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James Brown launches Community Fund
James Brown & Sons Community Fund launched
£20,000 Community Fund launched to fund grass-roots good causes provided by local charities and not-for-profit organisations working to benefit people in Belfast and surrounding areas.
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James Brown & Sons has been committed to serving the people of greater Belfast since 1904 and this year they have launched the first ever James Brown & Sons Community Fund, to provide much-needed support to charities and not-for-profit organisations.
The funding will focus on programmes that benefit local communities in the heart of Belfast and surrounding areas. Successful applicants to the fund will represent communities within a three-mile radius of James Brown & Sons located on Belfast’s Newtownards Road, Lisburn Road, Knockbreda Road, and Dundonald, Dunmurry and Whiteabbey.
Speaking about the launch of the fund in his family name, James Brown said: “It has been a humbling experience for us to serve the people of greater Belfast for almost 120 years and while we have witnessed many bad times, there have been many good times too.
“We have made countless charitable donations over the years, but this is the first time that we, James Brown & Sons, supported by Funeral Partners, have taken a formal approach to recognise the good causes in our area with the launch of the James Brown & Sons Community Fund.
“Sadly, we have all been impacted by the pandemic and if the last two years have taught us anything, it’s to look after our neighbours and those closest to us. Therefore, I am both honoured and privileged to be able to launch this fund in the name of the business started by my grandfather, at a time when so many community organisations are struggling to survive.
“I trust that the fund will go some way to enabling a range of community groups in the greater Belfast area and beyond to continue their important work and to thrive.
“Whether you host a children’s after school club, you maintain a community garden, you support disadvantaged groups in your community, provide employment within the local area, or you campaign for social justice, we want to hear from you.
“No matter how small or large your community
James Brown from James Brown & Sons
initiative is, I would encourage you to apply for the James Brown & Sons Community Fund as we want to connect and engage with projects in our local communities to help them develop as we reunite beyond the pandemic and all look to a brighter future.”
The fund will be distributed in three cycles
Emma Moore, Branch Development Manager and Andrew Neale, branch manager at James Brown & Sons throughout 2022 with grants of between £300 and £1,500 being awarded to a maximum of £6,666 in each cycle.
The deadline for applications to the first James Brown & Sons Community Fund was at the beginning of June and the recipients will be announced soon.
The second round of the Fund will open for applications on 25 July and closes on 25 August 2022.
The third round opens in October. Applicants must demonstrate how they improve the quality of life for local residents and the wider community.
Projects applying for the fund should apply by email in no more than 500 words aligning to James Brown & Sons’ funding focus areas: Health, Education, Employment Opportunities and Poverty/Social Deprivation.
For further information and to apply to the fund, please visit: www.jamesbrownfuneraldirectors.com or email: jamesbrowncommunityfund@ funeralpartners.com.
Funeral Directors put their best foot forward to help Cruse Bereavement Support NI
A team representing Funeral Partners Northern Ireland put on their walking boots to raise £3000 for Cruse Bereavement Support NI.
Jon Baird, Business Principal from Baird’s Funeral Service of Antrim, joined colleagues from funeral homes across Northern Ireland to take part in a 10 Km sponsored walk for Cruse Bereavement Support (NI). Jon was part of the team who raised over £3,000 for the charity. He said: “We wanted to get together with colleagues in a different environment to raise money for a worthy cause and decided that an enjoyable way to do it was by tackling a 10 Km sponsored walk.
“The weather was on our side and the route took us around the beautiful Roe Valley Country Park in Limavady, taking in the great scenery with a mix of off-road walking and some challenging climbs. I’m pleased that we all completed the walk and had a great day, raising lots of money along the way.”
Bairds of Antrim is part of the Funeral Partners network of high-quality funeral homes who run 16 funeral homes in Northern Ireland and previously partnered with Cruse Bereavement Support NI to help recruit and train new bereavement volunteers.
Jon added: “We wanted to raise money for Cruse as we knew that all the money we raised would be spent on bereavement services in our local community. We hope that the money from the walk will fund more bereavement volunteers to provide support to people whose
The Funeral Partners management team who took part in the walk - left to right, Andrew Neale, Ashley Walker, Angela Worrell, Ruth Meadows, Emma Jayne McClure, Wayne Glenn, Emma Moore, Beverley Brown, Kylie Gourley, Jon Baird, Julian Hodgkinson
loved ones we have arranged funerals for.”
Elaine Brannigan, Community Fundraising and Engagement Manager for Cruse Bereavement Support NI said: “Due to the effects of the pandemic, the number of people seeking our specialist bereavement support has risen dramatically. We are absolutely delighted to have the support of Funeral Partners Northern Ireland and would like to thank everyone involved in raising such a fantastic amount in aid of Cruse. The money will help us to support more local bereaved people quicker.”
About Funeral Partners:
Funeral Partners is the UK’s third largest funeral business, with more than 230 funeral homes staffed by over 1000 dedicated funeral professionals serving communities across England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Chief Executive Sam Kershaw has over 40 years’ experience in the funeral profession, joining the business back in 2016 as Chief Operating Officer. Funeral Partners, celebrating its 15-year anniversary in 2022, has grown rapidly, building a strong reputation as a well-run, high-quality funeral services business overseeing more than 25,000 funerals each year. It now includes more than 125 family businesses, which have entrusted their reputation and heritage to Funeral Partners.
