Community Activities
At James Brown & Sons, community is at the heart of everything we do. Through our Community Fund, we are proud to support grassroots organisations that are making a tangible difference in people’s lives. From East Belfast to Newtownabbey, the June 2025 recipients reflect the creativity, compassion, and resilience of the communities we serve.
Here is a look at the incredible organisations we have recently funded, each one building resilience, inclusion, and connection in their local communities.
ROC School Uniform Project – Glengormley
Relieving Pressure, Restoring Dignity
We are delighted to support the ROC School Uniform Project – Glengormley, a vital initiative helping families in Newtownabbey navigate the financial challenges of back-to-school costs.
Last summer, ROC supported nearly 1,000 children across Greater Belfast with donated and new uniform items. This year, thanks to support from the Community Fund, they will provide at least 150 children with school uniforms and essential stationery packs. The project not only reduces financial pressure but also promotes sustainability and strengthens community bonds through volunteering and collective support.
Walkway Community Association – East Belfast Summer Programme
Confidence, Creativity, and Community
We are proud to celebrate a milestone with Walkway Community Association as the first organisation to receive Community Fund support twice. Their long-running summer programme has been a cornerstone of the East Belfast community for over 30 years.
With over 50 children attending daily for three weeks, the programme blends fun with learning: circus skills, African drumming, drama, sports, and crafts all help to build confidence, creativity, and teamwork. Crucially, the programme also includes free healthy lunches providing a lifeline for many families during the summer break.
The White Butterfly Foundation – Timeless Tiles Bereavement Support
Creative Healing for Bereaved Parents
The White Butterfly Foundation offers a lifeline to parents grieving the loss of a baby. With overwhelming demand for creative, peer-based bereavement support, this project introduces monthly sessions in Newtownabbey, blending emotional support with craft-based healing.
Workshops like Timeless Tiles, where parents create ceramic tributes to their babies, provide a powerful outlet for grief and connection. The final display at Stormont during Baby Loss Awareness Week will not only honour each child but also raise awareness around the silent grief so many parents carry.
Mitchell House School – Horticultural Therapy Project
Growth Through Gardening
We are proud to support Mitchell House School, a specialist school for children with physical disabilities and complex medical needs. Their new horticultural therapy programme offers a powerful, hands-on approach to supporting students’ mental, emotional, and social wellbeing.
The programme will provide inclusive gardening sessions, from planting and growing to crafts and outdoor learning, helping children develop confidence, life skills, and a love for nature. With trained staff and adapted tools, this initiative offers a safe, accessible space where all children can thrive, and where families can feel supported.
Newtownabbey Women’s Shed – Women Supporting Women
Art, Empowerment, and Connection
Thanks to Community Fund support, the Newtownabbey Women’s Shed will run a 10-month programme of creative workshops designed to build confidence, skills, and community among local women.
Meeting regularly, the group provides a safe space for women to share experiences, learn from one another, and support their mental wellbeing through arts and crafts. The programme will conclude with a celebratory exhibition, a tribute to the creativity and strength of the women involved.
One Grant at a Time: Real Support, Real Impact
These projects are diverse in their focus, from education and bereavement to inclusion and wellbeing, but they all share one thing in common: a deep commitment to serving the people around them.
Through the James Brown & Sons Community Fund, we are proud to invest in grassroots solutions, led by passionate people making a real difference. Together, we’re building a stronger, more connected community — one grant at a time.