Community Services
Community Services
Introduction
Perhaps the longest serving of all BCM’s initiatives is the direct outreach that has taken place from our Grosvenor Hall site, spanning over three centuries. The purpose of these services is to offer place-centred, tangible responses to basic need, such as the need for food or human connection.
Today our voluntary Community Services remain most visible at Grosvenor Hall in central Belfast, but reach into many of our projects across Northern Ireland. If you would like to attend any of our services, or support them as a volunteer, you can get in touch via the links at the bottom of this page.
Community Services
Grosvenor Hall Seniors Lunch Club
At BCM we love to see people enjoy life to its fullest. Older people living in Belfast meet regularly at Grosvenor Hall, enjoying one another’s company during meals and activities together. Many of our users live alone, and our services represent a vital link to community for them. Our activities are designed to promote independence and healthy lifestyles.
This volunteer-led service supports older people to meet and enjoy a warm cooked meal each Wednesday. From local history talks, to armchair yoga, we offer a regular mix of added activities. Our programme also features occasional day trips and other added activities.
The Club meets from 12.30 to 2pm most Wednesdays at Grosvenor Hall. The service is open to anyone aged 55 and over, and a set charge of £5 per week covers all meals and activities. New members and volunteers are most welcome, and you can get in touch via the Contact Us page.
Attend Lunch Club
Volunteer
Promoting Active Lifestyles
Combatting Loneliness
Offering Nutritious Meals
Expanding Aspirations
Donate
Volunteer
Community Services
Christmas Toy Appeal
For those families who experience poverty, Christmas can be a challenging and pressurised time of year. Through sustained partnership work, BCM offers a tangible support for parents and children during the festive period.
Also known at the Giving Tree Appeal, our seasonal giving programme supports thousands of families each year with toy gifts and financial support. During the last 25 years, BCM has partnered with The Society of St Vincent de Paul, and the Northern Ireland Civil Service to deliver the appeal-enabling thousands of children to experience the joy of Christmas. Fundraising also supports direct aid to families in need, delivered via our partner organisations.
The annual fundraising campaign runs from mid-November to Christmas each year via JustGiving, and all monies raised directly support the toy appeal. We will post yearly information about our appeal via the news page.
Every Child Has a Christmas Morning
Prioritising Household Budgets
Connecting Communities
In difficult times Offering Hope
Community Services
Community and Residential care Befriending
At BCM, we believe in the power of companionship and the positive impact it can have on individuals’ lives. Our Befriending Scheme is designed to provide support and friendship to those who feel isolated or lonely. Our dedicated volunteers are here to offer a listening ear, companionship, and a friendly face.
Referral Criteria
To ensure that our Befriending Scheme reaches those who need it most, we have established the following referral criteria:
- Persons housebound in their own home.
- Persons with little or no family support.
- Persons with no support from other agencies.
Persons aged over 65.
Exclusions: The scheme is not suitable for individuals requiring the following:
- Professional mental health support
- Those with complex care needs.
- Those needing help with general household management or food shopping.