The National Lottery Community Fund (NLCF) has closed a £19m fund to tackle anti-social behaviour among young people due to high demand for funding.

Its Million Hours Fund was launched during the summer to offer grants for projects to support teenagers at risk of anti-social behaviour in England.

Grants of between £30,000 and £100,000 are on offer through the Fund to help charities and public sector organisations expand youth work hours and involve young people in shaping support.

A focus is on improving wellbeing, life skills, young people’s safety and give young people “more places to go and positive things to do”.

The NLCF had been looking to accept applications by 22 October for the third phase of funding.

But this week it announced “we’re closing this funding earlier than planned because of the large number of applications we’re getting”.

Those who have already started an application are still able to apply as long as this is submitted by midday on Tuesday 30 September.

The funding available must be spent by March 2027 with most spent by March next year.

It is set to fund staff salaries, volunteer costs, training, materials and equipment and the cost of carrying out evaluation. It can also fund overheads, such as rent and insurance.

The money cannot be spent on capital costs such as buying land or vehicles and building work.

Applicants have been working in areas with high levels of youth crime. Of the £19m total funding available, £12m is from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, and £7m is from the NLCF.

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