Belfast Harbour Community Awards support projects focused on wellbeing, inclusion, skills and community connection
A number of east Belfast organisations are among 15 community groups sharing more than £50,000 through the first round of Belfast Harbour’s 2026 Community Awards. Groups including Arts Care, Flourish NI and Leander Amateur Swimming Club have secured funding for projects supporting employability pathways, access to essential life skills and wellbeing initiatives within the local community.
Belmont Road-based Arts Care has secured support for its Clown Doctors programme at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children. The initiative provides weekly creative sessions for children receiving treatment on a number of children’s wards, offering moments of play, distraction and connection for young patients and their families during hospital stays.
Barry Macauley, Chief Executive of Arts Care, said:
“Our Clown Doctors programme brings creativity and human connection into a hospital environment, helping young patients and their families through what can often be a challenging experience. This funding will enable us to continue delivering those valuable moments of laughter, engagement and support on the children’s ward.”
Flourish NI will deliver its ‘Bridge to Employment’ project, providing structured, trauma-informed pathways to employment for survivors of exploitation, helping to address barriers such as low confidence, gaps in work history and limited access to skills development.
Jill Robinson, Flourish NI said:
“Bridge to Employment is about helping people rebuild confidence and move closer to meaningful, sustainable employment. Support from Belfast Harbour will enable us to continue providing the tailored guidance, skills development and practical opportunities that can make a lasting difference to people’s lives.”
Meanwhile, Leander Amateur Swimming Club will roll out its ‘Swim for your Life’ programme, supporting individuals who would otherwise be unable to access swimming opportunities, equipping participants with essential water safety and life skills. Other projects supported in this round include initiatives helping young people prepare for key exams and engaging volunteers in environmental programmes such as marine conservation. Funding is also supporting a wide range of community-led activities, from introductory sports programmes and intergenerational arts projects to creative storytelling schemes that amplify local voices, alongside practical initiatives including community gardening, and skills-based training.
Now in its sixth year, the Belfast Harbour Community Awards programme continues to invest in community-led solutions that address local needs and deliver meaningful impact, helping to strengthen communities, promote inclusion, and create opportunities across Greater Belfast and beyond.
Jenni Barkley, Communications and Community Engagement Manager at Belfast Harbour, said:
“In east Belfast, we’re supporting organisations that are tackling very different challenges in practical ways. Flourish NI is helping people move closer to employment, Arts Care is bringing laughter and connection to children while in hospital, and Leander Amateur Swimming Club is providing access to a life skill that many young people might otherwise miss out on.
“Whether it’s opening doors to employment, supporting children and families during a hospital stay, or helping young people learn to swim, each of these projects is making a tangible difference to people’s lives.”
The latest round of support builds on Belfast Harbour’s ongoing investment in local communities. Since launching in 2021, the Community Awards programme has supported hundreds of initiatives, investing more than £500,000.
