Youth-led social action groups are set to receive £9m of further funding from the government and National Lottery Community Fund-backed #iwill Fund.
The #iwill Fund is a £50m project backed by the NLCF and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport to support youth social action programmes.
The fund currently works with 25 funders, but the new money will allow it to expand further and work with new funding organisations.
It is estimated that 500,000 young people have benefited from #iwill funding since it was launched in 2016.
Interested funders can email Jason.flynn@tnlcommunityfund.org.uk to apply to the fund.
Helen Whyman, head of #iwill at the NLCF, said: “We are delighted to continue investing in the #iwill Fund, enabling it to increase the partnerships that we have built to embed youth social action across England.
“Through the partnerships within the #iwill Fund, we see young people taking the lead in their communities, helping them to thrive.”
Baroness Morgan, the culture secretary, said: “I am delighted this funding will allow even more young people, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, to get involved in their local communities.
“Since its launch in 2016 the government and the National Lottery Community Fund has invested £50m in the #Iwill fund, creating opportunities for young people to volunteer and take part in social action.”
Rania Marandos, chief executive of Step Up To Serve, the charity coordinating the #iwill campaign, said: “Young people aren’t just the leaders of tomorrow. They also have the energy, skills and ideas to improve our society for the better today.
“Through the #iwill Fund I’ve seen first-hand the creative and powerful ways that funders are working together with young people and organisations from across sectors to solve some of society’s toughest challenges. I’m excited by the opportunity this new funding brings to build more partnerships like this.”