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Belfast Charitable Society supports Belfast Black Santa

Tuesday December 24th 2024

Black Santa, Dean Stephen Forde, is joined by CEO of Belfast Charitable Society, Paula Reynolds and Chair of Belfast Charitable Society, Professor Alastair Adair as they announce a significant donation to mark the 250th Anniversary of Clifton House.

Belfast Charitable Society has made a significant donation to Belfast Cathedral’s Black Santa Appeal to mark 250th Anniversary of Clifton House.

On Christmas Eve, 250 years ago, following more than a decade of fundraising, planning and building, Clifton House, formerly the Poor House of Belfast, opened its doors for the first time.

As part its 250th anniversary celebrations, Belfast Charitable Society announced today that it will make a significant donation to the Black Santa appeal. The familiar sight of Black Santa on the steps of St Anne’s Cathedral has become synonymous with the giving spirit and generosity of the people of Belfast. An ideal also close to the hearts of past and present members of Belfast Charitable Society (BCS). This year, for the first time, BCS is joining forces with this incredible annual fundraising initiative, through the giving of a significant donation.

Professor Alastair Adair, Chair of the Belfast Charitable Society explained: “It was on the eve of Christmas, 250 years ago in 1774, that members of the Belfast Charitable Society met in the Market House (now the Assembly Rooms) and agreed, with ‘immediate effect’, that ‘as many of the Begging poor as the Poor House can at present accommodate be received as soon as possible’.

“All these years later, the ethos of these founding members remains strong in the charitable activities of this organisation, which is evident again today as we announce our latest donation on what is the official anniversary of the opening of the Poor House.”

Paula Reynolds, CEO of Belfast Charitable Society, expanded: “This year, as well as reflecting on our long history of philanthropy and social reform, we have also been looking ahead to our future. Throughout the year, we brought others together to talk about the reality of poverty and disadvantage today – with an aim to inform our future work.

“The decision to support Black Santa’s remarkable fundraising this year has been as a direct result of the feedback we have gathered over the last 12 months in order to support those most in need.”

Pictured from L to R: Canon Raymond Fox; The Rt Rev George Davison, Bishop of Connor; Eileen Mooney, Treasurer of Belfast Charitable Society; Dean Stephen Forde; Professor Alastair Adair, Chair of Belfast Charitable Society; Paula Reynolds, CEO of Belfast Charitable Society and Mrs Gillian McCaughey, Cathedral Lay Reader on the steps of Belfast Cathedral for announcement of donation to mark the 250th Anniversary of Clifton House.

Black Santa supports dozens of charities every year, supporting a range of needs across the city of Belfast and Northern Ireland. Last year, 120 charities received funding. This year is no different.

The 48th annual sit-out on the steps of St Anne’s began on December 16 and will end on Christmas Eve. This is the seventh annual sit-out for the current Black Santa, the Very Rev Stephen Forde, and as it has done since the first charity sit-out by Dean Sammy Crooks in 1976, the Appeal will fund small charities across Northern Ireland, with a portion going to Christian Aid.

This year, the Appeal has a special focus on charities working for two groups of younger people who have particular needs in the community – those who support families who have a member with autism, and those working to prevent young people – in particular young people with a lived experience of care – from finding themselves homeless as they move to independent living.

Welcoming the donation from Belfast Charitable Society, Dean Forde said: “It is wonderful to establish this partnership between Belfast Charitable Society and Belfast Cathedral and wonderful to share the celebrations of their 250th anniversary and our 120th anniversary.

“The outworking of this is seen in the amazing generosity of Belfast Charitable Society in its support of this year’s Belfast Black Santa Appeal, and as Dean of Belfast, I am extremely grateful for their generosity. As with every donation, all the money received will be given away to charities across Belfast and Northern Ireland.”

Professor Alastair Adair concluded: “We are delighted to be in a position to announce this donation today to mark this milestone anniversary. The impact this fundraising will have on those charitable organisations working hard to meet the needs of poverty and disadvantage today will be significant. It saddens the Board that such a need still exists 250 years on, but commend these charities for their work, which is invaluable at this time.”

Belfast Charitable Society’s final donation amount will be announced in the New Year, once Black Santa’s fundraising has finished.  

There is still time to donate online at www.belfastblacksanta.org.

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