Northern Ireland’s ICC Belfast, Waterfront Hall and Ulster Hall have marked a milestone in their partnership with Dementia NI, raising more than £20,000 for the charity while continuing to build a more inclusive and dementia-aware visitor experience across their venues.
Dementia NI is a unique, member-led charity founded in 2015 by people living with a diagnosis of dementia. Over the past year, the partnership has focused on raising awareness, enhancing staff training, and creating meaningful opportunities for public support.
As part of this commitment, team members across the venues facilitated a dementia-focused, Quarterly Team Meeting (QTM), welcoming members of Dementia NI to share first-hand experiences of living with dementia.
Building on this, a series of dedicated training sessions were delivered to further equip staff with the knowledge and confidence to recognise the signs of dementia and support visitors appropriately.
As cashless venues, ICC Belfast, Waterfront Hall and Ulster Hall have also introduced innovative ways to give back. A new online donation option, integrated into ticket purchases for Waterfront Hall and Ulster Hall events, has made it easier than ever for patrons to support Dementia NI. This initiative alone has raised more than £20,000 for the charity.
In addition, two Payaz tap-to-donate machines have now been installed across the venues, enabling visitors to make contactless donations on-site.
Rob McConnell, CEO of ICC Belfast, Waterfront Hall and Ulster Hall, said: “We are incredibly proud of the progress we have made in partnership with Dementia NI over the past year, supporting people and communities across the region. From enhancing our team’s understanding through training to introducing new and accessible ways for our audiences to support the charity, this partnership reflects our commitment to placing the community at the heart of what we do and creating inclusive, welcoming spaces for everyone who visit our venues.
Karen Kerr, Head of Engagement at Dementia NI, added: “The funds raised will directly support our work across Northern Ireland, and we are delighted to see the partnership continue to grow through new initiatives like the tap-to-donate machines.”
The organisations have also confirmed that their partnership with Dementia NI will continue through to the summer.
