CASTLECOURT LENDS ITS SUPPORT TO AUTISM NI WITH CHARITY CHARTER PARTNERSHIP

Belfast shopping centre, CastleCourt has pledged its support for leading Autism charity, Autism NI as it announces the local organisation as the centre’s chosen partner for its Charity Charter 2016/17.

The year-long partnership will provide Autism NI the valuable opportunity to take advantage of CastleCourt’s high city centre footfall as well as support with fundraising initiatives throughout 2016/17 in addition to providing an important platform to raise awareness of the widespread disability.

Autism NI and CastleCourt have already planned a full calendar of exciting events, including a special focus throughout Autism Awareness Month and in particular World Autism Awareness Day (Saturday, 2^nd April 2016), when CastleCourt will turn blue for the day, with plenty of promotions and in-store discounts and deals.  Centre Director, Paul McMahon will also play his part and has committed to a gruelling cycle from Venice to Rome. Several other events will be held throughout the year which are sure to entertain shoppers.

Centre Director, Paul McMahon, said:

“The Charity Charter is our long-term commitment to supporting the work of local organisations. We are proud to be able to support Autism NI as our charity of the year and are really looking forward to working with them over the next twelve months to help them raise funds and gain support and awareness through special events in the centre.

“CastleCourt has a long history of supporting local charities with millions of pounds raised over the last 25 years and scores of charities benefited. Our staff and shoppers have always been extremely generous and I have no doubt they will fully get behind Autism NI and provide much needed help to this worthwhile charity.”    

Autism NI Corporate Fundraising Manager, Sarah-Jayne Cassells, said:

“I am absolutely delighted that Autism NI has been chosen by CastleCourt as their Charity of the Year for 2016/17. CastleCourt is a wonderful platform for us to raise awareness to a wide and varied range of people from the local community. The partnership will make a real difference to the lives of children and adults in Northern Ireland who are affected by Autism. All money raised throughout this year-long partnership will remain within Northern Ireland and go towards providing life-changing services for the 30,000 people affected by Autism here.”

In recent years, CastleCourt has helped raise thousands of pounds and build awareness of other important organisations including Mencap, Special Olympics, British Heart Foundation, Clic Sargent, Aware NI and Michaela Foundation.

With over 30,000 people in Northern Ireland affected by Autism and over 1000 children being diagnosed every year, Autism has become the highest growing disability in Europe. Therefore fundraising support through partnerships such as this gives Autism NI the essential support to allow it to continue to provide vital services to those families and individuals living with Autism throughout NI.