Belfast Charitable Society is celebrating its £100,000 milestone.
The society thanks the Barbour family for its generosity that has enabled this to happen. Through the Barbour Fund, £100,000 has been committed to worthy causes in Lisburn and North Belfast over the last five years.
Established when The Hilden District Nursing Home and Belfast Charitable Society came together through a shared mission, the Barbour Fund, distributes the philanthropic giving on their behalf and will run until 2021.
Both societies have a long and successful history of caring for older people, working to improve the lives of those who are less fortunate and providing education and training.
This celebration is timely as it falls within philanthropy fortnight which marks charitable giving and generosity.
Paula Reynolds, CEO of Belfast Charitable Society said the Barbour Fund was set up to help people that need it most, and it has enabled many to do amazing things by removing barriers and giving everyone access to opportunities.
“Both the Belfast Charitable Society and the Hilden District Nursing Home have a legacy of charitable giving, and it’s important this continues today, given the need is as high as ever,” she added.
She said reaching the £100,000 milestone is magnificent and knowing that the money has made a real difference to the wider community, is priceless.
“But it’s important to remember, especially during philanthropy fortnight, that we would be unable to provide this funding without those that have entrusted us to use our expert knowledge of the third sector effectively to manage their funds for the greater good,” she added.
With a mission to address social disadvantage and reduce isolation, the fund has supported many projects including bursaries at Belfast Metropolitan College and QUB; job linked training for 40 people with the Ashton Community Trust; resources which help young people outside of mainstream education and supported by Belfast Hospital School; and projects for older people.
Elise Coburn, a member of the Barbour family added: “The family has always wanted to empower people to better their lot, to give them the opportunity to build themselves up specifically in the Hilden area of Lisburn where we originated from.
“In recent years, however, the trustees felt working with the Belfast Charitable Society to deliver our philanthropic work through the Barbour Fund would enable the family’s legacy to continue on. We are very happy that has proved its case and the £100,000 which is a very significant amount has gone to many fantastic and needy causes,” she added.
If you would like to find out more about philanthropic giving please contact the Belfast Charitable Society on 028 9099 7022.