The Million Hours Fund, launched jointly by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and The National Lottery Community Fund, is now open for Phase 3 applications. This third round offers £30,000 to £100,000 in grants to fund additional youth work in specific high-need areas of England—those identified as hotspots for anti‑social behaviour

The Fund supports “open access” youth activities—from arts and sport to mentoring and life skills—that:

• Serve young people aged 10 to 18 (or up to 25 for SEND participants)

• Target individuals at risk of anti‑social behaviour

• Provide more hours of youth work than currently offered

• Actively involve young people in shaping the work

• Are delivered by trusted adults such as youth workers or experienced volunteers

Eligible applicants include not-for-profit entities (such as CICs, CIOs, schools, or local authorities), and partnerships—so long as the lead organisation meets eligibility and asset lock requirements

Deadlines & Timing

Applications close at 12 noon on Wednesday 22 October 2025. Most of the funding must be spent and activities delivered by 31 March 2026, with the remainder to be completed by 31 March 2027