We had the great pleasure of working with the learning disability charity Mencap NI to support their most ambitious fundraising campaign ever. The Big Step Forward Appeal set out to raise £1.7million to build, equip and run a new Children and Families’ Centre in Belfast. The purpose of the Centre was to have one place that offers all the facilities, support and information children and young people with a learning disability, as well as their families, need.
Starting with the development and launch of the campaign we supported Mencap’s appeal targeting both members of the public and foundations and trusts. The organisation exceeded its goal and the amazing centre was officially opened by the First and deputy First Ministers of Northern Ireland alongside the Health Minister in March 2016. The opening of the Mencap Centre was an important day for the learning disability community as the new building served as a model for early intervention services across the UK and Ireland.
Our support for the project included media relations, event support, video production and maximising platform opportunities which included the securing of significant support from the Rory Foundation (Rory McIlroy) , being the official charity of Ulster Rugby and the visit of U2’s The Edge to the new facilities – himself a Mencap ambassador. Our journey with Mencap continued as we support their status as the official charity of the Deep RiverRock Belfast City Marathon for the next three years and encouraged further fundraising efforts. We hope many more will now take some important steps to support the excellent work of this fantastic charity.
