Very successful Santaland Bag pack and Santa at Tesco raised £4,500 Grants of £10,000 received form Karen Mountland fund and £5,000 from MARS GoodnessKnows fund, both administered by the Community Foundation of Northern Ireland Archery classes started New Carers course started with support from Southern HSCT Planning started for 2018 annual respite break  

We have been awarded funding of £109,000.00 from the Big Lottery under the People and Communities Programme.  This has allowed BIF to take on its first employee, Olive Hawthorne, Project Administrator.    

On Friday 15th September we celebrated the official opening of our “pub with no beer.” We celebrated this event with survivors, carers, members, old friends and new friends. After speeches we retired to the “pub” to relax with (non-alcoholic) cocktails and the company of good people, and the occasional game of pool.

On September 5th Bif celebrated 5 years in existence, and what a roller-coaster 5 years it was. In usual BIF style, a party was held – good food, good company and good craic.

BIF was very pleased to lend a helping hand to another local charity, Autism Families, when we loaned them the use of our premises for a baking extravaganza. The smiles on faces are proof of a very successful event.

     The  staff of Specsavers, Newry have followed up their successful coffee morning with a walk in the Mournes to raise funds for BIF. We are indebted to everyone for their efforts.