Better Futures Fund: Learning and Development Service

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport

Closed · 11 Aug 2026

One round of Better Futures Fund, which has run 3 rounds in total and has 1 open now.

Funding

Up to £2,600,000

Location

England

Applications

Open until 11 August 2026

Overview

DCMS is offering up to £2,600,000 to one organisation or consortium. The money funds a learning and development service. This service will help organisations understand and deliver Social Outcomes Partnerships through the Better Futures Fund. The work must take place in England, running from October 2026 to March 2031. DCMS will select a single grant recipient. A consortium can apply, but one lead partner must submit the application.

Eligibility

Who can apply:

limited companycharitysocial enterprisecicpublic sector

Key requirements:

Single grant recipient only, either one organisation or a consortium with a lead partner
Activity must take place in England
Delivery period is October 2026 to March 2031

Who is this for?

This grant is for one organisation or consortium with expertise in learning, development, and Social Outcomes Partnerships. You must be able to deliver activity across England from October 2026 to March 2031. It is not open to multiple separate recipients as DCMS will select only one.

Sectors

Charities & Non-Profit

Regions

England

Funder track record

Last published award 2025Open to first-time applicants

Awards published

7,882

Typical award

£27,168

Most awards

£12,670 to £175,000

Most funded region

London

348 awards in 2025, down from 2,843 the year before.

Recent awards include Greater Manchester Combined Authority (£30,000, 2025), Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council (£969,519, 2025) and Calderdale Council (£35,514, 2025).

Contains data from 360Giving publishers, used under open licence.

Full details from The Department for Culture, Media and Sport

DCMS is providing up to £2,600,000 of grant funding to a delivery partner/consortium to provide a learning and development service that strengthens the knowledge, capability and confidence of organisations and stakeholders to design and deliver Social Outcomes Partnerships through the Better Futures Fund. DCMS is seeking to select a single grant recipient, which could be a single organisation, or a consortium (with a lead partner making the application). The successful bidder will deliver this funding between October 2026 and March 2031. This funding can only be used for activity in England.

How to apply

A single organisation or a consortium with a lead partner can apply. The deadline to apply is 11 August 2026. Check the DCMS grant listing for application details and submission instructions.

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