MHCLG has this week published the prospectus for the Democratic Engagement Fund.

The fund will provide grants to civil society organisations (CSOs) to deliver politically neutral, place‑based activities that help people understand, engage with, and participate in democracy.

The fund focuses on groups that are currently less democratically engaged and aims to generate evidence on what works to increase democratic participation, informing future policy and practice.

With grants of around £25,000 (and up to £50,000 in exceptional cases), this fund is designed to support organisations already rooted in their communities to reach people who are less likely to engage in democratic processes – including young people, ethnic minority communities, disabled people, people experiencing homelessness, frequent movers, and people from lower socio‑economic backgrounds.

The application period opens on 22nd June and the deadline to submit an application is Monday 31st August.

More information