After a successful first year helping 19 organisations in and around Belfast, the James Brown & Sons Community Fund is returning to provide charities and not-for-profit organisations with valuable support at a crucial time.
Local Funeral Directors James Brown & Sons have been serving the people of Greater Belfast since 1904 and have increased the money available this year to £25,000 for projects which benefit local communities in the city and the surrounding areas.
Speaking about the fund, James Brown said: “It was an honour for me to see £20,000 distributed to such a wide range of worthy causes last year in our family name.
“I’m very pleased that this year, supported by our parent company Funeral Partners, we will be able to provide even more support with £25,000 in the James Brown & Sons Community Fund available to good causes.
“Times are hard for many of us right now, but things are especially difficult for the most vulnerable in society with the cost-of-living crisis.
“I hope, this fund will not only help these organisations survive but continue to thrive and carry on their remarkable work.
“Whatever your size and whatever your goals, I would encourage you to apply for the James Brown & Sons Community Fund if your project fits into our four key focus areas of health, education, employment opportunities and poverty or social deprivation.
“Last year we assisted everything from schemes which aim to prevent isolation and loneliness to a Social Supermarket which redistributes surplus produce to families in food poverty for a nominal fee.
“There were also vital funds for a gardening community to buy new equipment, amongst many other incredible causes.”
Applicants to the fund must represent communities within a three-mile radius of James Brown & Sons located on Belfast’s Newtownards Road, Lisburn Road, Knockbreda Road, and Dundonald, Newtownabbey and Whiteabbey.
The fund aims to benefit projects which are addressing the needs of the most disadvantaged in the community which are led by people who demonstrate a clear understanding of community need.
Groups can apply for grants of between £300 and £1,500 to fund a whole project, or part of a larger scheme where the rest of the funding has already been secured. The first application window opened on March 6 and runs until April 3 with successful applicants set to be informed by May 1.
Other rounds of applications will open in July and November 2023.
To apply for a grant, or for more details about qualifying criteria visit https://www.jamesbrownfuneraldirectors.com.
