Belfast Harbour has announced that it contributed a total of £315,000 to a diverse range of community organisations, charities, and initiatives in 2024 to help them deliver essential projects across the city and the wider region.
Of that total, £109,000 came through the Belfast Harbour Community Awards, which provide community organisations, charities and not-for-profit groups registered in Northern Ireland with an opportunity to apply for individual grants of up to £5,000. 107 Community Award applications were received this year across two funding rounds and by year-end funding will have been awarded to 35 grassroots community organisations addressing needs including well-being, education and training, as well as environmental initiatives.
Belfast Harbour’s partnership with Belfast International Arts Festival was recognised by Arts and Business at the start of the year for ‘Furthering Diversity’. During the 2024 Festival BelfastHarbour worked with 16 groups, 12 of which were first time participants, donating 217 tickets for the International Arts Festival to local people.
In 2024 a four-year partnership with Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful continued to have a positive impact both environmentally and on the wellbeing of communities involved in the activities. During the Healthy Oceans, Healthy Minds programme of activities, 735 events took place involving almost 103k people and almost 4k bags of litter were collected and prevented from reaching waterways.
Throughout the year, the Harbour has also utilised partnership opportunities at a variety of events including the Business in the Community Awards, Eastside Awards and Women in Business Awards
Jenni Barkley, Communications and Community Engagement Manager at Belfast Harbour, said: “We continue to work closely with our partners to ensure our funding is delivering social value for communities and individuals engaged in project activities. Throughout 2024 we have connected with numerous local organisations and have partnered with many to provide enhanced support where we can. We are committed to being a community focused organisation, supporting great causes and are looking forward to supporting more organisations into 2025 and beyond.”
This commitment has seen Belfast Harbour shortlisted as Responsible Company of the Year at the Business in the Community (BITC) Responsible Business Awards as well as achieving the Belfast Business Promise accreditation and an Arts and Business Award for Commitment to Diversity in collaboration with Belfast International Arts Festival.
Other projects which Belfast Harbour continues to support include QUB Bright Futures, Belfast Giants partnership, Sailortown Regeneration Trust and The ‘Good Food Fund’, administered by Business in the Community which supported more than14k children across 54 unique schools. Belfast Harbour including Belfast Harbour Police, also continues to partner with Lagan Search and Rescue (LSAR) to keep people safe
