North Belfast woman sets up bursary to help working class creatives in memory of actress sister

A woman has launched a bursary to help young working class creatives in memory of her sister who died suddenly.

Stacey McCann's sister, actress Julie Maxwell, passed away suddenly on a night out with her husband in August 2019. She was having a drink at The Sunflower Pub in Belfast City Centre when she collapsed and despite the best efforts of the bar staff, paramedics and doctors and nurses at Royal Victoria Hospital, they were unable to save her.

Julie was a well-known actress in theatres across Belfast and also featured on BBC Northern Ireland comedy Soft Border Patrol.

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Speaking to Belfast Live, Stacey said they wanted to help the next generation of actors, writers, and creatives who may struggle financially to achieve their dreams. They are doing so through the Julie Maxwell Lewis Bursary, with thousands already raised towards this goal.

She said: "It is for those trying to get into the creative sector in Northern Ireland, people able to apply for courses that maybe just need a bit of help. It's for anyone who maybe has a dream of drama school or putting on their own show, but financially it's just not within their reach.

"We want it to go to someone who is working class and has the talent, but just doesn't have the money behind them. We grew up in Tiger's Bay, a working class area, and I remember even when Julie got into the Royal Welsh College my mum and dad said it was great, but how do we afford this?

"That shouldn't be an issue - if you have a talent, and you're able to do that, money really shouldn't be what stops you. So that's why we thought funding a bursary would be the way to go, we know it's something Julie would have absolutely loved to do as well."

Julie's family hosted a fundraiser in The Lansdowne Hotel in North Belfast on May 3, and between door sales, a silent auction, and a fundraising effort at the Belfast Marathon, they raised £10,000. They also started a clothing brand called You Are Enough to help raise more funds for the bursary.

Stacey added: "The symbol for the clothing brand is actually in Julie's handwriting, the brand was based on her model of going through life of no matter what you do audition for, it was always you are enough, you can do it, just go."

Previously, Stacey raised £7,000 and bought defibrillators for several locations across Belfast in her sister's memory. Speaking to Belfast Live at the time, Stacey said: "I hope that these never have to be used but I am happy knowing the defibrillators are here now and can help save someone's life if they are needed. If there was one there that night then Julie might still be with us today."

Applications for the Julie Maxwell Lewis Bursary are expected to open at the end of July, and more details, as well as the You Are Enough clothing brand, can be found by clicking here.

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