Democratic Engagement Fund
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, further to the Democratic Engagement Fund: Prospectus, Updated 29 July 2026, how will bids to increase participation by overseas electors will be considered and scored.
Answered by Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
The Democratic Engagement Fund will provide grants to civil society organisations to deliver politically neutral, place‑based activities that help people understand, engage with, and participate in democracy.
The Fund’s resources are designed for projects that work with the following target groups: young people (aged 5-25); ethnic minority groups; people who are homeless; regular movers; disabled people; people from low socioeconomic backgrounds. Although projects must take place in England to be eligible for consideration, some members of the target groups may be overseas voters.
Funding will be awarded on a competed basis to organisations who meet the eligibility and assessment criteria as set out in the Democratic Engagement Fund Prospectus and its accompanying Scoring Criteria. MHCLG will assess applications based on these criteria and announce successful applicants early in 2027.
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