The Northern Ireland Office is to launch the third round of its Connect Fund grant programme, making £500,000 available to voluntary and community groups across the United Kingdom.
Applications for the latest round of the scheme are scheduled to open at the start of November 2026. The fund is designed to strengthen “East-West” collaboration by supporting projects that build connections between Northern Ireland and Great Britain.
The programme provides grants ranging from £300 to £50,000 per project. Since its inception in 2025, the fund has awarded more than £1 million to 46 different projects across the UK.
Eligibility and Partnership Requirements
The fund is open to a wide range of organisations, including registered charities, Community Interest Companies (CICs), voluntary groups, and statutory bodies.
A key requirement of the scheme is the focus on cross-border cooperation. While the fund is open to groups based anywhere in Great Britain, these organisations must have a partner organisation in Northern Ireland to be eligible for a grant. The initiative aims to foster long-term relationships and shared learning between communities on both sides of the Irish Sea.
Minister for Northern Ireland Sarah Owen MP announced the upcoming round during a visit to Bbeyond, a performance art group in Belfast that has previously benefited from the scheme. The Minister highlighted the fund’s role in supporting cultural and community ties across the UK.
Application Process
The Northern Ireland Office has confirmed that further details on the application process and specific deadlines will be released when the window opens in November.
Previous rounds have supported a diverse array of initiatives, from arts and heritage projects to community development and educational programmes. Groups interested in applying are encouraged to begin identifying potential partner organisations ahead of the November launch to ensure their proposals meet the collaborative requirements of the fund.