The Begin Together Community Fund, in partnership with The Community Foundation for Ireland, supports charities, local community groups and social enterprises working to develop resilience in our communities. It does this by supporting future-facing projects which are working to develop capability or foster inclusion among under-served groups, and engender systemic change.

The 2024 round of grants has been awarded to 24 initiatives that will make a real difference to people across the island of Ireland. It supports a range of different initiatives and the first time includes four multi-year grants.

Details of all the successful 2024 projects can be found below:

LGBTQI+ Community

• Cara-Friend - Antrim

  Building community engagement and capacity for rural LGBTQIA+ groups.

  https://cara-friend.org.uk/
  

• HIV Ireland - Dublin

  Mainstreaming psychological and psychosocial supports for communities impacted by HIV in Ireland.

  https://www.hivireland.ie/
  

Lone Parents

• Belfast and Lisburn Women's Aid - Antrim

  To bring women from different communities together to reflect on their experiences of domestic abuse, to help them gain confidence and self-esteem to move forward in their lives for a safer and more settled future.

  https://belfastwomensaid.org.uk/
  

Migrants, refugees and asylum-seekers

• Amber Women's Refuge - Kilkenny

  One Million Stars Ireland is a community arts project, connecting diverse communities by using Art as Activism to promote social change. The project promotes light, hope and solidarity against domestic, sexual and gender based violence.

  https://amberwomensrefuge.ie/
  

• First Fortnight - Meath

  Creative Arts Therapy sessions for young people living in Direct Provision and those experiencing homelessness.

  https://www.firstfortnight.ie/
  

• Hill Street Family Resource Centre - Dublin

  The project aims to build parents’ capability to combat racism, develop leadership skills, and foster community inclusion through collaborative programmes and events.

  https://hillstreetfrc.ie/
  

• Irish Girl Guides - Meath

  Supporting the Brownie and Girl Guide groups in Mosney Accommodation Centre to develop their STEM and outdoor skills and take part in national events with other Irish Girl Guides groups from around the country.

• Irish Refugee Council - Dublin

  This project offers structured support for people seeking protection and refugees enter the Irish Labour Market through training, coaching and work placement.

  https://www.irishrefugeecouncil.ie/
  

• North West Migrants Forum - Derry / Londonderry

  Empowering Voices: Enhancing English language skills for refugees and asylum-seekers.

  https://nwmf.org.uk/
  

Older People

• Age Action Ireland - Cork

  Age Action’s Getting Started is a volunteer-led, one-to-one, competency-based training course to support older people to get online or use their smart device with confidence. Age Action trains and supports volunteers to become tutors.

  https://www.ageaction.ie/
  

People with Disabilities

• AK Inspired - Kerry

  Our eco-woodcraft project transforms ash dieback wood into unique crafts, empowering people with intellectual disabilities through creative skill development and employment, and environmental stewardship.

  https://inspired.ie/
  

• AsIAm – Dublin

  AsIAm Virtual Child and Family Supports: AsIAm provides direct virtual social connection and education supports to Autistic children and families, to reduce barriers to social inclusion, and enhance familial health and well-being.

  https://asiam.ie/
  

• Embrace Farm - Laois

  Embrace FARM peer-to-peer groups offer access to a comprehensive support network for individuals and families coping with the aftermath of a sudden death or serious injury on a farm.

  https://embracefarm.com/
  

• Global Action Plan Ireland – Dublin

  The Nature Explorer for Parents and Children in Ballymun programme fosters child learning, wellbeing, and literacy skills through sensory exploration of nature together. Run in partnership with YoungBallymun it focuses on supporting under resourced families.

  https://globalactionplan.ie/
  

• Helium Children's Arts & Health – Cork

  Helium Arts will deliver a programme of arts & play in Cork City & County in 2025, providing belonging, joy & fostering inclusion, supporting the wellbeing of 1,000 children in hospital waiting rooms as well as in community settings.

  https://helium.ie/
  

• Mae Murray Foundation – Antrim

  This project will enable and empower disabled people of all ages and abilities to become involved in social, recreational and leisure activities across Northern Ireland.

  Antrim https://www.maemurrayfoundation.org/
  

• No Barriers Foundation – Donegal

  To provide specialist services such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy and psychotherapy in a community gym environment helping those with disabilities to continue to rehabilitate without feeling as though they are in a medical setting.

  https://nobarriers.ie/
  

People Experiencing Domestic Abuse

• Galway Rape Crisis Centre – Galway

  The proposed programme would offer therapeutic intervention to asylum seekers and refugees who have experienced sexual violence of any kind at any time.

  https://galwayrcc.ie/
  

People Experiencing Homelessness

• Depaul - Dublin

  An innovative and long-term programme of service user engagement at all levels of design and delivery of Depaul services, through a ‘Train-the-Trainer’ approach.

  https://ie.depaulcharity.org/
  

• Good Shepherd – Cork

  Making Connections will help support women who have experienced multiple episodes of homelessness to build capability and inclusion.

  http://www.goodshepherdcork.ie/
  

People Living In (or at risk of) Poverty

• Citywise Education – Dublin

  Project to expand Citywise’s hugely successful youth leadership programme to other similar communities where young people aged 13-18, receive regular workshops and support to then plan and deliver personal development programmes to their younger peers.

  https://www.citywise.ie/
  

• Learning Hub – Limerick

  Supporting future-ready communities through 21st century high-quality STEAM education and lifelong learning programmes at the Learning Hub Limerick.

  https://www.learninghub.ie/
  

2023 Grantees  2022 Grantees  2021 Grantees  2020 Grantees