Who can apply
We’ll fund organisations with good local connections
You should:
- understand what young people in your area need and want
- have existing networks with other local organisations that support young people
What organisations can apply
You can apply if you’re an eligible organisation working in England. Your work must benefit young people from one of the eligible ward areas.
You can apply if you are a:
- not-for-profit company limited by guarantee
- charitable incorporated organisation (CIO)
- community interest company (CIC)
- registered co-operative or community benefit society
- school
- statutory body (including local authorities, town, parish or community council)
You can apply as a partnership, as long as each partner is one of the eligible organisation types listed above. We’ll usually award funding to a lead organisation. They’ll apply, manage the funding and pay other partners.
If your organisation needs an asset lock
Some organisations must have an asset lock. This means you’ve set rules to stop your assets being used for private gain.
You must have an asset lock if you're a:
- CIC
- company limited by guarantee that’s not a registered charity
- community benefit society
- co-operative society
You can read more in the government’s guide to asset locks for CICs.
Requirements for board or committee members
All organisations need at least 2 board or committee members who are not related. If you are a company, you need at least 2 directors who are not related.
By ‘related’, we mean people who:
- are married or in a civil partnership
- are in a long-term relationship
- live together at the same address
- are related by blood
- are related through a long-term partner
You can apply even if you already have funding from us
You can apply even if you already have funding from The National Lottery Community Fund.
If you’ve had Million Hours funding before
You can apply again as long as:
- you’ll provide extra hours of youth work
- your ward areas are still eligible for funding
- you still meet the funding criteria listed in 'What we'll fund'
If your previous Million Hours funding has not yet finished
You can only apply if you’ll deliver extra hours of youth work above what we’ve already agreed to fund.