A special school's charity in West Belfast has launched a new loyalty scheme to help support local independent businesses in the area.
The Friends of St Gerard's special school have developed a business loyalty card scheme that will give those connected with the school 10% off in all of the businesses that have joined it.
The aim of the scheme is to encourage people to support local businesses in their community, while also giving them an added benefit of money off of their purchases.
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Most of the businesses taking part in the loyalty card scheme are from the hospitality industry, which is under ever growing pressure due to the cost of living crisis and soaring energy bills.
Speaking to Belfast Live, Janine Crawford of Friends of St Gerard's, said that they wanted to do something to help those who have helped them over the past few years.
She said: "The loyalty card scheme is all about helping the people who have helped St Gerard's over the past few years with their donations and support.
"We will be giving these cards out to the nearly 800 people who are involved with the school with the aim that they are encouraged to support some of the amazing local businesses here in West Belfast.
"With the cost of living crisis and the rising bills that businesses are facing, it is more important now than ever that we are able to show them the support that they need. This not only helps the local economy, but provides a boost to communities that rely on these businesses and the school itself as all of these businesses have helped us in some way.
"The scheme also gives a little bit of a boost to those families who are using it, saving them a little bit of money on their purchases and giving them the opportunity to treat themselves."
Paul Prigent of Fallone's Pizza and Treats is one of the businesses taking part in the loyalty card scheme and said that he thinks it is a brilliant way to encourage people to support businesses in their community.
He said: "We think that this is a terrific scheme to be a part of and we are very thankful to Friends of St Gerard's for developing it.
"This is all about communities pulling together and supporting one another during a time when many our struggling. It not only encourages people to support independent businesses in their community, but gives them a benefit in doing so.
"I can see a scheme like this really taking off and it is a great way of promoting the great businesses in West Belfast."
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