Connect Fund Round 2

The Connect Fund offers grants from £300 up to £50,000 aiming to support work in sectors directly affecting Northern Ireland communities, encouraging East-West collaboration across the UK, and equipping local groups to tackle challenges and access opportunities shared by communities in Great Britain. The Fund awards up to £1m to strengthen civic East-West collaboration on matters of shared interest, including mutual challenges and opportunities across a range of sectors that directly affect communities in Northern Ireland. Applications must have a clear East-West lens and support objectives such as strengthening East-West connections by developing long lasting civic relationships, proposing original approaches to developing East-West connections, supporting the development of cultural, sports and people-to-people links, building leadership capability opportunities for community leaders on an East-West basis, or facilitating positive and constructive dialogue on shared opportunities and challenges facing communities in the UK. Funding can be provided for both standalone/one-off projects or for more recurrent projects, and must be fully drawn down during 2026/27.