Community and voluntary organisations across Northern Ireland will have the opportunity to apply for a £500,000 funding round under the Northern Ireland Office’s (NIO) Connect Fund, which aims to support initiatives that strengthen East-West collaboration across the UK. The fund, launched earlier this year, provides up to £500,000 per financial year from a two-year £1 million allocation to help local groups tackle shared challenges and access opportunities alongside communities in Great Britain.
Since its inception, thirteen organisations have benefited from the Connect Fund, receiving nearly £400,000 in total. Funded projects have ranged from establishing an East-West LGBTQIA+ Forum and addressing environmental challenges to building connections between veterans’ groups and promoting gender economic equality. These initiatives have brought together voluntary and community leaders across Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and England.
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Matthew Patrick, emphasized the positive impact of the Connect Fund, highlighting its role in enabling community and voluntary groups to strengthen East-West links. He encouraged organisations to apply for the second round to unlock resources for impactful community projects.
One example of a beneficiary is Belfast-based YouthAction, which will use its funding to host a Youth Leader Summit in Belfast and a CEO Leadership Summit in England, fostering cross-national collaboration. Dr Martin McMullan, CEO of YouthAction, explained that the grant supports the organisation’s goal of developing East-West youth opportunities, nurturing leadership, and enabling cultural exchange among young people across the UK.
The second round of the Connect Fund will open on 7 January 2026, with applications accepted until 12 February. Unlike the first round, submissions will be assessed in a single window, and projects must be delivered between 1 April 2026 and 31 March 2027. The funding range for projects is £300 to £50,000, and applications are open to voluntary and community organisations, charities, constituted groups or clubs, not-for-profit companies, Community Interest Companies, or statutory bodies. Eligible projects must demonstrate a clear East-West focus and contribute to objectives such as fostering civic relationships, cultural and sports links, leadership development, or constructive dialogue on shared UK community challenges.
