ASRA delegates raise over £3,000 for Belfast Homeless Services!

ASRA proudly commits to charitable causes located within our Conference destinations

At Conference 2023 our chosen charity was Belfast Homeless Services, and throughout the event, ASRA delegates helped to design a special quilt in support of the charity, which was then pieced and quilted by local company Quilters Quest in record time! The quilt was then auctioned off at the Conference Dinner in order to raise much needed funds to support the charity.



At the Conference Dinner there was also a Charity Raffle with some fantastic prizes, kindly donated by our industry colleagues - a massive 'thank you' to our friends from Hastings Hotels, Visit Belfast, Washco, Student Roost, Studentpad, Unite Students & Homes for Students.

A big thank you to all delegates who made a donation to the charity raffle, and in particular to Sammy Dwek, Director at NSP Europe, for his generous donation for the ASRA quilt, which he has subsequently donated to Belfast Homeless Services!

In total, through the Charity Raffle and quilt auction we raised £3,020 for Belfast Homeless Services!

Liz Rocks, Service Coordinator at Belfast Homeless Services said "On behalf of Belfast Homeless Services, we would like to express our sincere gratitude and thanks to you all for choosing Belfast Homeless Services as the recipient of funds raised at the Charity Raffle.

Belfast Homeless Services relies heavily on Donations and with over 60 Volunteers we provide a vital service for those in our Society that are experiencing Homelessness and who are quite Vulnerable.

Your kindness, generosity and support has touched our hearts and we assure you that the Quilt that Mr. Dwek donated will be put up in our Centre and this in turn will remind us of everyone at ASRA."

More about Belfast Homeless Services

Belfast Homeless Services is a drop-in facility working together with those who are experiencing homelessness or who may need to avail of the service. Founded in 2014 and becoming independent in 2019 under the title of Belfast Homeless Services (BHS), it is a warm, welcoming, cross-community-led initiative with the philosophy ‘‘to offer access to all regardless of personal circumstances, race, gender, ability or faith”.

The team comprises approximately 60 compassionate volunteers who dedicate their time on a weekly basis to ensuring the facility is open three nights a week. Open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights, BHS welcomes around 50 to 60 guests each night. Whilst guests were once referred to as service users, this terminology can be seen to be very clinical, therefore BHS has evolved to refer to the people who avail of the service as guests.

The amenities available within the drop-in include food, hot drink, water or juice, recreational activities, clothing, as well as advice, emotional support, signposting to relevant external agencies and out-of-hours housing referrals.

Belfast Homeless Services rely on donations from individuals, fundraising and businesses to continue providing the much-needed support to people who are homeless.

Belfast Homeless Services Registered charity number 108018 

Click here to visit BHS Facebook page and learn more about their work