What is the Connect Fund?

The Connect Fund was set up to strengthen the social investment market in England to better meet the needs of charities and social enterprises. It provided grants to develop shared infrastructure solutions to create a more open and accessible social investment market. The Fund will come to a close in May 2024 and is no longer open to application

The Connect Fund, also known as the ‘Social Investment Infrastructure Fund’ was a £6 million fund for grants and investments that the Barrow Cadbury Trust managed in partnership with Access – the Foundation for Social Investment.

The Access Foundation chose the Barrow Cadbury Trust to deliver the Connect Fund because of its experience in social investment, expertise in voluntary sector infrastructure, and its approach, which is to work in partnership with those its funds towards a common goal.

Social investment is one tool for charities and social enterprises to consider as they explore ways to generate income through assets or trading.

If you would like general information about social investment, please see the Good Finance website.