The Million Hours Fund
Information about the Million Hours Fund.
Applies to England
All phases of the Million Hours Fund have now closed for applications.Ìý
About the fund
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and The National Lottery Community Fund launched Phase 3 of the Million Hours Fund with nearly £18 million of joint investment awarded. The Million Hours Fund Phase 3 will run until 31 March 2027 but is closed for applications.
Phase 3 of the Million Hours Fund is the third round of funding for the programme. It follows Phases 1 and 2 which took place from summer 2023 and ran until March 2026.
Nearly £18 million in government and National Lottery funding has been awarded to 292 grassroots organisations through Phase 3 of the Million Hours Fund, creating new opportunities for young people in some of England’s most underserved communities.
Through the funding, ​​thousands more young people access youth clubs, sports, mentoring and creative activities. The funding targets priority wards, supporting those facing the greatest barriers to opportunity and contributing to the ambitions of the National Youth Strategy.Ìý
From dedicated girls’ sessions in Rochdale to expanded outreach in Peckham, the funding is for organisations to provide extra support to young people in areas with higher rates of anti-social behaviour, funding extra hours of youth work to give these young people more places to go and positive things to do.
Case studies
Become United (Rochdale)
Become United has been awarded £34,750 for its Roots and Wings – Girls Youth Club project. It will run girls-only activities focused on wellbeing, outdoor experiences and skills-building.
Skyway Charity (Peckham)
Skyway Charity has been awarded £81,445 to deliver over 1,000 additional hours of youth work, including sports, mentoring and outreach, offering safe, consistent spaces after school and into the evening.
Eligible areas
This funding is for organisations to provide extra support to young people in areas with higher rates of anti-social behaviour, funding extra hours of youth work to give these young people more places to go and positive things to do.Ìý
This funding is for certain parts of England only. The additional hours of youth work must take place in, or benefit young people living in, one of the eligible wards. Eligible wards have been determined by allocating wards to each Police Force Area (PFA) based on the size of the local youth population, and then selecting those with the highest reported number of anti-social behaviour incidents from within the PFA.Ìý
The eligible wards were updated for 2025.
For full details of the eligibility criteria for the Million Hours Fund, please visit .
Recipients of the Million Hours Fund
Updates to this page
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Page updated as applications have now closed. Recipients of Phases 1, 2 and 3 awards added to the page.
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Updated application information- the Million Hours Fund Phase 1 and 2 are now closed. Phase 3 is closed to new applicants.
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Page updated for phase 3 of the fund.
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Updated ward list spreadsheet.
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Updated page with notice to highlight Phase 1 has now closed.
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Page updated to reflect closing date being brought forward to 12 noon on 4 August 2023.
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Page updated to reflect clarifications on timings.
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First published.