Belfast Charitable Society

24/08/2026

Over the next three years Belfast Charitable Society will focus on homelessness as one of the key areas to support with funding.

Along with a number of other independent funders, Belfast Charitable Society is delighted to support these two new staff roles at People's Kitchen Belfast, so that this fantastic organisation can continue to help the most vulnerable people currently living on our streets. A full time Project Manager and part time Administrator.

Details and links to apply are below.

People’s Kitchen Belfast are delighted to announce that we are recruiting two new team members to help strengthen and enhance our services across Belfast.

Due to the growing demand for our services, we are seeking to appoint,

- Project Manager
- Administrator

If your interested in either role, please follow the links below for full details and application information.

Project Manager
https://www.communityni.org/job/project-manager-95

Administrator
https://www.communityni.org/job/administrator-202

Come and make a real difference in your community.

18/08/2026

Captain John McCracken, the father of Henry Joy and Mary Ann McCracken, was a seafarer by trade. He established a rope works on the County Antrim side of Belfast Lough and was also deeply interested in social welfare.

He established the Marine Charitable Society, a charity into which sailors could make regular contributions and, in return, receive benefits in times of sickness and old age. Through the scheme, the Belfast Charitable Society also provided sailors with a place of refuge in the Poor House if they had missed their ship and needed somewhere to stay until they could make their way home.

When the Poor House was under construction in the 1770s, Captain McCracken grew barley in the field on the west side of the building. He was allowed to thresh his crop in the front hall, with boards laid over the flags to protect the floor.

After the institution opened to the poor in 1774, Captain McCracken became a member of the Society’s board and helped with the running of the charity. He was also involved, along with Robert Joy and Thomas McCabe, in establishing a cotton industry in the Poor House.

Captain John McCracken died in 1803, but his family remained active in the Belfast Charitable Society's work.

13/08/2026

Celebrating 5 Years of the Mary Ann McCracken Bursary Programme

Five years ago, we launched the Mary Ann McCracken Bursary Programme with a simple but powerful aim: to help remove financial barriers and create opportunities for young people to take the next step in their education, training or career.

Since 2021, the programme has supported young people across North Belfast in accessing further and higher education, apprenticeships, training and employment, continuing Mary Ann McCracken's lifelong commitment to education and social justice.

As we celebrate this milestone, we'd love to hear from the people who have been part of the programme.

Were you awarded a Mary Ann McCracken Bursary?

Where has your journey taken you? Has the bursary helped you pursue your studies, start a new career, complete an apprenticeship or achieve a goal that once felt out of reach?

We'd love to hear your story and learn how the bursary has made a difference to your life.

If you're a past recipient, please get in touch by emailing [email protected]

05/08/2026

Now in its fourth day, Belfast is busy as thousands of visitors continue to descend on the city to celebrate na hÉireann. The Fleadh is one of the most high-profile events that Belfast has ever hosted. It will shine a light on the city’s long cultural heritage, and we are right to feel proud and excited.

But underneath the celebrations, for people living in poverty, and the homeless population of Belfast, life will carry on as normal. And for some, their day-to-day existence may prove to be even more difficult for the duration of the festival.

With this in mind, , one of our funded projects, will be increasing their outdoor relief activities throughout the week, extending opening hours at their drop-in centre on the Antrim Road, preparing even more hot meals than usual, and working closely with other outreach organisations to provide help and shelter for those in need.

Read our full blog at www.belfastcharitablesociety.org/news/outdoor-relief-in-the-past-and-today/ to find out about how Belfast Charitable Society's outdoor relief programme started in 1776, supporting those living in poverty then.

01/08/2026

Thanks for the fantastic article in this week's Irish News , which focuses on the links with Belfast Charitable Society, Mary Ann McCracken and Edward Bunting.

Read the full article on the Irish News website here: https://www.irishnews.com/entertainment/before-the-fleadh-belfast-charitable-societys-link-to-the-preservation-of-traditional-irish-music-BFAY7B6WUREQFB3N5VAK55RLP4/

This is also the theme of this week's talk, as part of our Fleadh Fringe programme of events, which also features some of the music Bunting preserved, performed by the Sky Harp Ensemble on Tuesday 4 August at 1pm in Clifton House. We still have a few tickets left. Book online at www.CliftonBelfast.com.

Mary Ann McCracken Foundation

27/07/2026

They promised not to interfere with the board of the Belfast Charitable Society, however that very quickly changed!

They influenced the education of the women and children, they improved working and living conditions, they ensured children who were apprenticed out were well treated....and much, much more.

How do we know this? Because Clifton House Belfast still houses and looks after all the original committee books.

27/07/2026

📖Stories from the Archive📖

25/07/2026

One story, three voices, and countless ways to discover Belfast's history and its impact today.

Did you know that by following all three of our channels, you'll see the full picture?

Belfast Charitable Society - Ireland's oldest extant charity, continuing a legacy of philanthropy that began in 1752.

Clifton House Belfast – Discover the stories, tours, events and heritage from one of Belfast's most remarkable historic buildings.

Mary Ann McCracken Foundation – Celebrating the life and values of one of Belfast's greatest philanthropists by supporting projects that continue her legacy toda – Celebrating the life and values of one of Belfast's greatest philanthropists by supporting projects that continue her legacy today.

Each page shares something different, but together they tell one incredible story.

**Follow all three and never miss the history, heritage, events, philanthropy and people shaping Belfast – past, present and future.**

Mary Ann McCracken Foundation

24/07/2026

Four years ago, Belfast Charitable Society, as part of wider support work with Anaka Women's Collective, sponsored Kehinde to start her further education at Ulster University.

Last month she graduated, completing her degree in Community Development. We were delighted to receive this lovely photo and thank you letter from Kehinde.

"I am writing this with tears of joy and so much gratitude in my heart. Earlier this month, I officially graduated with my Community Development degree and I know with absolute certainty this achievement would never have been possible without you.

When I started this journey, I carried with me the hopes, prayers, and trust of my entire community here in Belfast. But it was your kindness, your belief in me, and the unwavering support Clifton House provided every step of the way that kept me going when things felt hard. You opened doors I never thought I could walk through, gave me the confidence to keep learning, and stood by me just as my own family and neighbours did.

You did not just help me finish a degree; you helped build the foundation for everything I hope to give back. My greatest wish now is to secure a role where I can put everything I have learned into practice, working right here to serve this community that has given me so much. I want to pay forward every bit of care you have shown me, to lift others up, to create opportunities, and to make sure no one feels their dreams are out of reach.

I carry you all with me as I look for that next step. Thank you for changing my life, and for helping me be ready to change lives too."

Well done in completing your studies and good luck for your future career.

22/07/2026

Barnardos Child Bereavement Service specialise in offering postvention support to children, young people and their parents/carers following a death by su***de, murder, murder-su***de or similar tragic and traumatic circumstance.

The support that each child or young person receives from Barnardos is tailored to their individual needs and they follow best practice in the area of traumatic grief support. Recently the team have been exploring EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) as a addition to their services offered.

Belfast Charitable Society is currently contributing towards the costs of training four members of the team in EMDR through a one off donation.

Phil Lindsay from Barnardos Child Bereavement Service recently said
"On behalf of everyone at Barnardo's Northern Ireland and in particular the Child Bereavement Service, please accept our sincere thanks for your extremely generous donation of £2000 awarded by Belfast Charitable Society for our work in postvention trauma support for children and young people. Thank you so much. Your donation is supporting the training of 4 staff in EMDR who are due to complete module 1 this week with the further 2 modules by Dec 26."

We wish all the staff currently being trained the best of luck, as we know the positive impact this new therapy will have on children and young people who need this support.

Picture of staff, from left to right, Patricia Lindsay, Clare Boyd, Michelle Scullion and Phil Lindsay (Children’s Service Manager).