Connect Fund to offer up to £500k for Northern Ireland and GB voluntary and community groups
The UK Government’s Connect Fund will reopen in November with £1 million available for cross-UK community and voluntary groups to strengthen partnerships and tackle shared challenges.
The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) will launch the third round of its Connect Fund grant programme in November, offering up to £1 million to voluntary and community groups in Northern Ireland and Great Britain. The fund supports projects that address shared challenges across the UK by fostering collaboration between organisations in the east and west. Since its launch, the Connect Fund has awarded over £1 million to 46 projects, including initiatives in performance art, leadership development, and cultural exchange.
Minister for Northern Ireland Sarah Owen visited Bbeyond, a Belfast performance art group that received Connect Fund support, to highlight the programme’s impact. Bbeyond established the NI-GB Performance Art Network in partnership with organisations in Wales and England, enabling Northern Ireland artists to engage with the wider UK creative sector. The project focuses on developing leadership skills and cultural understanding among participants.
The Connect Fund has supported a range of innovative schemes, including theatre tours, musical performances, summits, and youth programmes that strengthen East-West connections. Successful applicants have built civic relationships through culture, sports, and dialogue, enhancing leadership capability and addressing shared challenges in UK communities.
Applications for the next round of funding will open at the start of November, with groups encouraged to submit proposals that foster East-West relationships. The fund aims to deepen existing partnerships and forge new connections, providing opportunities for collaboration across Northern Ireland and Great Britain.