Million Hours Fund

Grants for youth organisations working in anti-social hotspots in England (including specific areas ward areas in Leeds: Ardsley & Robin Hood; Armley; Bramley & Stanningley; Burmantofts and Richmond Hill; Chapel Allerton; Cross Gates & Whinmoor; Gipton & Harehills; Headingly & Hyde Park; Hunslet & Riverside; Killingbeck & Seacroft; Little London & Woodhouse; Middleton Park; North Morley; South Morley; Pudsey; Rothwell; Beeston & Holbeck; Farnley & Wortley; Temple Newsome) to provide more out-of-school activities for young people (aged 11 to 18 years; up to 25 years with disabilities and special educational needs) in areas of high need through the summer.

There will be an initial £3 million for youth organisations to offer additional opportunities for young people to play sport, take part in arts and develop life skills this summer. Provided by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport working with the National Lottery Community Fund’s Awards For All programme, the funding forms part of the Government’s Anti-Social Behaviour Action Plan, which aims to eradicate antisocial behaviour from local communities, and the Government’s ‘National Youth Guarantee’, which will ensure every young person aged between 11 and 18 in England has access to regular clubs and activities, adventures away from home, and volunteering opportunities by 2025.

Grants of between £300 and £10,000 for up to one year are available.

To be eligible for funding, projects must:

• Take place in, and/or benefit young people living in, one of the eligible wards in England. Eligible wards have been determined by allocating wards to each Police Force Area (PFA) based on youth population, and then selecting those with the highest reported number of antisocial behaviour incidents from within the PFA.
• Deliver additional youth provision (existing provision is not eligible).
• Start during, or before, the 2023 school summer holidays (24 July to 3 September 2023).
• Primarily benefit young people aged 11 to 18, and up to 25 years for young people with special educational needs and disabilities.

The funding can be used to support:

• Organisation’s running costs.
• Equipment.
• One-off events.
• Staff costs.
• Training costs.
• Transport
• Utilities.
• Hiring more youth workers
• Venue hire
• Volunteer expenses.
• Small land or refurbishment projects.

To be eligible, applicants must meet the National Lottery Community Fund’s Award for All England criteria.

Applications are currently being accepted through the National Lottery Community Fund’s Awards for All programme.

Applying to the Million Hours Fund – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Voluntary Action Leeds