11. Crossroads Care NI
12. Translink’s own Christmas ‘Stuff A Bus NI’ initiative supporting Salvation Army and St Vincent de Paul.
Pictured L-R is Maeve Colgan of Cancer Focus Northern Ireland, one of 12 charities receiving a £3,000 donation from Translink employees with Translink Staff Charity Fund Representative Norman Maynes.
Keep up to date with the latest Northern Ireland business news, marketing tips and tricks and advice for local businesses on the Tall Paul Marketing website.
Belfast woman, Sharon Coyle, 37, will be spending her Christmas Day working in NSPCC’s Helpline base in Belfast and although it means she will be parted from her family at this festive time, she explains why she is happy to do this.
The service provides adults with a place they can get advice and support, share their concerns about a child or get general information about child protection.
It has bases in Belfast and Manchester and operates 365 days per year to protect children in Northern Ireland and across the rest of the UK.
Last year the NSPCC helpline, which has around 100 staff, responded to almost 69,000 contacts from people, across the UK, with concerns about a child’s welfare and 45% of contacts answered resulted in a referral.
Ryan Elliott and John Murphy from The Elliott Trainor Partnership Solicitors will be undertaking a gruelling half-marathon of 13.1miles on Christmas Day to help raise urgent funds for Women’s Aid Armagh/Down area.
Ryan says, “As Solicitors in Newry, we have often witnessed the brilliant work of Women’s Aid Armagh Down in particular.
“We have observed many clients, many of whom have fled violence and abuse in their own homes, take back control and re-build their lives with the help and support of Women’s Aid.
“2020 has proven a heavy burden on Women’s Aid’s resources and they are currently struggling to sustain their core services.
The brothers were motivated to take part in the fun seasonal fundraiser because their dad was diagnosed with cancer around Christmas time in 2011.
Eoin and Conor, who grew up in Camlough and attend St Paul’s High School in Bessbrook, love a challenge – anything from music and drama to outdoor adventures on Camlough Lake.
Eoin says, “Around Christmas time in 2011 our dad was diagnosed with follicular lymphoma and underwent chemotherapy and radiotherapy and is now in remission.
“The family feels extremely blessed that we can enjoy many more Christmases to come as a family.
“We were to challenge ourselves and to raise money to help others affected by this horrible disease,” he adds.
76% of respondents surveyed said they normally feel positive about Christmas whereas this has dropped significantly with only 44% of people in Northern Ireland feeling optimistic about the festive season this year.
More than a fifth (21%) of respondents surveyed feel negative about Christmas this year with many feeling it won’t be the same because they are unable to spend it with loved ones.
And while the build-up to the festive period can be stressful for many, this year added concerns about health, the loss of a loved one and financial worries have poured on the pressure.
The survey of local people aged 16+ coincides with the launch of Relate NI’s first-ever Winter Campaign entitled ‘Relieve The Pressure’.