Mental Health Campaigner | TEDx Speaker | Policy & Public Affairs @nicva | Charity Trustee. All views my own. 📩 [email protected]

Belfast, Northern Ireland
Joined April 2017
This #WorldMentalHealthDay, this is my story. Told in front of 2200+ people at the @OneYoungWorld conference. Please consider sharing this post.
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Matthew Taylor retweeted
I’m delighted to be launching Renew NI. Our team believe there is a stronger, more confident case to be made for Northern Ireland. We believe this place has enormous potential. Our aim is to contribute ideas, evidence and practical solutions to the challenges we face.
𝐑𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐍𝐈 - 𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐈𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 renewni.co.uk Northern Ireland today is a place transformed. In a generation, we have come from conflict to build a peaceful, democratic society. Across our communities, people live, work and build their lives together, within a settlement that respects difference. There is a shared sense of belonging and a quiet pride in what we call home. Too often, that story is overlooked. The conversation drifts towards division. Confidence has been shaken by instability, pressure on public services and uncertainty about what lies ahead. We focus too much on competing futures, instead of improving the present we already share. But Northern Ireland is changing. More people are looking beyond old divisions. The foundations are already in place. A growing economy. Ambitious and talented young people, with the ability to deliver. This is our moment to move forward with confidence. To realise that opportunity, a stronger case for Northern Ireland must be made. Renew NI exists to lead that work. Bringing together evidence, ideas and practical solutions. Building a clear, positive vision that reflects our strengths and meets our challenges head on. A future where more people feel proud, not just of what we have overcome, but of what we are building together. A Northern Ireland that delivers. Confident in ourselves. Clear in our direction. We can build a Northern Ireland people don’t just live in, but believe in.
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Matthew Taylor retweeted
𝐑𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐍𝐈 - 𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐈𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 renewni.co.uk Northern Ireland today is a place transformed. In a generation, we have come from conflict to build a peaceful, democratic society. Across our communities, people live, work and build their lives together, within a settlement that respects difference. There is a shared sense of belonging and a quiet pride in what we call home. Too often, that story is overlooked. The conversation drifts towards division. Confidence has been shaken by instability, pressure on public services and uncertainty about what lies ahead. We focus too much on competing futures, instead of improving the present we already share. But Northern Ireland is changing. More people are looking beyond old divisions. The foundations are already in place. A growing economy. Ambitious and talented young people, with the ability to deliver. This is our moment to move forward with confidence. To realise that opportunity, a stronger case for Northern Ireland must be made. Renew NI exists to lead that work. Bringing together evidence, ideas and practical solutions. Building a clear, positive vision that reflects our strengths and meets our challenges head on. A future where more people feel proud, not just of what we have overcome, but of what we are building together. A Northern Ireland that delivers. Confident in ourselves. Clear in our direction. We can build a Northern Ireland people don’t just live in, but believe in.
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Matthew Taylor retweeted
This is leadership from the Newsletter. Wishing the two extremely brave witnesses strength & healing in the time ahead - it’s now on all of us to make it that much easier for other survivors of abuse to come forward.
Jeffrey Donaldson was set to dominate tomorrow’s @News_Letter front page - his face splashed across the cover. At the last minute, we pulled it. We chose to deny him the spotlight and amplify the fierce bravery of his victims instead. Their courage broke the silence.
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Matthew Taylor retweeted
I was kindly invited to sit on the panel at this event today. It was refreshing, there was positivity, there were definite defined actions and priorities, and it actually gave me some hope. If there can be cross party working on this basis we can get somewhere
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Delighted to be starting a new job as a Policy & Public Affairs Officer at @NICVA next week! I am grateful to @chambrepa for all the opportunities and support they have provided to me over the last year and am excited to see the organisation continue to grow!
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Richard E Grant, ‘Traitor’ is so funny to me
Joining @vicderbyshire on #BBCLaurak Defence Secretary Wes Streeting MP Shadow Chancellor Andrew Griffith MP First Minister of Scotland John Swinney MSP Actors Richard E. Grant and Christine Baranski Sunday 9am @BBCOne @BBCiPlayer
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So depressing. This helps no one.
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I think @RhonddaBryant has actually done a great job so far, if he can get us to agree a budget (with a committeemen’s to reform and revenue-raising he’ll be up there with @JulianSmithUK)…
“It’s not the easiest gig in the world” NI Secretary @RhonddaBryant speaking about his job this morning. 📻 He spoke about banning Drumcree parade on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
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Great to be on LBC this morning talking all things mental health!
Replying to @MatthewTaylorNI
@MatthewTaylorNI Heard you on LBC. Very well said. These are the NI voices we need to amplify! 👏👏
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Matthew Taylor retweeted
A socially liberal, progressive party voting more often with other progressive parties than with conservative and right-wing parties. Shock horror. The votes were on conversion therapy, housing, regulation of flags and emblems, and the future of our environment. Take off the orange and green goggles for a second, Paul. It’s tedious.
Out of the 12 divisions at Stormont this autumn Alliance sided with Sinn Fein 11 times & DUP 1. This is pretty consistent throughout the term. Their manifesto may give an impression of one thing but their voting record speaks the truth of what they stand for. Voters should know.
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Matthew Taylor retweeted
“Stop waiting for a big bang. To achieve organisational change, create the right conditions and encourage innovation at a local level.” - Bengoa #NICON26
“Whether it’s the NHS 10-year plan or the HSC Reset plan, you are ahead. Other countries are looking to you.” Professor Raphael Bengoa speaking at #NICON26 offering an international perspective on health strategies being adopted in Northern Ireland and the wider U.K.
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Bit of a long shot, but I am compiling a time capsule of NI politics and would be very keen to take any old politics/political party leaflets, posters, books etc if anyone has any.
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Matthew Taylor retweeted
Slightly hypocritical when the SDLP Cllrs on Belfast City Council have walked out of the Council chamber a number of times, sometimes in protest and sometimes to be strategically absent from a vote.
We don't support the DUP motion but this stunt from Alliance was shockingly petulant. Having complained about pantomime politics, seconds later Naomi Long led her party in a stunt walkout. Only serving to invite further contempt for the Assembly.
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I was friends with Natsu during our recovery, it’s really terrible news to hear she has passed away, and so young. A painting she made for me as a gift hangs in my living room.
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Matthew Taylor retweeted
Alliance Party leader Naomi Long says the Northern Ireland Executive needs to "accept the reality" that there is no more money on offer from the UK government to help stabilise Northern Ireland's finances. bbc.in/4zi1JEV
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Matthew Taylor retweeted
No one should be threatening @carlalockhart or any other person. No one should behave like a misogynistic thug. And any party connected with them should remove them swiftly as a member.
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Irrespective of your political view or concerns about the Drumcree dispute, no-one should stoop to the lows of making comments about someone’s appearance. @carlalockhart is an elected MP with whom I happen to disagree, but is serving the constituents she was elected to represent.
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