Our Grants
We review all our grants and loans programmes every year, supporting a range of projects in Belfast and further afield. All the organisations we fund fit with our overall mission and vision of continuing to tackle disadvantage.
Barbour Fund
Belfast Charitable Society has been working with the Barbour Fund to create a six-year fund aimed at supporting activities for older people, disadvantaged young people and skills development, in particular in the health and social care sector. To date over £100,000 has been awarded to projects aimed at tackling isolation for older people and enhance employability for younger people through access to training programmes.
North Belfast Heritage Cluster
Belfast Charitable Society is a member, and current chair of a group of voluntary organisations that own or care for an historic building (and graveyard!) in North Belfast. The long term aim is to deliver heritage-led regeneration, using what’s special about the area to create a more confident sense of place.
Great Place North Belfast
Belfast Charitable Society is working with 15 partner organisations on the Great Place North Belfast project, is a 3-year initiative funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The project features their historic buildings and sites stretching for one mile along Donegall Street, Clifton Street, the Crumlin Road and part of the Antrim Road.
Horn of Africa People’s Aid NI
BCS is supporting HAPANI to deliver a ‘One Child, One Device’ programme to 150 refugee and asylum-seeking children. This programme will deliver 150 laptops to these children to assist the digital inclusion, e-learning and continued education during the covid-19 pandemic when schools and other learning activity moved to an online platform.
Queens University Belfast Pathway Opportunity Programme Bursary
This bursary enables 5 Year two students to access the Pathway Opportunity Programme, supporting students from disadvantaged backgrounds to complete third level education.
Family Early Intervention Support
BCS supports multi-disciplinary teams of more than 60 organisations who work directly with North Belfast families facing financial hardship and requiring early intervention. The Society funds two part-time home visitor posts and vouchers for those most in need: continuing in a modern way our original outdoor relief scheme.
Age NI Check In and Chat
BCS supported Age NI to develop a Check In and Chat service during the covid-19 pandemic. In response to the intense levels of isolation and loneliness experienced by older people due to lockdown and isolation, Age NI, with the support of the Commissioner for Older People, established a new ‘Check in and Chat’ service. Through ‘Check in and Chat’ an older person is matched with a trained volunteer to enjoy a friendly chat on a regular basis, enhancing wellbeing, reducing isolation and loneliness.
Common Purpose
Belfast Charitable Society granted Common Purpose £5,000 to deliver a leadership programme for young people in Northern Ireland. Specifically, our grant will help young people from North Belfast access to a programme that will improve their skills in project management, communication, collaboration, networking and leading change in a divided society.