Million Hours Fund

The Million Hours Fund from the National Lottery Community Fund is for organisations to give extra support to young people in areas with higher rates of anti-social behaviour. The fund will fund extra hours of youth work to give these young people more places to go and positive things to do.

The Fund can only fund projects in certain parts of England. The work must take place in, or benefit young people living in, one of the eligible ward areas. You can check the eligible ward areas for the Million Hours Fund (2025 to 2027) here https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/funding/million-hours-2025-wards

To apply, your project must:

• Benefit young people aged 10 to 18, or up to 25 if they have special educational needs or disabilities (SEND)
• Effectively engage with young people at risk of taking part in anti-social behaviour
• Deliver more hours of youth work than you provide now
• Involve young people in deciding how you work
• Deliver youth work that is open to as wide a range of young people as possible (known as ‘open access’)
• Be run by trusted adults such as qualified youth workers, youth support workers, or experienced volunteers

The extra youth work you deliver must help young people:

• Have improved emotional wellbeing
• Have improved life and practical skills
• Feel safer and have access to trusted relationships with adults