Social isolation prevention, groups that work with migrants, educational skills and development for women, and interactive theatre for the disabled are among almost 100 community and arts projects that have received financial support from Bank of Ireland’s Begin Together programme.
In total, more than £700,000 was allocated to community groups, social enterprises and artists groups across the island of Ireland in 2021. The funding is allocated under two headings – the Begin Together Community Fund, and the Begin Together Arts Fund.
The Community Fund is delivered in partnership with The Community Foundation for Ireland (supported by the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland) which provides expertise in the administration and delivery of the fund, while the Arts Fund is delivered in partnership with Business to Arts and supported by Arts & Business NI.
Community Fund grantees received up to £17,000 for projects spanning financial literacy and wellbeing, mental health, disability, inclusion and diversity, and social isolation. Arts Fund grantees received up to £8,500 to support the creation of new works in music, theatre, film, craft, dance, traditional arts, and the visual arts.
Among the groups from Northern Ireland to receive funding under the Begin Together programme is Beat Carnival, an organisation that for nearly thirty years has been creating carnival arts, as well as organising and producing performances, training and developing artists and encouraging community participation and ambition.
Another group to receive funding in Northern Ireland is Cara-Friend who have been supporting and empowering the LGBTQ+ community for close to fifty years.
Among the other projects to receive support are:
Age NI – Check in and Chat – the Begin Together grant will fund recruitment, training, and support of 20 volunteers, to ensure 20 more people who will receive the Check-in and chat service which is designed for people aged 70+ who are living alone and experiencing isolation or loneliness. Trusted volunteers provide a regular, friendly, listening ear and connection to the community, and an important safety net to identify the need for more specialist support.
Fermanagh Rural Community Initiative (FRCI) – the funding via the Recovering from Corona Hangover project will allow FRCI to provide an introductory pathway to skills development, with a range of short courses available and a signposting service to more intensive training opportunities, aimed at ensuring that beneficiaries have a realistic chance of positive progression.
Limin-Alley – the project will see four commissioned artists partner with four community groups actively working to improve their alleyway environment. The artists and groups will develop new work for outdoor presentation in a city-wide exhibition and ‘alley open day’ programmed as part of the Imagine Festival 2022.
Takeaway Theatre – provides an interactive performance that happens at home for people with disabilities and their families. This project will offer families the opportunity of fun and escapism, and will enable the participants with disabilities the opportunity to lead on the activity when too often their interaction with siblings/families is based on caring needs.
A full list of 2021 grantees is available here: www.bankofireland.com/begintogether