BELFAST HARBOUR PROVIDES £63,000 BOOST FOR CHARITIES AND COMMUNITY GROUPS ACROSS NI
Popular annual funding programme provides continued support for community wellbeing, sustainability, skills and employability.
A community farm-based project, a boxing club for older men, and a swimming programme which partners assistance dogs with autistic children are among 16 grassroots community organisations across Northern Ireland celebrating their share of £63,000 through the second round of Belfast Harbour’s 2025 Community Awards.
Now in its fifth year, the Community Awards provides up to £5,000 in individual grants to help deliver programmes designed to drive social change and strengthen communities across the region.
From improving mental health and tackling social isolation to promoting inclusion and equipping individuals with essential life and employability skills, this year’s successful applicants cover a wide range of community-focused projects. They include, among others, a football-based youth development programme to tackle anti-social behaviour; a community farm-based initiative supporting wellbeing and sustainability; an older men’s boxing and wellbeing programme; and an innovative autism-focused programme helping young people build confidence and friendships through sport.
This latest round of funding follows £50,000 which was distributed through the first round earlier in the year, bringing Belfast Harbour’s total Community Awards contribution for 2025 to over £100,000.
Altogether since 2021 more than £450,000 has been distributed through the Community Awards to almost 150 community and grassroots groups across Northern Ireland. This investment has sustained projects ranging from youth development and wellbeing initiatives to environmental and skills-based programmes, each helping communities grow in confidence, capacity, and cohesion.
Jenni Barkley, Communications and Community Engagement Manager at Belfast Harbour, said: “Behind every award is a story of local impact, of people coming together to help make their communities stronger and more resilient; creating connection, and opportunities where they are needed most.
“The range of funded projects reflects the diversity and vitality of the region’s community sector. From arts and culture to sport, wellbeing, and employability, these groups play a vital role in bringing people together and helping communities across NI thrive.
“Whether it’s supporting mental health and inclusion, developing employability skills, or encouraging collaboration across communities, each project is helping to build a stronger region and we are very proud to invest in the organisations that make such a big difference to people’s lives daily.”
Details of the 2026 round of the Community Awards will be announced next Spring. To find out more, visit www.belfast-harbour.co.uk/community/community-awards/ or email: communityawards@belfast-harbour.co.uk
