How to apply

We're opening to different areas at different times.

Round one will open on Wednesday 13 January 2027.

Check if you can apply

The area boundaries are different to ward or council boundaries.

Select the area to view its boundary on a map. The links open on the Office for National Statistics website.

Round one areas

Round one is open from Wednesday 13 January 2027 to Wednesday 24 February 2027.

The areas that are open for application are:

• Ingoldmells & Chapel St Leonards, East Lindsey

• Kirby Frith, Leicester

• Ermine, Lincoln

• Top Valley East, Nottingham

• Aspley, Nottingham

• Murton North & Parkside, County Durham

• Owton Manor, Hartlepool

• Ayresome, Middlesbrough

• North Ormesby & Brambles, Middlesbrough

• Walker South, Newcastle upon Tyne

• Grangetown, Redcar and Cleveland

• Town End Farm, Sunderland

• Kendray, Barnsley

• Bransholme Central, Kingston upon Hull, City of

• Southcoates East, Kingston upon Hull, City of

• Belle Isle North, Leeds

• Halton Moor, Leeds

• Grimsby East Marsh & Port, North East Lincolnshire

• Nunsthorpe, North East Lincolnshire

• East Herringthorpe, Rotherham

• Firth Park, Sheffield

• Shiregreen North, Sheffield

• Woodthorpe, Sheffield

• Ferry Fryston, Wakefield

If your area is not listed

Check if your area is eligible in round 2 or round 3.

About the application process

The application has 2 stages.

At stage one, we ask for information about your work and experience. If it fits what we're looking for, we'll invite you to give more information at stage 2.

You can apply to represent more than one area, but you will need to complete a separate application for each area you want to apply for.

How long it will take

The full application process takes about 11 months.

The application process has 2 stages. This usually involves:

• up to 5 months for a decision at stage one

• up to 6 months for stage 2 - where we ask for more details and make a final decision

What happens after you apply

After you send us your application, we'll:

• email the main and senior contact to confirm we've got your application

• assess your application and contact you if we need more information

• let you know if we're taking your application to the second stage. If not, we'll explain why

• if it does go to the second stage, we'll contact you for more details

• we'll make a final decision and let you know if we've awarded funding. If not, we'll explain why