Connect Fund Launches £500k Grant Opportunity for Voluntary and Community Groups in Northern Ireland and Great Britain

A fund described by a community group in Belfast as a vital resource for fostering deeper relationships is set to reopen for applications, with a total of £500,000 available. This initiative comes as the Northern Ireland Office prepares to launch the third round of its Connect Fund grant programme. The Connect Fund aims to enhance collaboration among community and voluntary organisations across the eastern and western regions of the UK. To date, it has allocated over £1 million to 46 projects throughout Northern Ireland and Great Britain, targeting shared challenges to unite community groups and foster enduring partnerships across the UK.

Minister Highlights Positive Impact of Funding

Sarah Owen, the Minister for Northern Ireland, recently visited the performance art group Bbeyond in Belfast, a recipient of the Connect Fund, to observe the positive effects of the funding firsthand. Bbeyond has established the NI-GB Performance Art Network in collaboration with TactileBosch in Wales, the Belfast School of Art, and the University for the Creative Arts in Canterbury. This initiative aims to assist Northern Irish performance artists in engaging with the broader creative landscape of the UK, enhancing their leadership abilities and cultural comprehension.

Minister Owen remarked, “Bbeyond’s innovative plans to support performance artists in Northern Ireland showcase the Connect Fund’s commitment to creativity and diversity. By strengthening relationships between community and voluntary organisations in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK, the Connect Fund has backed a range of pioneering projects. I urge local organisations with ideas to enhance East-West relationships to apply for the forthcoming funding opportunity when it opens in November.”

Significant Benefits for the Arts Community

Bronagh Lawson, Programme Manager at Bbeyond, emphasised the importance of connections beyond Northern Ireland for the arts sector. She stated, “The Connect Fund has been a lifeline, allowing us to deepen relationships, establish new connections, and provide real opportunities for our members. The understanding between East and West is beginning to flourish, and when artists come together, the outcomes often exceed initial expectations!”

Over the past two years, grants from the Connect Fund have significantly benefitted community and voluntary organisations, enabling them to conduct theatre tours, musical performances, and cross-Nation summits and leadership forums, as well as launch youth initiatives. Successful applicants have strengthened East-West links by fostering civic relationships, promoting cultural, sports, and community ties, building leadership capacity, and facilitating meaningful discussions on the opportunities and challenges faced by UK communities.

Application Details and Timeline

The third round of the Connect Fund will accept applications from 00:01 on November 2, 2026, until 17:00 on December 18, 2026. Interested applicants can apply via this link. Each applicant may request between £300 and £50,000 for their projects, and previous applicants are encouraged to reapply, with project implementation scheduled from April 1, 2027, to March 31, 2028.

Comprehensive guidance on the application process, along with a link to the Findagrant application page, will be made available once applications open on November 2, 2026. For any further inquiries, please reach out via email at connectfund@nio.gov.uk.