Glór na Móna awarded £123,353 through Lead the Change

20 Oct 2026

Glór na Móna in Belfast has been awarded £123,353 over three years by The Community Foundation for Northern Ireland through Lead the Change, a funding programme supporting young people to build stronger, more connected communities.

A total of £2.6 million has been awarded to 21 organisations across the UK to support local projects that will empower young people to build stronger connections within their communities, address division and drive positive social change.

The 21 youth-led projects were selected by a panel of 10 young grant-makers, aged 19-25, from across the UK, bringing a diverse range of backgrounds, perspectives and lived experiences to the decision-making process.

The newly funded organisations will work alongside young people to create safe and inclusive spaces, support youth-led social action, build leadership skills, and encourage meaningful participation in community life. Through workshops, mentoring, community projects, and opportunities to influence decision-making, young people will be empowered to challenge harmful narratives, strengthen positive relationships, and drive change in their local communities.

The funding to Belfast will enable Glór na Móna, in partnership with Anaka Collective, to empower young leaders from both organisations to challenge intolerance and racism through internationalism, solidarity and grassroots campaigning.

Feargal Mac Ionnrachtaigh, Executive Director at Glór na Móna, said: 

 “We’re delighted to receive funding through Lead the Change to support a programme of education and capacity building with young Irish speakers and young migrants who have often been faced with adversity and exclusion. The programme will develop skills and foster youth-led activism and intersectional movement building with two exciting emerging youth leadership cohorts from Glór na Móna and Anaka Collective. The aim is to create opportunities for young people to come together across differences, develop meaningful political and civic engagement, build relationships through focused internationalism, develop confidence and take action to combat racism, build solidarity, to strengthen belonging and create positive, lasting change in our community.” 

Lead the Change is delivered in partnership with BBC Children in Need, Co-op Foundation, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, Henry Smith Foundation, Joseph Levy Foundation, Paul Hamlyn Foundation, Postcode Justice Trust, UK Community Foundations and The National Lottery Community Fund.