Five organisations working to promote inclusion and strengthen communities have been named as the awardees of the €1.5 million Connected Communities Fund.

The three-year fund was created by Mason Hayes & Curran and Rethink Ireland, with matched funding from the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht (DRCDG) through the Dormant Accounts Fund. It supports projects that promote belonging, improve media literacy and foster inclusion at local level.

The successful organisations are Foróige, Neighbourhood Network, National Youth Council of Ireland, ShoutOut, and Hope and Courage Collective. Each charity will receive a package of cash grants and tailored business support. The goal is to help established community initiatives extend their reach and deliver lasting impact.

Will Carmody, Managing Partner at Mason Hayes & Curran, said the fund targets practical action where it matters most.

He commented: “As a law firm, we are deeply committed to the principles of equality and inclusion, and this fund allows us to put those principles into meaningful action.

“Social cohesion is built locally, through trust and reliable information. When people feel connected and understood, they are better placed to collaborate and address societal challenges together.

“Our role is to back that work with sustained support and strong governance, helping to build more inclusive communities across Ireland.”

Deirdre Mortell, CEO of Rethink Ireland, said: “Each of the awardee organisations are working to address polarisation at its roots. They strengthen civil society, support marginalised voices, and build connection and belonging in newly established communities.

“Additional funding, combined with structured support, gives these organisations the platform to grow their impact across Ireland. Together, with the awardees, Mason Hayes & Curran, and the DRCDG we are working towards an Ireland where all our communities are thriving.”

Foróige will expand The Blend, an integration and inclusion-focused youthwork project based in Dublin 13. Their work focuses on enabling young people to involve themselves consciously and actively in their own development, and in the development of society.

John Fitzgerald, Foróige Area Manager, Dublin City, said: “This fund enables us to deliver high quality, dynamic youth work to a diverse range of young people, and foster community cohesion and unity through common interests and needs.

“We know that an inclusive, organic and youth-led service will enable us to harness the many strengths that exist in Belmayne and Clongriffin, and allow us to develop a culture for intercultural learning, collaboration and development among young people and their families.”

Neighbourhood Network was founded by the team behind Street Feast, the national neighbourhood street party initiative to celebrate community. Through its Our Fabric project, the community development charity works to reduce loneliness and social isolation by supporting neighbourliness, social inclusion, volunteering, and creativity in the community.

Aideen Darcy, Project Lead of Our Fabric, added: “This funding is a significant endorsement of the power of community-led engagement and connection. It will allow us to deepen our work with communities. At its heart, Our Fabric is about creating spaces where communities can come together, share stories and build meaningful connections.”

The National Youth Council of Ireland will deliver Common Cause, an initiative that equips youth workers to address rising hate and hostility. The project will work with youth workers to develop skills in specific areas, with a focus on difficult conversations, community repair after hateful incidents happen in communities, and supporting young men with positive male role models.

Anne Walsh, Programme Manager, National Youth Council of Ireland, said: “Now more than ever, young people need safe offline spaces to talk about and process confusing information they receive online and in their communities. They need space to think about the kind of communities they want to live in. Resourcing youth workers to have these conversations with young people builds stronger, more cohesive and connected communities.”

ShoutOut will deliver Empowering Allies, a nationwide education and awareness programme to counter anti-LGBTQI+ misinformation and champion inclusion. The project focuses on media literacy, allyship and training for educators and civil society leaders.

Ruadhán Ó Críodáin, Executive Director, ShoutOut, said: “This funding will allow us to expand our work through Empowering Allies – strengthening civil society, building community cohesion, and empowering communities to resist anti-LGBTQI+ misinformation. It’s an incredible opportunity to deepen our impact and connect with allies nationwide to build a more inclusive Ireland.”

Hope and Courage Collective’s project, Supporting Communities, Elevating Hope, will work to ensure communities across Ireland can safely respond to hate while staying grounded in the values of inclusion and care. This project will connect community leaders locally, regionally and nationally, creating skilled networks of support, while elevating powerful stories of communities united in solidarity, rejecting fear and building hope.

Edel McGinley, Executive Director, Hope & Courage Collective, said: “We want to say a huge thank you to our partners on the Connected Communities Fund. Their commitment and support of our project ensures we can build collective resilience to hate, meaning Ireland’s future is shaped by powerful communities displaying courage, solidarity, and hope.”

The fund opened for applications in October 2024. Awardees were selected following a rigorous selection process including detailed assessment, interviews, and due diligence.

Over the next three years, the Connected Communities Fund will invest €1.5 million in community-based solutions, with ongoing impact measurement and reporting.