Twelve Anguillian youth and community initiatives are set to benefit from a combined US$30,000 in funding from the 2026 Duke of Edinburgh Community Grants Programme, with projects ranging from water safety and sailing to environmental restoration, sport, arts and education.
The awards were presented on Wednesday, 5th August 2026, at Aurora Anguilla Resort & Golf Club, where government officials, community representatives, organisers, sponsors and grant recipients gathered to mark the latest investment generated through the Duke of Edinburgh Cup.
The grants are the result of the amateur golf tournament, which has been hosted at Aurora for three editions.
For this year’s grants, the assessment committee received 38 proposals from non-governmental organisations, charities, youth groups, sports clubs, community organisations, individuals and other eligible applicants.
The applications covered a broad range of youth and community interests, including leadership, education, literacy, sport, entrepreneurship, environmental stewardship, arts and culture, community service, mental health and well-being, agriculture, life skills, water safety, youth innovation and community resilience.
Vanisha Proctor, a member of the Duke of Edinburgh Community Grants Assessment Committee, said the proposals demonstrated the range of work being undertaken across Anguilla to support young people.
The seven-member committee assessed each application against criteria including the project’s purpose, target beneficiaries, feasibility, expected outcomes, sustainability, innovation, measurable impact, partnerships and community engagement. Following individual assessments, the committee met to compare scores and determine the final rankings.
“While many proposals were of an exceptionally high standard, the reality was that difficult decisions had to be made because the demand far exceeded the funding available,” Proctor said.
Twelve projects were ultimately selected.
Five organisations received grants of US$1,500. They are the Rotary Club of Anguilla for “Every Sheet Has a Second Story”; the Anguilla Red Cross for its Red Active Junior Leaders Programme; the Anguilla Amateur Basketball Association for “Beyond the Game”; the Creative Arts Club for its Summer Camp; Anguilla Aquastars for “Building Water Safety”; and the Youth Empowerment Club for “Adopt a Senior Care Home”.
The remaining recipients received US$3,000 each. They are the Anguilla Youth Pickleball Club; the Spartans Football Club for “Project SCRIM”; Project Future Forward with the Anguilla National Youth Council; the Anguilla National Trust for “Restoring Road Salt Pond”; the Anguilla Youth Sailing Club for “Developing Anguilla’s Youth Sailors”; the Anguilla Girls Brigade for “Girls Can Drum Too”; and “Innovative Learning for High School Boys” by Ms. Dahlia Shields.
The Honourable Minister of Health, Tourism and Sports Cardigan Connor used the occasion to highlight the wider contribution being made through the golf programme at Aurora.
He noted that Phillips had supported young Anguillians participating in the youth programme at Aurora without charging them, and pointed to young golfer Magda Gumbs as an example of the potential that can emerge when young people are given access to opportunities.
Connor also acknowledged the contribution of Aurora members and supporters who have participated in fundraising activities.
Meanwhile, Amarni Richardson, President of the Anguilla National Youth Council and Chairperson of the event, said the grants represented an investment in leadership, community development and Anguilla’s young people.
“This evening we celebrate the vision, innovation and dedication of organisations and individuals whose projects will create lasting opportunities for the young people of Anguilla,” Richardson said.
The 2026 recipients now move from the application stage into implementation, with the assessment committee expressing its expectation that the funded projects will produce sustainable benefits beyond the grant period.
The next Duke of Edinburgh Cup tournament at Aurora is expected to take place in 2027, continuing a fundraising partnership that has increasingly linked the island’s golf community with youth and community development initiatives across Anguilla.
By Janissa Fleming
