Our Social Ethos
Our social giving is central to our ethos at Ortus. We run a variety of initiatives to support our local community. Our Social EthosCharity InitiativeOur Social Ethos
Giving back is fundamental to Ortus’ social ethos. This is achieved through initiatives such as direct donations to local community and voluntary organisations, free business support and mentoring to local SMEs, working in partnership with local influential groups, educational bursaries and organising charity events.
We have City Business hubs based at our headquarters that offers a range of free workshops to all businesses and our Business Services Department offering a wide range of free business support programmes for start-up and growth businesses:
City Business Hub
Ortus Business Services
Our Social Enterprises
We have also just launched a brand new social enterprise in Belfast – Roar and Explore. Roar and Explore is a children’s soft play area and cafe at Dairy Farm Shopping Centre. Find out more by clicking the logo:
Our Social Giving Statistics
£500k donated through the charity initiative fund to date
Over £55k raised for charities through the Charity Golf day since 2009
Business Hubs opened to provide free local support
On average free workshops provided annually for local businesses
Approximately £40k free business support given annually
Over 200 free mentoring hours given to local businesses each year
Charities Initiative Fund
In 2007 we set up the charities initiative fund to support local community groups within our area. The committee works together to support a wide variety of groups with specific projects through to longer term partnership.
Some of the Groups we have supported to date:
(Listed Alphabetically)
- Alternative Shankill Women’s Outlook
- Alzheimer’s Society
- Clic Sargent
- Colin Gaels GAC
- Conway Education Centre
- Corpus Christie College
- Des Bannon Bursaries
- Falls Community Council
- Falls Residence Association
- Falls Youth Providers
- Finn Community Group
- Foyle Hospice Donation
- Friends of Blacks Road Park
- Glencolin Residents Association
- Gort na Mona Girls Football Club
- Greater Shankill Christmas Festival
- Immaculata JFC
- Karate Do-Wado Kai Ireland
- Kollizion Krew
- Lifestart Foundation
- Natter Chatter Self Help Group
- NI Hospice
- Northern Ireland Boy’s Football
- Now Group
- Prime Intensity
- Refugee Crisis
- Scoil Rince
- St James GAA
- St John’s GAC
- St Mary’s Community Group
- St Patricks Lisburn GAC
- St Paul’s Disability Care Group
- Tennyson School of Irish Dance
- Upper Springfield Resource Centre
- Voices
- Whiterock Community Centre
- Women 4 Women Group
We also have long term partnerships and annual events with a number of local groups supporting our community
Feile An Phobail
Ortus sponsor the annual Clonard Monastery event during the festival and also hold a family fun day to end the festival at its Twin Spires Complex with an annual attendance of over 700.
Aisling Bursaries
The Aisling Bursaries is an education bursaries scheme delivered by the West Belfast Partnership Board enabling students to access further and higher education and vocational training. Businesses, community enterprises and individuals contribute to the bursary fund and make a firm commitment to developing the skills of the local community and enhancing young people’s capacity to achieve their full potential.
For Ortus, the funds provide valuable opportunities to those within our community to grow and reach their potential. Our commitment is to helping individuals achieve their goals and the Aisling Bursaries are an essential platform for young people in West Belfast.
Annual Charity Golf Day
In 2017 the contribution of businesses involved allowed us to present a cheque for £8,500 to local charity PIPS Charity.
“The Ortus employees were wonderful as volunteers as they maximised their efforts in combining their fundraising efforts with a great sense of fun, the amount of money raised so far is the excellent figure of £8500. This significant amount will contribute in a very positive way as we continue to deliver our first-class services to those people who may feel alone or isolated. The services which we offer can at times be a literal lifeline to someone who is feeling very vulnerable and stressed.” Gerard O’Reilly, PIPS Charity
To date, our golf events have raised over £50k for local charities.
To get involved with our 2018 event – 15th September 2018 – contact our marketing team today.