This programme is funded by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) and administered by Social Investment Business (SIB).

Objectives of Fund

The Better Futures Fund (BFF) is a 10-year, £500 million UK Government programme designed to improve outcomes for children, young people and families and address the structural causes and impacts of child poverty in England. The fund will primarily support Social Outcomes Partnerships (SOPs), through which government funding is linked to the achievement of measurable improvements in people's lives. It will support locally focused approaches to complex social challenges by bringing together organisations from the public, voluntary and private sectors, with funding intended to be matched by local government, philanthropists and other outcome payers. Social investors may also provide upfront finance to support delivery.

The fund will support projects that address the causes and impacts of child poverty, including approaches that reduce the short or longer-term effects of poverty on children's life chances and outcomes. Projects will be place-based and will focus on defined cohorts of people, with specific outcomes determined locally according to local needs and aligned with the Government's Child Poverty Strategy. The BFF's overarching themes are early years, keeping children safe and family security, every child achieving and thriving, homelessness and temporary accommodation, financial stability and health and wellbeing.

Funding will be delivered through two rounds. Round 1 is focused on a small number of demonstrator 'pathfinder' projects and is intended for organisations and partnerships with previous experience of delivering SOPs and projects that are sufficiently developed to begin delivery within six months of funding approval.

To be eligible for Round 1, applicants must be part of the impact economy, including purpose-led organisations and commissioners, have a track record of delivering SOPs and demonstrate a clear link between the proposed project and child poverty outcomes. Projects must address child poverty by improving outcomes for a defined cohort of people in a particular place.

Round 2 will account for the remainder of the BFF and is intended to increase the number of SOPs supported and widen participation to organisations without previous experience of delivering SOPs. The design of Round 2 is ongoing, with delivery expected to take a place-based approach. Potential delivery routes include Mayoral Strategic Authorities delivering an allocated portion of funding and an independent grant delivery partner appointed through a government grant competition. Further details on eligibility and application arrangements for Round 2 are expected to be confirmed at a later stage.

Across both rounds, projects may receive multi-year commitments up to 31 March 2036. Successful projects may continue beyond this date but will not be able to claim BFF government funding after 31 March 2036.

Value Notes

Round one will provide up to £37 million in government match funding to support projects that contribute to the objectives of the Better Futures Fund. Individual award amounts have not been specified.

Match Funding Restrictions

Government funding is expected to be matched on a 1:1 basis by local commissioners and potentially philanthropists. Round 1 will also support peer learning and the sharing of learning to inform the development of projects for Round 2.

Who Can Apply

The first round is open to organisations and partnerships based in England that have prior experience of participating in Social Outcomes Partnerships (SOPs) and have existing projects that are sufficiently developed to begin delivery within six months of receiving funding. Applicants must be part of the impact economy, including purpose-led organisations and commissioners, and must be able to demonstrate a track record of delivering or participating in SOPs.

Eligible organisations may include local authorities and other public sector bodies, voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations, charities, social enterprises and qualifying social businesses. Commercial organisations may also participate where they meet the fund's social purpose and profit distribution requirements.

Projects should have established partnerships and demonstrate the capacity to participate in an outcomes-based programme, including a clear focus on measurable outcomes. Applicants must also demonstrate that their proposed project is linked to child poverty outcomes and is ready to progress to delivery. Match funding should be secured or at an advanced stage of development.

The first round is intended for established organisations and partnerships with relevant experience rather than organisations developing their first SOP. The programme is focused on projects operating in England.

Restrictions

This fund is unlikely to be suitable for organisations seeking funding solely for general organisational costs, standalone projects, or early-stage ideas that are not yet supported by established partnerships, delivery plans, and a clear outcomes framework.

Eligible Expenditure

Projects are expected to address the causes and impacts of child poverty through measurable outcomes.

Examples include:

• Family support and preventing entry into care.
• Early years development and school readiness.
• Educational engagement and attainment.
• Youth employment and skills development.
• Support for children and young people with SEND.
• Youth justice and prevention programmes.
• Children's wellbeing, safety and resilience initiatives.

Projects will be expected to demonstrate robust evidence of impact and clear outcomes frameworks.

Location

England

How To Apply

The deadline to submit Expressions of Interest for Round 1 is 23 September 2026 (24:00).

Round 2 will launch in Summer 2027 and will deploy the majority of the £500 million funding over multiple application windows.

Applications are made online.

More information is available at the SIB website.

Contact SIB for further information.