Better Futures Fund seeks delivery partner for first round

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is looking for an organisation, or group of organisations, to help deliver the first round of the Better Futures Fund in England.

The Better Futures Fund is a 10-year UK Government programme worth £500 million. It aims to help tackle child poverty and improve outcomes for children, young people and families.

For the first round, the Government is seeking a delivery partner to manage £39.8 million of funding between summer 2026 and March 2036. The funding will support Social Outcomes Partnerships in priority areas across England.

Social Outcomes Partnerships are a way of funding services where payments are linked to the results achieved. This means funding is connected to measurable improvements for people and communities, rather than only paying for activity.

The fund is aimed at organisations with strong experience of managing complex programmes and working with partners.

Applications can come from a single organisation, an organisation working with delivery partners, or a joint bid such as a consortium or partnership.

The programme may support work in areas such as:

• early years
• education
• youth employment
• mental health and wellbeing,
• family support
• reducing youth offending.

This opportunity is likely to be most relevant to larger charities, social enterprises, impact organisations, consortia and organisations with experience of Social Outcomes Partnerships or outcomes-based commissioning.

Applications opened on 30 April 2026 and close at 11:59pm on 12 June 2026. Any applications received after the deadline will not be assessed.

Find out more and apply: Better Futures Fund: Delivery Partner Round 1 – GOV.UK