GrantRadar

Northern Ireland Office

Connect Fund (Round 3)

Northern Ireland Office grants of £300 to £50,000 for not-for-profit and statutory organisations to build 'East-West' civic links between Northern Ireland and Great Britain, for projects that directly benefit communities in Northern Ireland. It funds both one-off activities, such as attending a conference or hosting a visit, and longer-running work such as a UK-wide forum. NI applicants need a GB partner and GB applicants an NI partner. Round 3 projects must be delivered and fully drawn down between 1 April 2027 and 31 March 2028.

Apply on the funder’s site
You could get
£300 – £50,000
Deadline
46 days left
18 December
Effort
Heavy
budgets, references, often several stages

Who can apply

  • Voluntary and community organisations, registered charities, constituted groups or clubs, not-for-profit companies, Community Interest Companies and statutory bodies, including national representative bodies and those for under-represented voices
  • Applicants and partners must be formally established for public benefit and not for profit, and based in the UK
  • Activities must directly benefit Northern Ireland; they can take place in NI or GB provided NI stakeholders are involved
  • NI applicants must work with a GB partner (exceptions possible for a standalone activity such as attending a conference), GB applicants with an NI partner, and national representative bodies with partners in both
  • Non-statutory applicants need a governing document saying members, directors or trustees do not benefit financially, at least 3 unrelated committee members (trustees or directors), and their own bank account with 2 signatories
  • A safeguarding policy is needed for work with children, young people or vulnerable adults
  • One lead organisation receives the grant, and an organisation may have only one live application or grant at a time
  • Organisations already receiving UK Government funding can apply

What it funds

Projects with a clear East-West lens that deliver one or more of these objectives:

  • Strengthen East-West connections by developing long lasting civic relationships
  • Propose an original approach to developing East-West connections
  • Support the development of cultural, sports and people-to-people links
  • Build leadership capability opportunities for community leaders on an East-West basis
  • Facilitate positive and constructive dialogue on shared opportunities/challenges facing communities in the UK

Both standalone or one-off projects (e.g. attending a conference or facilitating a visit) and recurrent projects (e.g. establishing a UK-wide forum for community organisations) can be funded, as can enhancing existing East-West projects. Eligible costs include accessibility aids, accommodation and travel within the Travel & Subsistence Policy, project-specific administration, advertising for recruitment, consultancy fees, data collection and evaluation, equipment rental, project materials and printing, and residentials. Staff costs directly ascribable to delivery are allowed up to 20% of the total project cost.

What it will not fund

  • Capital costs
  • Core operational costs, such as electricity, heating, WiFi and organisational insurance
  • Staff costs above 20% of the total project cost
  • Alcohol
  • Marketing, communications or PR that is not central to project delivery
  • Applications from individuals or sole traders
  • Organisations based outside the UK
  • Companies that pay profits to directors, shareholders or members, including companies limited by shares
  • Organisations with an ongoing application or a current grant that has not closed

How to apply

  1. Read the application guidance, FAQs and the eligible items and funding parameters on the Find a Grant listing
  2. Complete the online application form: activity outline against the objectives, budget, and monitoring and evaluation approach
  3. Complete the Delivery Plan and Budget Management Tool template: a timeline with milestones and costs, and a payment schedule showing when milestones are delivered and funding drawn down
  4. Submit by 5pm on 18 December 2026

Grants are paid in arrears after milestones are delivered, unless the grant is under £10,000 and you opt for payment upfront; spend must still be evidenced. Grants under £10,000 need a 200-word assessment at the end; larger or multi-activity grants need progress reports. Questions to connectfund@nio.gov.uk.

Have ready

  • Online application form, including the budget
  • Delivery Plan and Budget Management Tool (project plan with milestones and costs, and payment schedule)
  • Governing document (non-statutory bodies)
  • Safeguarding policy, if working with children, young people or vulnerable adults

For travel, give the most up-to-date costs at the time of applying; for a one-off event give organisers, partners, activities and travel dates.

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