The Bar of Northern Ireland’s charity committee has presented a donation of more than £34,500 to the 2015/16 Charities of the Year, Threshold and Autism Initiatives.

Dr Philip McGarry, chairman of Threshold, and Grainne Close, national director of Autism Initiatives, accepted their cheques from Gerry McAlinden QC, chairman of the Bar Council, and Sinead McKeagney BL, chair of the Bar’s charity committee, at afternoon tea overlooking the Royal Courts of Justice.

Speaking at the event, Ms McKeagney BL said it was a pleasure to work with nominated charities and to see how the money would help people in Northern Ireland.

She said: “I want to thank all our members for their fundraising efforts and recognise their support in making this donation possible. I know it will help the charities achieve their goals.”

Autism Initiatives has expanded rapidly since opening their doors in Northern Ireland in 2002. They work in close partnership with families and service users as well as other voluntary organisations and colleagues in the statutory sector. Autism Initiatives offer a number of health and activities programmes as well as a practical floating support service for people with Autism.

Threshold has been working in Northern Ireland for over thirty years and is a key provider of specialist therapeutic services for children, adolescents, adults and the elderly who suffer from mental health problems.