Belfast Harbour has unveiled a £350,000 Community Fund Programme for 2026, marking a decade of sustained investment that now exceeds £3.5 million for local initiatives.

The fund is a cornerstone of the Harbour's "Trust Port" ethos, which mandates that post-tax profits are reinvested back into the port and the wider community.

The 2026 programme will focus on several critical areas, including employability, skills development, and environmental sustainability. It also introduces new partnerships with organisations like the Simon Community and the NI Game Academy, while expanding support for long-standing cultural partners such as the Ulster Orchestra and the Belfast International Arts Festival.

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons MLA praised the initiative during the launch: "I welcome Belfast Harbour's continued commitment to investing in local communities... By continuing to support projects that help to build skills, resilience, and sustainability, Belfast Harbour is helping to create opportunities that will benefit at individual and community levels for generations to come." Belfast Harbour currently ringfences 1% of its annual operating profit for community support. In 2025, a similar investment of £335,000 facilitated the distribution of grants to 30 grassroots organisations and saw the launch of the Harbouring Connections Award, a collaboration bursary for innovative community projects.

Joe O'Neill, Chief Executive of Belfast Harbour, emphasised the purpose behind the funding: "As a Trust Port, Belfast Harbour exists to serve our customers and the community. Every pound of post-tax profit we make is reinvested to strengthen the port, create opportunities, enhance sustainability, and build a thriving Belfast for people, businesses, and generations to come."

One of the key beneficiaries is the Ulster Orchestra's Crescendo Project, which provides high-quality music education to children in North and West Belfast. The project aims to improve educational outcomes and personal resilience through long-term immersive collaboration.

Lucy McCullagh, Head of Community Engagement at the Ulster Orchestra, said: "Belfast Harbour's support has been transformative for grassroots projects like ours, especially at a time when there is so little funding for the arts. The funding has allowed us to grow and roll out a programme that offers children the opportunity to learn a skill they will carry with them for the rest of their lives."

The 2026 fund will open for new applications later this year, continuing the Harbour's role as a major driver of social and economic regeneration across Northern Ireland.