’s voluntary sector has issued a stark warning over the future of charities after a report warned of multi-million pound cuts.

Social services in Dungannon have intervened to protect four children who were left at home when their parents went on holiday.

Childcare providers here will have to adhere to tougher standards from early next year.

There are growing concerns about the suicide rate in Northern Ireland, especially among young men. That’s after figures reached a record level last year.

An Enniskillen care home for people with mental health problems has been evacuated after a fire.

The health minister has said he has been assured by Southern Cross that it will continue to operate its care homes in NI until new owners take over.

The highest number of suicides recorded in Northern Ireland took place last year, a report has revealed.

The absence of laws to allow the sharing of “soft information” on paedophiles is severely hampering child protection, the country’s top children’s watchdog has warned.

Abbeyfield Ballycastle, which is part of the Abbeyfield UK (NI) group that was recently voted one of the UK’s best sheltered housing schemes, has received planning approval for its £500,000 refurbishment plan.

A teenager from NI who abused other children has been treated at a specialist treatment centre in the UK at a cost of £1.5m.