Black Santa funding applications now open

Thursday October 19th 2023

Applications are now open for funds raised by Belfast Cathedral’s Black Santa Appeal 2023.

Last year, Dean Stephen Forde’s annual sit-out on the steps of the Cathedral raised £130,000 in the 10 days before Christmas, allowing the appeal to support 126 local charities with grants and awards of £1,000 and more.

This is Black Santa’s 47^th year, and the sit-out will run from December 14-24. To increase the impact of support for local charities, the Black Santa team invites applications from those registered charities whose annual income in 2022 was £200,000 or less.

In 2023, applications are especially welcome from charities working in three key areas:

At this time of the continued ‘cost of living crisis,’ the Dean once again welcomes applications from registered charities supporting the most disadvantaged families and individuals in our communities.
A further focus this year is on those charities supporting those most directly impacted by drug abuse in our community.
The appeal also wishes to support those charities which are providing bereavement support in the aftermath of the Covid pandemic.

Black Santa Applications can be downloaded from the Belfast Cathedral website. Closing date for applications is Friday December 8 2023.