“Catastrophic”; “Detrimental”; “Widening attainment gaps”; “Neglect”; “Disrepair”; “Breaking point”.

These words echoed around the historic walls of Clifton House time and time again last Friday, 23^rd February, during a stark but informative conference on ‘The immediate and long-term impacts of cuts on North Belfast’s education sector’.

This event, which formed part of Clifton House’s 250th Anniversary programme, looked at the current state of education in North Belfast; how schools are dealing with unprecedented levels of poverty; and the terrifying predictions recent cuts will have, longer-term, on an education system already under pressure.

Dr Ciara Fitzpatrick, Ulster University, opened the talks and set the tone of the event “The cuts to education have been made at pace… The reductions in resources directed at schools are ferocious, particularly for schools in disadvantaged areas”. Ciara went on to paint a very bleak image of the negative impact the cuts are and will continue to have on our young people including those struggling with mental health; those requiring Special Education Support (SEN); those already living in poverty; those falling behind with attainment; those from ethnic minority communities. The list was long, and according to Dr Fitzpatrick will take a generation to reverse their impact!

Principals representing the primary and post primary sectors of North Belfast provided their insights into what the reality is for schools in what remains one of the most deprived parts of Northern Ireland, and which is struggling under the additional pressure created by the cost-of-living crisis.

Ashleigh Galway, Principal of Currie Primary School commented “Arriving at a school building for the first time our youngest children coming on their first day of school are now met with buildings that have had all maintenance worked stalled for years. Paint flaking on school railings, ours included, toilets closed, playgrounds with old and broken equipment, broken windows boarded up rather than replaced, no painting or refurbishment work completed and generally sad looking places for our next generation to learn.

Ashleigh then focused on just one of her concerns, that of mental health “Counselling support has been impacted significantly with the removal of Happy Healthy Minds. Within our own 21 North Belfast Primary schools we are facing unprecedented need for this support with all schools reporting a waiting list for counselling regardless of context or the colour of uniform or school railings!”. She finished by saying “basic needs have become the business of schools, as well as teaching, in 2024!”

Speaking on behalf of the post primary schools in north Belfast, Martin Moreland, Principal of Mercy College spoke passionately about how the cuts are negatively impacting on families and communities, as well young people. He said “we cannot underestimate the dire impact that underfunding an education system can have not least on the young people currently in it, but their families, school communities and society, as a whole.

Schools need to provide a safe, warm environment with basic needs met, otherwise learning doesn’t take place. Many schools are currently struggling to meet this due to years and years of underinvestment. More and more young people are now living in poverty, coming to school with lack of food, lack of clothing and lack of personal hygiene. Our schools are now providing much more care than ever before, on top of mental health issues and pastoral care. First and foremost, we are educationalists, so, when we are the parent, councillor, psychiatrist, nurse, social worker, friend, that is time not being spent on the formal curriculum.”

The final speaker at the event was Professor Noel Purdy, co-author of The Fair Start Report and contributor to The Consequences of the Cuts report. Professor Purdy gave a brief overview of some of the 47 actions which were outlined in the Fair Start report, including a focus on early years, the whole community approach through a RED Programme (Reducing Educational Disadvantage) to name but a few before focusing on the current challenges facing education. He said “Our education system is facing massive budgetary pressures, including cuts to discretionary programmes. We are still seeing the long lasting impacts of Covid including absenteeism, additional needs like speech and language in early years”. Finishing on more ‘glass half full’ scenario of, Professor Purdy spoke of the optimism he felt due to the restoration of the Executive and closed by calling for NI Executive/ DE “to commit to fully funding and fully implementing the 47 actions contained in ‘A Fair Start’, the final report and action plan of the Expert Panel on Educational Underachievement in Northern Ireland.”

Hosting the event, Sir Ronnie Weatherup, President of Belfast Charitable Society thanked all the contributors to the discussion. He said “Combatting child poverty and improving the lives of Belfast’s poor children has been, and remains to be, an important aspect of the work of Belfast Charitable Society (BCS). We really wanted to use the event today to raise awareness of the devastating impact cuts to education are having, particularly in deprived areas like north Belfast. We will continue to look at this important issue to see what we, as a Charity, can do to help alleviate some of the pressures schools face. We will continue to look at this important issue to see what we, as a Charity, can do to help alleviate some of the pressures schools face. We will continue to use our funds where possible to support some of the most basic needs, but clearly more needs to be done. We look forward to continuing the conversation with educators and the local community to see what we can and should do to help.”

“Made of Belfast”- 250 years of the Belfast Poorhouse

Allegedly sketched on the back of a napkin by local newspaper publisher Robert Joy and brought into reality by architects Thomas Cooley and Robert Mylne, Clifton house was built between 1771-1774 on land given to the Belfast Charitable Society by the Marquis of Donegall, Arthur Chichester. Not only did the house offer respite to the poor of Belfast and become a shelter for the sick and infirm, but it also became a home for the Belfast Charitable Society for nearly 250 years. Within its walls, meetings helped shape the course of the bourgeoning city of Belfast, with the Belfast Charitable Society playing a key role in its development. The construction of the Poor House was not just the erection of a building for the poor of Belfast: it was a commitment by the Society to continue to provide for the people of the town and city for the decades (and eventual centuries) to come.

The plot for the Poor House was chosen for a number of reasons. Its topography naturally elevated the house and made it more visible across the growing Georgian town. The site also possessed a large amount of clay which was suitable for the production of bricks.  The clay excavated from the plot ahead of the buildings construction made up the bulk of the red bricks now found in the building. The bricks were made on site, with any excess sold to the town, with Dunmurry Stone used in the construction of main features, such as the doorway and accents, whilst other materials from the house included sand dredged from the Lagan. Every effort was made to make the house of local materials, ensuring the house was very much “Made of Belfast”.

With the ground prepared, a ceremony was advertised in the Belfast Newsletter for the 2nd August 1771 for the laying of the foundation stone. The exact location of the stone has been lost over time, the minute books record the location “as near as may be the center of Donegall Street”, likely in acknowledgement of the contribution of the Marquis of Donegall in donating the land upon which the house was built. Ahead of the ceremony, the Society resolved to acknowledge tradition, whilst also setting the charitable tone for which the building would become known for -ordering that 5 guineas would be laid on the foundation stone and then distributed amongst the workmen present. Foundation ceremonies were (and still are) important in the life of a building, with offerings often being made. The fact the founders of the house acknowledged this tradition before giving their offering to the people of the town demonstrates an awareness of old practices but a determination to make changes. The offerings given at these ceremonies were to bless the building, and were buried in the foundations as construction continued, however, at the ceremony for the Poor House, the Charitable Society ensured the offering, and therefore the blessing, were passed on to the people of Belfast.

Whilst the architects helped realise the construction of the building, it is apparent that Robert Joy still held significant sway. The now iconic spire that emerges from the heart of the building was a later addition, suggested by Joy himself. This replaced a dome like feature called a cupola, originally proposed by the architects, and would have been a common feature for a building of this nature and period. The spire itself is an odd addition, somewhat unique to the Poor House, however it is not solely for decoration. The spire ensured that the building visible across the city: a beacon to those in need as far away as the ships arriving in the harbour:

“While the reason for the change was not articulated, it seems clear that the aim of the spire was to make the new building more prominent in the landscape, as achieved by the tower on the Market House and the spire on the parish church. Thus, the vista along Donegall Street from the Exchange and Assembly Rooms was closed not simply by a prominent building but with a spire that clearly marked the building as exceptional… It focused attention on the Poorhouse…By directing attention to the building, it also stressed the virtues that underpinned it, in particular the voluntary nature of the institution and the civic values of the urban elite.” Gillespie in ‘The First Great Charity of this Town pg.97.

There is rumour that the addition of this spire angered Lord Donegall who had just laid down plans for the Parish Church of St Annes to be built, on the present site of St Annes Cathedral. Allegedly, as a result, he was forced to make the tower of St Annes higher however relationships were not soured as he was first President of the Society. It is therefore likely that it is just folk tale told due to the unusual height of the spire at the Parish Church.

Whilst overshadowed by the glass and steel-clad goliaths of modern-day Belfast, in its day the Poor House would have been one of the most stately buildings in the area: a Palace for the Poor. In January as part of the 250th anniversary celebration calendar, Marcus Patton, Architect and Vice Chair of Hearth NI, will be giving a talk about the architecture of the building and its links with its counterparts in early Belfast.

With the spire now complete, attention turned to locating a bell. On the 1st April 1775, Reverand William Bristow wrote to the Vestry to request a loan of the bell and clock from the Old Corporation Church which stood on High Street, (now the site of St George’s.) The church had fallen into disrepair and the opening of St Annes resulted in the building being condemned. As such, loan of the bell was agreed, and it would hang in the spire of the Poor House; its chime regimenting the day, marking when residents got up, meal times and ‘lights out’. The bell now rests in the entry hall, held within a wooden frame: The oldest resident of the poor house.

Whilst a clock was also acquired along with the bell from the Old Corporation Church, it is not the one that now proudly sit above the main entrance. This clock is a later addition, provided by the Johnston family in 1882. Recorded in the minutes of an April meeting William G Johnston stated that “it was the intention of Lady Johnston to present the Belfast Charitable Society with an illuminated clock to be placed in front of the institution, with installation completed by July 1882. The clock was made by local clockmaker Francis Montgomery Moore, best known for creating the clock and mechanism for the Albert Memorial. Whilst the bell is now silent, save for the entertainment of those on guided tours of the building, this clock continues to count the minutes and hours for those who work in the building in the 21st century.

The People who make the Place

After 3 years of construction, it was resolved at a meeting in the Market House (now the Exchange and Assembly buildings on North Street) that the next meeting of the Belfast Charitable Society would be held in their new home; the board room in the Poor House. As such, on the 24th October 1774, the Belfast Charitable Society held its inaugural meeting in  its new home; one that would continue to be  its home across 3 centuries. With the Society overseeing the finishing touches of the buildings personally, the house was officially ready to receive its first residents on Christmas Eve 1774.

Whilst the house was completed, it quickly felt pressure to expand to facilitate the need of the Poor of Belfast. As the city grew, so too did the need to house the poor and destitute living in the towns growing population. As a result, the house had two small additions constructed in the 1820’s, however it was not until the 1860’s that a significant, purpose-built addition was constructed, thanks to a generous donation by local Flax mill owner John Charters. Born in 1796 on the Crumlin Road, Charters earned his wealth through the textile industry and owned a Flax-dressing mill on the Falls Road. He sold his stake in his company in 1866 before donating substantial amounts of money to various causes like the Poor House and the Working Men’s Institution. The Charters Wing would almost exclusively house the children of the Poor House. This remedied an ongoing issue that had plagued the house since its opening.

The house had not been designed to take in children, nor did the Charitable Society initially intent to offer shelter to them, however, due to continuous pressure and need, concessions were made to allow children to live under the Poor House roof. (The education and apprenticeship of the children will be covered in more depth throughout the month of February.) This wing and  its focus on providing for children represents a core focus for Charters and his philanthropic vision, as he gave generously to for the brightest boys from Boys Model to attend Royal Belfast Academical Institution on funded scholarships. The construction of the Charters wing as it would later be known encapsulated John Charters overlapping charitable interests and his desire to give back to his home town in his later years.

The Charters wing was not the only addition made to the building during this period. The 1860’s and 70’s were a period of rapid growth for the House. After the opening of the Charters wing an anonymous letter was be presented to the Society offering to pay for the construction of two new wings, with the stipulation that it cost no more than £3000. It transpired that this offer came from Edward Benn, an established philanthropic figure within the Society and in Belfast. He was also in the progress of redeveloping the adjacent Glenravel Street on which iconic buildings such as the Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital would were built.

With the construction of the Benn Wings underway, it was acknowledged by the Society that the generosity of Charters should be better recognized, and it was decided in March 1872 that an inscription recognising John Charters should be erected on the building which his donations paid for, as Benn had incorporated his crest and name on each of the wings under construction.

These two donations encapsulate the philanthropic nature that existed within the society during this period. Benn, a successful businessman who had been plagued by ill health in later life, donated to increase the capacity of the Poor House, whilst simultaneously transforming Glenravel Street into the Medical Hub of Belfast. Charters, on the other hand, had sold his stake in his company, and was wanting to spend his twilight years donating his wealth to causes he was passionate about.

Both additions increased the capacity of the house and allowed for better practices in aspects such as hygiene and personal comfort, which allowed the house to weather rocky periods such as plagues and famines, sheltering its residents from the worst of what these periods in history brought. Both Benn and Charters passed away within a few months of each other in 1874, 100 years after the opening of the house, however their generosity is immortalized in the wings of the Clifton House which still houses residents and are now emblazoned with their name, forever etched into the history of the building.

This article, and indeed the events throughout January 2024 will explore the creation of the Poor House. The subsequent 11 months will breathe life into this historic building and populate it with the characters, faces and stories that made it a home to every person who entered through its doors.

We hope you will join us on this journey through the history of Clifton House, and by extension, a journey through the history of Belfast itself.

Clifton House unveils plans for 250th Anniversary Year

Next year Clifton House will mark its 250^th year with an exciting 12-month programme of activity, starting in January 2024.  First opening its doors in 1774, Clifton House is the oldest working building in Belfast. It remains the home of Belfast Charitable Society, who fundraised, built it, and managed it from 1774, and who ensure that its uses remain true to the charity’s mission … to look after those in need.    

During the annual Clifton House Benn Dinner today (Wednesday 13^th December), a long running tradition in itself, the Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Ryan Murphy, along with the Chair of Belfast Charitable Society, David Watters unveiled plans for the 250^th year celebration. Attendees, who included board members, partners and stakeholders, heard about the variety of special legacy projects, talks, tours, conferences, exhibitions and social media campaigns which will all help to tell the story of Clifton House throughout its 250 years!   

David Watters explained “I am honoured to take this wonderful charity, and its home, Clifton House, into a yearlong programme of celebration. The charity is not wasting this opportunity on mere celebrations but instead will bring others together to talk about the reality of poverty and disadvantage today – with an aim to answer the question ‘What would Belfast Charitable Society need to ‘build’ in 2024 to meet the needs of the disadvantaged, as it did back in 1774?’”  

David added ‘It is fantastic to welcome so many of our supporters into Clifton House today for the launch of our anniversary plans, in conjunction with our 141^st Benn Dinner. This event was first held in the winter of 1882 after George Benn, a renowned local philanthropist, bequeathed £1,000 to fund the residents of Clifton House to gather and have a Christmas lunch. Since then, the Belfast Charitable Society has continued to support this tradition in his name. This year is even more significant as we share our ambitious plans for 2024. Plans which allow us to tell our history in new ways and engage and gather further support to shape the next 250 years!”  

The Benn Dinner is traditionally attended by the Lord Mayor of Belfast, and this year was no exception. The residents of Clifton House were delighted to welcome and chat with Councillor Ryan Murphy, who was accompanied by the Junior Trade of Commerce and Santa himself!   

Councillor Murphy said “Clifton House, home of the Belfast Charitable Society, is such an asset to the history and heritage of our city. I was delighted to attend today and hear more about the exciting 250^th anniversary plans, which will commence in January 2024. Each year from 1882, Belfast’s first citizen has had the pleasure of coming to this amazing building and paying respect to our city’s older people through the tradition of the Benn Dinner. It’s a real privilege to now be a part of that history, as the 141^st Lord Mayor to attend this incredible annual event. I have no doubt that it, along with all the activity that happens within Clifton House, will continue to run for years and years to come. I wish you all the best of luck with the anniversary, and for the next 250 years of this remarkable institution.”   

Since first opening its doors in January 1774, Clifton House has been an iconic sight on the city’s skyline, synonymous with addressing poverty and disadvantage. Paula Reynolds, Chief Executive of Belfast Charitable Society commented “In our 250^th year, as well as reflecting on our long history of philanthropy and social reform, we also want to look forward to our next 250 years. We want to continue to challenge and innovate, and will be, throughout the year, asking our supporters and followers ‘What should the next 250 years look like’? We can’t wait to deliver our calendar of 250^th Anniversary events, and look forward to welcoming more people through our doors in 2024.”  For more information on the 250th Anniversary year, visit Clifton House 250. 

No one thought a year on that the impact of the cost-of-living crisis would be worse on families across Northern Ireland (NI), particularly north Belfast. Already one of the most deprived areas in NI, continued pressures on finances has made the situation dire, as families struggle to provide the basics.

David Watters, Chair of the Belfast Charitable Society, commented “Last year, for the first time, the Belfast Charitable Society agreed to fund school meals in post primary schools across Northern Ireland to help alleviate some of the financial pressures on families most in need. We hoped that this year the need would not be as great again, but unfortunately it is. Basic essentials like food, heating, warm winter coats and shoes are now just out of reach for some, due to the continued hike in costs of living. It is desperately sad to think that these are the items that the Belfast Charitable Society was funding over 250 years ago as well”.

Today, the Belfast Charitable Society has announced that it will double its funding to support the provision of school meals again this year, and will be focussing all its efforts in north Belfast. David explained:

“This year the Society will be supporting food programmes in 25 primary schools and seven post primary schools in north Belfast, and will make more funding available. This will allow schools to provide food for children who are experiencing hunger, as part of a breakfast or lunch club. We are aware that the need is great in this part of Belfast, so we will also be doing all we can to continue to tackle disadvantage through other initiatives and by raising awareness of the issues in the hope that other funders are able to respond quickly to the need too.”

Ashleigh Galway Principal of Currie Primary School commented “In our school population, more than 75% are entitled to free school meals. With the recent cuts we are struggling to ‘plug the gaps’ for our families in the way we used to. In addition, we have observed that the number of children arriving to school not ready to learn has increased significantly since the covid pandemic. This situation is made worse as we are also struggling to provide many additional supports and resources needed. This funding from Belfast Charitable Society will allow us to offer a snack to the children free of charge for the month of January or free school meals for all during this month, which I know is a particularly hard time for families managing on low incomes”.

Speaking on behalf of the schools, Bernadette Lyttle, Principal of Blessed Trinity College, commented “The school community in north Belfast is so grateful for this support again. As we edge closer to the colder weather, our teaching staff are already fearful for the welfare of the pupils in their classes, who are arriving hungry to school, unable to concentrate, distracted and above all else clearly worried about how their parents / guardians are going to pay for food, clothes and shoes over the coming weeks and months ahead. This funding will support hundreds of children, and so in turn hundreds of families, and will undoubtedly make a huge difference. On behalf of all of them, we want to thank Belfast Charitable Society for their continued efforts in tackling this growing need.

 The Belfast Charitable Society aim to have funding out to each of the schools by the end of October 2023.

On Tuesday 20 June the Foundation, set up in Mary Ann McCracken’s name, hosted a special evening to celebrate her birthday. ‘Two Marys’ in Conversation discussed the life and legacy of Mary Ann McCracken, and reflected on how much of her work was inspired by her close reading of the remarkable philosopher, writer and human rights advocate Mary Wollstonecraft.

Mary Wollstonecraft (1759 – 1797) lived most of her short life in England and was passionate about equality in education, and in society as a whole: “I do not wish [women] to have power over men, but over themselves”. Her published works, calling for men and women to be educated equally, were widely read and circulated, particularly in Belfast. Her travelogue was also well known, drawn from of her experience in  Norway, Denmark and Sweden.

Mary Ann McCracken (1770-1866) was a hero of Belfast- an abolitionist, philanthropist and reformer who was undoubtedly influenced by reading Mary Wollstonecraft’s published books. In her own letters, she described Wollstonecraft’s travelogue Letters Written During a Short Residence in Sweden, Norway, and Denmark as ‘more of a description of her own feelings, which are uncommonly exquisite’.

Sir Ronnie Weatherup, President of the Belfast Charitable Society, who hosted the event, commented, “We were delighted to dedicate an evening to celebrate these two amazing women, discussing Mary Ann and Mary Wollstonecraft’s lives and their works, and on how their influence is still felt today. It was a privilege to be joined on the night by Bee Rowlatt, a founding Trustee of the Wollstonecraft Society”.

Bee Rowlatt is a writer and journalist. Her book In Search of Mary won the Society of Authors’ K Blundell Trust award. Speaking about her contribution to the event, Bee said “I’m very excited to be sharing the incredible stories of these exceptional women, both of whose work is powerfully resonant today. It’s high time more people met Mary Ann McCracken and Mary Wollstonecraft!”

Belfast Charitable Society, founded in 1752 is Northern Ireland’s oldest charity.

Between 1752 and the 1880s, this involved building and managing Belfast’s first poorhouse and hospital, delivering many of the municipal services for the town and providing funds to support its poor.

From 1880s to 2018, our focus moved to caring for older people given they were the most vulnerable and, in recent years, we have gone back to wider philanthropic roots: supporting activity that tackles grassroots poverty and delivers innovative solutions to help those who tackle such disadvantage.

Based in the old Poor House, now Clifton House Heritage Centre, Belfast Charitable Society is seeking to recruit voluntary Board Members for the organisation.

The role involves attending regular Board meetings and working with staff through specialised committees to support, develop and grow the strategic management of the Charity. The Charity would particularly welcome applications from persons with skills in at least one of the following areas:

– practical finance
– strategic community, voluntary charity sector knowledge
– strategic PR / communications and marketing

Given our ongoing desire to be truly inclusive, applications are particularly welcome from the female and Catholic population here.

There is no remuneration for these positions and successful applicants must become members of the Society.

Please forward short CV (max 3 pages) by 12noon on 7th July 2023 to lucy@cliftonbelfast.org.uk

Belfast Charitable Society
Clifton House
2 North Queen Street
Belfast BT15 1ES
Tel 028 9099 7022
Email: lucy@cliftonbelfast.org.uk