Significant Funding Opportunity for Community Projects
A community initiative described by a Belfast group as a vital opportunity for fostering deeper connections will soon reopen for applications, offering a total of £500,000. The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) is preparing to launch the third round of its Connect Fund grant programme. This fund is designed to enhance collaboration between community and voluntary organisations across the UK, having already allocated over £1 million to 46 projects in Northern Ireland and Great Britain.
The Connect Fund supports initiatives that address common challenges throughout the UK, promoting partnerships that are sustainable and beneficial for wider communities. It aims to unite various organisations to work collaboratively towards shared goals.
Ministerial Support for the Arts
During a recent visit to Belfast, Minister for Northern Ireland Sarah Owen engaged with the performance art group Bbeyond, a recipient of the Connect Fund, to observe firsthand the positive effects of the funding. 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 is set to empower Northern Ireland’s performance artists by enhancing their engagement with the broader UK creative sector, alongside developing vital leadership skills and cultural insights.
Minister Owen remarked on the initiative’s potential, stating, “Bbeyond’s exciting plans to support Northern Ireland performance artists highlight the Connect Fund’s creativity and diversity. The fund has facilitated various innovative projects, reinforcing relationships between community and voluntary groups in Northern Ireland and across the UK. I encourage local organisations with ideas aimed at enhancing East-West relationships to apply for the upcoming funding opportunity in November.”
Impact of the Connect Fund
Bronagh Lawson, Programme Manager at Bbeyond, emphasised the importance of connections outside Northern Ireland for the arts sector. “The Connect Fund has been instrumental in strengthening relationships, creating new partnerships, and providing genuine opportunities for our members. The development of East-West understanding is crucial, and collaboration among artists leads to outcomes that often exceed expectations.”
Over the past two years, grants from the Connect Fund have provided significant support to community and voluntary organisations. These funds have enabled theatre productions and musical performances, facilitated cross-Nation summits and leadership forums, and launched youth engagement programmes. Successful grantees have bolstered East-West connections through civic engagement, cultural exchanges, and the development of leadership capabilities while fostering constructive dialogues around the opportunities and challenges faced by communities across the UK.
Application Details for Round 3 of the Connect Fund
The third round of the Connect Fund is set to open for applications at https://www.find-government-grants.service.gov.uk/ from 00:01 on November 2, 2026, until 17:00 on December 18, 2026. Each applicant can request between £300 and £50,000 to support their projects, and previous applicants are encouraged to reapply, with project delivery slated for April 1, 2027, to March 31, 2028.
Further guidance on the application process will be available once applications open on November 2, 2026, at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-connect-fund. For any inquiries, interested parties can reach out via email at connectfund@nio.gov.uk.