The Lord Mayor of Belfast has announced his four official charities for the year ahead – DePaul, Inspire, Show Some Love Ltd and Oh Yeah Music Centre.
Councillor Micky Murray said his personal experience of working in the voluntary sector was a driving force behind his choices.
“Both DePaul and Inspire do fantastic work here in Belfast – most of which goes unseen,” he said.
“Whether it’s counselling, family support or accommodation, without them, many individuals and their families would be struggling even more.”
With inclusion and diversity also a key theme for this term in office, Show Some Love Ltd was another natural choice for Mr Murray.
The charity provides projects, events and spaces to bring people together and offer aid for those experiencing hardship.
They work closely with refugees, asylum seekers and the LGBTQIA+ community and their projects include free packs of toiletries, a clothing bank and workshops focusing on textile recycling.
The final charity chosen by Lord Mayor, Oh Yeah Music Centre, also has a strong track record in bringing people together, this time through music.
Outreach officer Paul Kane said: “It’s a real thrill to say thank you for the support the lord mayor is giving to us at Oh Yeah Music Centre, from our youth projects like Elevate and our talent development programmes to our live music venue.”
The venue, based in the Cathedral Quarter, runs a wide range of outreach and education initiatives with young people, including work with schools and youth groups from across the city.
