Being a non-profit organisation in Belfast can be hard if you don’t have a fundraising group. In Tools for Solidarity, the Fundraising Group is run by local and international volunteers. Our group makes sure that money is always available for projects. As well for all needs and expenses are covered in the workshop.
Usually, we separate our projects into categories to meet all requirements. It also allows us to focus on specific funders. By doing so we make applications to a number of grant-giving bodies. And every year we hold some well-supported fundraising events.
Fundraising Events
Tools for Solidarity Fundraising group also organises one-off events. Thus if you are interested in helping with one of these, or better still, organising one yourself, please let us know!
International Poetry Competition, 2017
In 2017 Tools for Solidarity together with Crescent Arts Centre launched an opportunity for poets around the world. Our competition was judged by the wonderful poets and writers Deirdre Cartmill and Maria McManus.
Deirdre Cartmill is a poet, writer and writing mentor based in Belfast.
Her latest poetry collection The Return of the Buffalo was published by Lagan Press in 2013. Her debut collection Midnight Solo was published in 2004.
Maria McManus is a poet and playwright.
Maria’s poetry collections are We are Bone (Lagan Press 2013), The Cello Suites (Lagan Press 2009), recorded with an original score composed and played by the cellist Tom Hughes, and Reading the Dog (Lagan Press 2006.)
In a nutshell, Poetry Competition attracted over 50 people from around the world on the ‘Solidarity’ topic. The Awards Ceremony took place on the 9th of June 2017 as part of the Crescent Arts Centre Book Festival. Moreover, it was hosted by comedian Tim McGarry.
Comedy night: A Night of Solidarity, 2017
In 2017 we had an event hosted by our friend – Tim McGarry. Comedy Night at the Waterfront Studio ‘A Night of Solidarity’. It was a night of laughter hosted by Tim and friends Terry McHugh and Mary Flanigan.
Tim McGarry hugely popular stand-up comedian and broadcaster is getting it out for solidarity. A long-time supporter of Belfast-based charity Tools for Solidarity, after 30-odd years providing tools and sewing machines to groups in East Africa, these folks deserve a gig of their own. We have got brilliant support acts Mary Flanigan and Terry McHugh with a fabulous night of comedy.
2018 Movie night: Queen of Katwe
In 2018 we organised a Movie Night at the Strand Arts centre. The film chosen for the occasion was ‘Queen of Katwe’ (2016), an American biographical drama starring David Oyelowo, Lupita Nyong’o, and Madin Nalwanga. The film shows the life of Phiona Mutesi, a girl living in Katwe, a slum of Kampala, the capital of Uganda.
The event was very successful attracting a full house. This allowed us to gather donations for one of our projects.
On the 24th of June the Vault Artist Studios hosted TFS Movie Night. We screened a French documentary entitled ‘DEMAIN’ (Tomorrow) directed by Cyril Dion and Melanie Laurent.
Demain tells stories of people who have found creative ways to tackle the climate emergency. It is a journey through 10 countries to discover inspirational grass-roots projects in agriculture, energy, economy, education and governance.
The event was organised in collaboration with The Global Concerns Trust, a Scottish charity we have been working with since 2017 to support the livelihoods of people with disabilities in Malawi. We showed their short film entitled ‘Tools and Training for Livelihood in Malawi’.
Céilí evening, 2022
The fundraising céilí for TFS was possible thanks to the initiative of Ronan Eastwood, the céilí dancing teacher at the Duncairn Art Centre. The link was made by Hamish Arrowsmith, a TFS longstanding volunteer, who regularly attended his dancing classes. The Copperplate Ceili Band accompanied the event. It was a wonderful time spent together! The event raised £ 379 pounds for TFS.
The Fundraising group would like to thank all the organisations listed below. As well as many individuals who support the work of Tools for Solidarity. We couldn’t do the work without you!
Grants received during 2019-2020
| Name of the Fundraiser | What the Fundraising is for | How it will help the project |
|---|---|---|
| Belfast Workshop | ||
| DfC Small Capital Grants | Capital items | New electrical meters |
| Unicorn | Njombe Tool centre | Setting up costs |
| Archer Trust | SVP running costs | Lunches and travel expenses |
| NIPSA Developing World | Njombe Tool centre | Transport costs for container |
| Chrysalis Trust | Njombe Tool centre | Setting up costs |
| Halifax Foundation | Training Coordinator | Salary |
| DfC Small Grants | SVP costs | Lunches and PPE |
| Lush Charity Pot | SVP costs | Running costs |
| Downpatrick Workshop | ||
| Woodward Charitable Trust | Workshop costs | Running costs |
| DfC Small Grants | Workshop costs | Lunches and PPE |
| Black Santa Appeal | Workshop costs | Lunches and travel expenses |
| Halifax Foundation | Workshop manager | Salary |
| Telecommunity Fund | Workshop costs | Lunches and travel expenses |
As for now, Tools For Solidarity is open for your donations.
We are campaigning to open our new Tools Centre in Njombe, Tanzania.
Please find more information here!