Black Santa Fundraising total of £200,000 reached with support from Belfast Charitable Society.

For over 120 years, Clifton House and St Anne’s Cathedral have been neighbours in north Belfast. Although their connections go back much further. The original parish church of St Anne’s opened in 1776, just two years after the Belfast Charitable Society officially opened Clifton House, the former Poor House of Belfast, over 250 years ago.

In recent years, both institutions have worked closely together as members of the North Belfast Heritage Cluster through a regeneration project, Great Place North Belfast, led by Belfast Charitable Society (BCS). Despite this lengthy history, last year was the first time BCS also supported Belfast Cathedral’s Black Santa fundraising campaign. Through a significant donation, which added a further 50 per cent to the money collected from members of the public, the fundraising total reached £200,000.

Belfast Charitable Society made the decision to support Black Santa for the first time as part of its 250th anniversary celebrations for its home, Clifton House. Professor Alastair Adair, Chair of Belfast Charitable Society explained “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. The decision to support Black Santa’s remarkable fundraising initiative was made as part of our 250th Anniversary celebrations of Clifton House.

Professor Alastair Adair, Chair of Belfast Charitable Society explained “We are delighted to be able to make this significant donation of £73,600, bringing the total Black Santa fundraising total up to £200,000. As Ireland’s oldest extant charity, Belfast Charitable Society has been addressing disadvantage for over 270 years and sadly knows too well the need that still exists due to poverty today.”

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

The funds raised will be distributed by Black Santa to 104 charities at the annual Good Samaritans Service on Sunday 2 February 2025.

Dean Forde explained “Out of this generosity, thousands of people across Belfast and across the province will benefit through the work of those 104 local charities who have been awarded a grant from this year’s appeal.”

Professor Alastair Adair concluded “The impact this fundraising will have on those reliant on these charitable organisations receiving funding will be significant, and in some cases life changing.”

The Good Samaritans Service will take place in Belfast Cathedral at 3.30pm on Sunday 2 February, with special guests former Olympic athlete Lady Mary Peters, and music from singer Peter Corry.