Giving Tuesday 2020

3 Dec 2020

December 1st is Giving Tuesday and to mark this global day of giving and generosity, The Community Foundation awarded over £12,500 to three organisations at their online celebration event.

The organisations, Women’s TEC, Portadown Wellness Centre and Tools for Solidarity each received a share of the funding and many who joined the celebration donated further after hearing about the great work and impact they make in our community.

Whilst Giving Tuesday is just one day, people in NI give generously all year, and particularly at this time of year. Late last week over €6.5m was raised through RTE’s Late Late Toy Show for Community Foundations to distribute to children’s charities across Ireland, North and South. We also know that Comic Relief’s Big Night In and Children In Need appeals both received generous support from the public here recently. And all of this is so important because so many charities and groups are relying on our generosity to continue their work. Some receive up to 70% of their annual income during this quarter and this year has been fought with difficulties for events and fundraising, forcing many groups to rethink and adapt their income generating and operating models. The support and generosity of funders and philanthropy has never been more needed and whilst many have increased their giving we’ve seen a shift in support towards health-related causes as a result of the pandemic.

Today we heard from Tools for Solidarity, who work to upskill refugees and asylum seekers, by fixing and refurbishing equipment for third world communities, with this funding they plan to extend their workshop and collection of tools to facilitate more individuals in their training sessions. Women’s TEC will recruit single mothers onto their ‘Time for me’ programme in the new year, teaching them independence and skills in industries and trades like plumbing and engineering traditionally dominated by men. We also head from Portadown Wellness Centre who are building a cross-community Empower Gardening & Educational Centre to support the most vulnerable in their community. Young and old with mental health illnesses, people who are isolated and/or with disabilities will be supported and empowered to run the centre, organising classes and activity for their local community. Three great projects building sustainable communities across NI .

Our judges, Suzanne Lagan, Sir Denis Desmond and Gordon Hamilton had the difficult task of deciding on the awards and in true participatory style, everyone at the virtual event had an opportunity to meet the people behind the projects and vote for their favourite project to receive an additional £500.

Throughout the last nine months, many funders and fund holders have pivoted their support in response to need and many generously gave more than in previous years. At the Foundation we can see this through the community response and our grantmaking which is targeted to double this year. As we celebrate Giving Tuesday, we celebrate this response locally. We know this kindness is welcomed and needed by charities and groups in NI and the impact will have a lasting effect.

Portadown wellness Centre, awarded £5,000.