iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Paul Bloomer @bloomeroid.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

I love a pot luck, and I haven’t been to one in ages. I love sharing a table where everyone brings a dish that means something to them and tells the story behind it. It’s a lovely way to celebrate our different food cultures and sometimes it’s fun to troll by bringing a 7up salad.

youtu.be

7-UP MAYONNAISE Jello SALAD Retro Recipe Test | You Made What?!

YouTube video by emmymade

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Paul Bloomer @bloomeroid.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

If you need period products, they’re free at every public library in NI, including mobile libraries. It’s works on a take what you as you need principle, for yourself or someone else. Find other collection points here: www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/fre...

nidirect.gov.uk

Free period products

Find out where to get free period products in Northern Ireland.

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Paul Bloomer @bloomeroid.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

My good friend Andy Burrows features in Cornered: Finding Yourself in the Ring, a documentary about boxing and men’s mental health. 🥊 The full film is out today! Proud of Andy for sharing his story. Please watch and share ❤️ youtu.be/-_XdEaLeQ7g #MensMentalHealth

youtu.be

Cornered - Fighting a Battle No One Else Can See.

YouTube video by Will Craig

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Paul Bloomer @bloomeroid.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Trans people deserve to grow old with people who love them as they are, and to have things to look forward to at every age.

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Paul Bloomer @bloomeroid.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

If ill health, disability or limited mobility makes visiting a library very difficult, Libraries NI’s free Homecall service may bring books to you. Ask your local library or call 0345 450 4580, Mon to Fri, 9.15am to 4.45pm: www.librariesni.org.uk/libraries/ho...

librariesni.org.uk

Homecall

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Paul Bloomer @bloomeroid.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

My good friend Andy Burrows features in Cornered, a new documentary about boxing and men’s mental health. 🥊 Full film out tomorrow, Sunday 27 September. Please watch the trailer and share Andy’s story ❤️ youtu.be/wLttBy9GxWs #MensMentalHealth #Documentary

youtu.be

Cornered — Coming Soon to Full Documentary

YouTube video by Will Craig

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Paul Bloomer @bloomeroid.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Being LGBT+ and having faith can belong in the same life. Your relationship to the Devine is yours alone, no person has the right to gatekeep that from you.

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Paul Bloomer @bloomeroid.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

If you’re disabled and starting a job or already in work, Access to Work (NI) may help with equipment, communication support or extra travel costs. Apply by email or through a Jobs and Benefits office: www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/acc...

nidirect.gov.uk

Access to Work (NI) - practical help at work

Access to Work (NI) can help disabled people who wish to take up employment or who are in work and experience difficulty related to their disability. It can also help employers who wish to recruit or ...

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Paul Bloomer @bloomeroid.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Not sure you’re getting all the support you’re entitled to? NI’s Make the Call team checks benefits and other help. Phone 0800 232 1271, weekdays 9am to 5pm, except public holidays. Language, speech or hearing difficulty? Request a callback: www.nidirect.gov.uk/forms/contac...

nidirect.gov.uk

Contact the Make the Call team

Are you missing out on unclaimed benefits? Request a call back from a Benefits Advisor.

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Paul Bloomer @bloomeroid.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Queer adulthood should include plenty of silliness. A ridiculous outfit and a bad dance in the kitchen can make an ordinary evening much better. Be silly and enjoy it.

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Paul Bloomer @bloomeroid.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Flight from NI cancelled in Monday’s air traffic fault? Your airline must offer a refund or another flight. Waiting for a replacement? It must provide food and a hotel if needed. Keep receipts: www.caa.co.uk/passengers/r...

caa.co.uk

Cancellations | UK Civil Aviation Authority

UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) guidance on your legal rights when flights are cancelled. Includes information on care and assistance, compensation eligibility, refund options, and how UK law applie...

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Paul Bloomer @bloomeroid.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

I grew up in a family made up of people from opposite sides of Northern Ireland’s conflict. That’s how I know we can care for each other without giving up where we come from.

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Paul Bloomer @bloomeroid.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

If you own or privately rent your home in a targeted area and gross household income is under £23,000, Affordable Warmth may help with insulation or heating. Private landlords must be registered and pay half. Check: 0800 111 4455 www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/ene...

nidirect.gov.uk

Energy saving grants in your area

Improving the energy efficiency of your home is one of the simplest ways of saving energy and combating rising energy prices. Getting such measures installed may not cost as much as you think. Finding...

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Paul Bloomer @bloomeroid.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Sometimes I just need to remind myself…

Appending of two magpies with the Text we will succeed because we are gay and insane. Original artist Victor Rose Peraza.

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Paul Bloomer @bloomeroid.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

If there’s someone who makes you feel comfortable being yourself, you could tell them today. Tell them “I’m glad I know you” or tell them how they make you feel comfortable. It’s a lovely thing to hear any day of the week.

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Paul Bloomer @bloomeroid.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

LGBTQ+ life is not a waiting room where we sit until the world becomes kinder. We can make plans, fall about laughing, try something new and enjoy ourselves now. Joy doesn’t erase the work still needed; it reminds us what that work is for.

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Paul Bloomer @bloomeroid.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

NI free school meal and uniform grant applications are open. Pupils in full-time education may qualify if their family gets income-related ESA, Pension Credit’s Guarantee Credit or UC with net household earnings up to £15,900. Other routes apply: connect.eani.org.uk Help: 028 9047 0233.

connect.eani.org.uk

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Paul Bloomer @bloomeroid.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Don’t give up on your dreams. Give them time, practice and the chance to become real. Don’t listen to those who try to dim your light, if someone underestimated you because of who you are, that shows the limits of their imagination, not yours.

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Paul Bloomer @bloomeroid.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

A safe home is the foundation for everything else. NI’s proposed Homelessness Commission must put prevention before crisis, listen to people who’ve lived through homelessness and lead to real change. The measure of success is seeing fewer people face homelessness.

housingrights.org.uk

Housing Rights | Latest news | Press release: Housing Rights welcomes Minister’s move to transform homelessness prevention

New Homelessness Commission for Northern Ireland announced by Communities Minister at Housing Rights’ Stormont event will examine homelessness legislation and how reform can be delivered in practice.

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Paul Bloomer @bloomeroid.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Everyone deserves help finding their next step. NI’s Careers Service offers free, impartial advice for all ages. Call 0300 200 7820, Mon–Fri, 9.30am–4.30pm (except public holidays), or explore your options: www.nidirect.gov.uk/campaigns/ca...

nidirect.gov.uk

Careers

What is the right career for you? Get advice, support and guidance to help plan your career.

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Paul Bloomer @bloomeroid.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Being LGBTQ is a natural part of human diversity, it’s not something that can change through force, coercion or sheer will. No one should be forced to live an inauthentic life, LGBTQ people should be able to live as their authentic selves. I support a ban on conversion practices in Northern Ireland.

bbc.co.uk

Conversion therapy: NI Assembly debates bill aimed at banning practice

The bill contains provisions that could see a two-year jail sentence imposed on people who conduct conversion practices.

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Paul Bloomer @bloomeroid.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Caring for someone shouldn’t mean figuring everything out alone. Unpaid carers in NI can contact Carers UK for information on benefits and support: 0808 808 7777, Mon–Fri, 9am–6pm. www.carersuk.org/ni/help-and-...

carersuk.org

Helpline and other support | Carers NI

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Paul Bloomer @bloomeroid.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Human rights matter to me because nobody should have to win approval to deserve dignity. Basic respect and dignity should be the starting point, not something we have to earn. We can disagree with someone and still defend their freedom and safety. That’s the kind of world I want us all to live in.

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Paul Bloomer @bloomeroid.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Debt worries deserve understanding, not judgement. Advice NI offers free, confidential debt advice. Call 0800 915 4604 or explore the support available: www.adviceni.net/money-debt/d...

adviceni.net

Debt | Advice NI

Do you need help to manage your debt?Our Debt Service can provide advice and information to help you take back control of your finances.

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Paul Bloomer @bloomeroid.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

You don’t have to be the person who knows all the answers to have something valuable to say, just a thoughtful question can open up a whole conversation. I’d love more opportunities where curiosity is welcomed and nobody is made to feel small for wanting to understand.

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Paul Bloomer @bloomeroid.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

The fact that we’re all different, is something we all have in common.

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Paul Bloomer @bloomeroid.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Getting online shouldn’t mean struggling alone. Libraries NI offers free computer courses for members, including beginners. Ask your local library in person or by phone about joining and booking: www.librariesni.org.uk/resources/di...

librariesni.org.uk

Computer Courses

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Paul Bloomer @bloomeroid.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Beauty doesn’t belong to one age, shape or size. A face lighting up with laughter, someone completely absorbed in what they love—that’s worth noticing too. We deserve a kinder, more generous idea of what it means to be beautiful.

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Paul Bloomer @bloomeroid.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

NYC’s going wild for Martin Auer’s $60 rye bread at RYE. Here in Austria, Roggenbrot is everywhere, so I grabbed an €8 loaf from Ströck. Lovely with butter & chives; divine with sour cream, smoked salmon & caviar. Best as an open sandwich rather than on its own! #AustrianBread

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Paul Bloomer @bloomeroid.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

I come from a family with roots on opposite sides of Northern Ireland’s conflict. There’s joy in making traditions your own: keeping what you love, sharing it, and adding something new. A sense of home can hold more than one story.

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Paul Bloomer @bloomeroid.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Nobody should have to go without period products. You can collect them free from libraries across NI, including mobile libraries, for yourself or someone else. Find collection points: www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/fre...

nidirect.gov.uk

Free period products

Find out where to get free period products in Northern Ireland.

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Paul Bloomer @bloomeroid.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Friendship can be a great love story in its own right. Building a home together or growing old side by side needn’t be reserved for romance.

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Paul Bloomer @bloomeroid.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

I stand with Black, Asian & Ethnic minority police officers and staff. Everyone deserves to serve free from racism and to have their concerns taken seriously. Andy George raises important questions about trust and belonging that deserve careful consideration & action from Police leaders.

irishnews.com

PSNI risks alienating ethnic minorities the way RUC did with Catholics, National Black Police Association president warns

Andy George concerned officers suffering from ‘subconscious bias’, but says PSNI ‘working day and night’ to bring race rioters to justice

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Paul Bloomer @bloomeroid.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

When we share a dream, we all deserve someone who asks, “What would help you get there?” If you’re disabled, that might mean accessible spaces, flexible plans or a helping hand. Whatever your needs, getting there with support doesn’t make the joy or the achievement any less yours.

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Paul Bloomer @bloomeroid.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

If you’re in distress, you deserve someone to listen. In NI, Lifeline’s trained counsellors are available free, 24/7: 0808 808 8000. BSL/ISL and language interpreting are available. www.lifelinehelpline.info

lifelinehelpline.info

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Reposted by Paul Bloomer

George Takei @georgetakei.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Sixty years ago today, the starship Enterprise launched and with it, a vision of the future where humanity had moved beyond its divisions. I was there at the beginning, and I can tell you...

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Paul Bloomer @bloomeroid.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Aged 16–59, permanently resident in NI for at least three months and receiving either rate of PIP mobility? You can apply for a Half Fare SmartPass. Call 028 9066 6630 for a form. www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/hal...

nidirect.gov.uk

Half Fare SmartPass - Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

To be eligible to apply for this half fare concessionary travel pass you must be getting the standard or enhanced mobility component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP). If you get the daily living...

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Paul Bloomer @bloomeroid.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Love should feel like being on the same side: noticing when someone needs a hand, and knowing you can ask for one too.

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Paul Bloomer @bloomeroid.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Being bi doesn’t come with a burden of proof. You don’t owe anyone your relationship history to be believed. Single or partnered, your place in our community is yours. #LGBTQ #bivisibility

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Paul Bloomer @bloomeroid.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Worried about rent, repairs or losing your home? Housing Rights offers free advice in NI. Call 028 9024 5640, Mon–Fri, 9.30am–4.30pm (except public holidays), or use their online chat: www.housingrights.org.uk/housing-advice

housingrights.org.uk

Housing Rights | housing advice for people in Northern Ireland

We can help with homelessness, social tenancies, private rentals, mortgage and rent arrears, repossession and court.

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Paul Bloomer @bloomeroid.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Make something because it delights you. Sing because you love the song. Cook because you want to try something new. You don’t need to be a gifted genius to have a creative life. More of us should get enjoy that freedom. Just follow that little spark of interest and see where it takes you.

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Paul Bloomer @bloomeroid.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Cost of living worrying you? If you’re on a low income in NI, you may get help with Health Service dental bills and glasses. Check eligibility below, or ask your local Jobs & Benefits office about form HC1 and return it there to apply. www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/hel...

nidirect.gov.uk

Help with health costs

Most Health Service treatment is free, although there can be charges for some things. Depending on your circumstances, you might get help with the cost of some treatment, services and items. If you're...

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Paul Bloomer @bloomeroid.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

Your life is more than other people’s arguments about who you are. You deserve to feel safe enough to fall in love, make plans and look forward to growing older as yourself. I want a world where we get to enjoy our lives without having to keep defending them.

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Paul Bloomer @bloomeroid.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

Free days out! NI’s European Heritage Open Days offer free visits on 12–13 September. Some need booking: check each venue’s times and access details. I hope you find somewhere lovely to explore.

discovernorthernireland.com

European Heritage Open Day Northern Ireland | Discover NI

Find out more about European Heritage Open Days in Northern Ireland now at Discover NI.

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Paul Bloomer @bloomeroid.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

I hope you find people who laugh at your worst jokes, remember how you take your tea and never ask you to edit yourself to be loved. None of us should have to perform a tidier version of who we are to earn tenderness. Being fully and authentically ourselves should never cost us belonging.

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Paul Bloomer @bloomeroid.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Looking for work in Derry or across the border? A free job fair at Ebrington Hotel on Tuesday 8 September has a quiet hour at 10.30am, then opens 11am–2pm. BSL and ISL interpreters attend until 12.30pm. Everyone deserves a fair chance: www.cbpes.com/derry-and-st...

cbpes.com

Derry and Strabane Cross Border Job Fair -

Cross Border Partnership for Employer Services (CBPES) with their partners Department for Communities (DFC) and Department of Social Protection (DSP) and in collaboration with Derry & Strabane Lab

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Paul Bloomer @bloomeroid.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

I don’t want anyone missing out or struggling in the cold this winter. Eligible NI households can apply online for a one-off £100 heating oil voucher from 9 September 2026. Your local Jobs & Benefits office can help you apply. See link below:

nidirect.gov.uk

Home heating oil support

A new oil support scheme to support households in Northern Ireland with home heating oil opens on 9 September. Check if you are eligible to apply online for a £100 voucher to help you buy home heating...

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Paul Bloomer @bloomeroid.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

There is no deadline for finding your people, falling in love or discovering something new about yourself. If you’re beginning again, I hope you give yourself room to be a beginner. You don’t have to explain your pace to anyone. I'll always cheer for the life that feels right to you.

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