Christmas markets and the event raises money for the children’s breakfast club | Popgen Tech

A POPULAR Beechmount bakery and cafe is holding a series of children’s Christmas markets and clothes sales in the run-up to Christmas to raise funds for the area’s children’s breakfast club.

The owner of Patisserie G, Grainne Carson, launched the free breakfast club more than 14 months ago to provide local children with a meal before school. The Breakfast Club currently does not receive any funding and runs on donations from customers or Grainne herself.

This summer, Grainne created a number of initiatives for children in the area, and her cafe and bakery has become a central hub for the community, with children at its heart.

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Young entrepreneurs with their products

Grin created the Young Entrepreneur’s Club, which grew out of the Breakfast Club, where kids set up their own stalls, creating and selling a variety of goods. The club now hosts a Christmas market every Saturday in the run up to Christmas selling Christmas decorations, sweets and treats, jewellery, Christmas cards, bath bombs and more.

“It took off correctly. They love it, and they’re having a ball,” Grein said.

“A lot of the Breakfast Club kids go to it and start it. We’ve also had some new kids join us learning the ropes. Others who have been here before teach newbies about the need to swim and record when you spend money so you know how much you actually earned.

“They learned a lot from the summer, so they pass on their knowledge to the new ones. It’s also their confidence, they sell so well.”

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Bags of clothes ready for sale

Gráinne has also launched a clothing appeal to raise money for the Breakfast Club. All donated and sold clothing goes back to the Breakfast Club. Donated clothing is sized and available for purchase at the bakery.

“The Breakfast Club has grown over the past 14 months. New ones are still coming. A lot of kids will sit down or come in groups and get a sausage roll, Nutella toast or a breakfast bar.”

In September, the bakery was almost forced to close due to rising fuel prices. However, the CEO of a major company, Amcomri Group, stepped in and offered to pay the bakery’s electricity bills to keep the business open. The CEO’s father was born in Amcomri Street, Falls Road.

“Since we reopened it’s been a bit busier and people have been coming up and saying there are other businesses doing breakfast clubs as well. It’s absolutely fantastic, the more places that have breakfast clubs, the more children are helped.

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One of the young entrepreneurs with owner Grainne Carson

“What excites me the most is the community spirit that happens here in the mornings. You have all the kids and you have all the morning jokes, it’s a lot of fun.

“We also have a volunteer, a girl who moved from Afghanistan, who is not allowed to work because she is seeking asylum, so she volunteers in the community and gets to meet new people. She volunteers a couple of mornings a week and she’s so helpful and she’s great with the kids and the community.”