Belfast Harbour has awarded £63,000 to 16 grassroots organisations across Northern Ireland in the second round of its 2025 Community Awards, backing initiatives from a community farm scheme and an older men's boxing club to a swimming programme that partners assistance dogs with autistic children.

Now in its fifth year, the Community Awards offers grants of up to £5,000 to projects aimed at driving social change and strengthening communities. This year's recipients span mental health support, tackling social isolation, promoting inclusion, and building life and employability skills. Examples include a football-led youth development project to address anti-social behaviour; a farm-based wellbeing and sustainability initiative; an older men's boxing and wellbeing programme; and an autism-focused sports scheme helping young people grow in confidence and friendships. This latest round follows £50,000 distributed earlier in the year, taking Belfast Harbour's total Community Awards funding for 2025 to more than £100,000. Since 2021, the programme has provided over £450,000 to almost 150 community and grassroots groups across NI, sustaining youth, wellbeing, environmental and skills-based projects that build 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."