DESPITE taking place against the backdrop of coronavirus restrictions, the 2020 Black Santa Christmas appeal at St Anne's Cathedral in Belfast still raised £230,000, beating the previous year's total by a substantial £60,000.
"The total raised is quite amazing, given the challenges of Covid-19," said Dean Stephen Forde, who has completed three years as Black Santa in a cathedral tradition dating back to 1976.
"This figure does not include the small change coins which still have to be counted by the bank, nor the Gift Aid which will be reclaimed."
Although a "very generous legacy" had boosted the 2020 total, said Dean Forde, fundraising in the era of social distancing and a quiet city centre still generated £130,000.
A partnership with Price Waterhouse Cooper raised more than £21,000.
"Local charities have been facing huge funding challenges through the pandemic, and the needs of the people who require support are greater than ever," said a PwC spokesperson.
"Being able to deploy the talent and skills of the people who work in our business, and give back at a time when people were struggling to work out how to give back, was the best gift we could have been given at Christmas 2020."
The money raised by the Black Santa appeal is traditionally distributed at a special service in the cathedral in February.
That hasn't been able to happen this year because of the Covid restrictions, but the money has still been directly sent to 232 different organisations working with the elderly, the young, people affected by unemployment and homelessness, mental health and the arts. There is also a donation to Christian Aid.
