The Local Digital Fund

Through the Local Digital Fund, we have helped councils implement the Local Digital Declaration by supporting collaborative council-led projects that address widespread local challenges.

In the short term, there are no plans for further funding through the current Local Digital Fund model. Our immediate focus is supporting our funded projects to deliver their outputs and share these across the sector to maximise their impact.

On this page you can learn more about what the Fund has achieved and read about previously funded projects.

What the Local Digital Fund has achieved

Since the Local Digital Fund was introduced in July 2018, we have provided over £16 million of funding and support to 61 council-led projects.

The projects we have funded have addressed common challenges within a broad range of service areas, such as housing, social care and waste management. Many projects have produced outputs that are available for other councils to learn from and reuse, including back office systems, data standards, and publishing platforms.

Through the Local Digital Declaration and the Local Digital Fund, we’ve championed a collaborative approach to improving local public services. We’ve provided support and expert advice across project management, product ownership, agile delivery, user research and service design. We’ve also provided training to over 3000 council staff to develop their digital and cyber skills.

Local Digital Fund projects

Each project we have funded has its own webpage where you can view their journey and outputs.

View all funded projects

Adapting our approach

Following an intensive period of review, and informed by insights from our conversations with councils, we are adapting our approach to take on a more strategic role as a ‘steward’.

We will continue to make grants to local government, as well as providing integral support and expertise to support councils to build, accelerate and advance their digital maturity. However, there are currently no plans for further funding through the Local Digital Fund model. Read more about how we’re adapting our approach in 2024.

To find out about our plans to support the sector going forwards and how you can get involved, subscribe to our newsletter.

Local Digital Fund history

Round 6 (2022)

In October 2022, we invited local authorities to submit proposals for discovery, alpha and beta projects that solve a common local government issue and make local government services safer, more resilient and cheaper to run.

MHCLG awarded a total of £2,016,325 of funding to 17 council-led digital projects. The projects kicked off in March 2023.

Learn more about Round 6

Visit the Round 6 webpage
Blog post on MHCLG Digital: ‘Transforming digital services for councils through our Round 6 funded projects’

Round 5 (2021)

In September 2021, we invited local authorities to submit proposals for alpha and beta projects across two thematic areas: development platforms and software.

MHCLG awarded a total of £2,329,968 of funding to 9 council-led digital projects.

Learn more about Round 5

Visit the Round 5 webpage
Blog post on MHCLG Digital: We’re awarding funding to 9 projects through Round 5 of the Local Digital Fund (Posted on:16 November 2021)

Continuous Funding Model (2021 - present)

In February 2021 we announced the move to a more flexible model of funding local government digital projects, known as the Continuous Funding Model (CFM). The CFM is designed to help funded project teams to maintain momentum and continuity. Instead of waiting for further funding rounds to open, projects can apply for funding for their next stage of work shortly after completing the previous phase.

Learn more about the Continuous Funding Model

Visit the CFM webpage
Blog post on MHCLG Digital: Creating a more flexible funding model for the Local Digital Fund (17 February 2021)

C-19 Challenge (2020)

In July 2020, local authorities in England were invited to apply for funding to support data and digital projects to help with their COVID-19 recovery and renewal efforts.

MHCLG awarded a total of £800,000 of funding to 11 council-led digital projects.

Learn more about the C-19 Challenge

Visit the C-19 Challenge webpage
Blog post on MHCLG Digital: We’ve funded 11 collaborative projects through the Local Digital COVID-19 Challenge (27 July 2020)

Round 4 (2020)

Round 3 (2019)

Round 2 (2019)

Round 1 (2018)

The first round of the Local Digital Fund was launched in December 2018 by Rishi Sunak to help local authorities break their dependence on inflexible technology, adopt the best digital ways of working, and ultimately offer excellent local services for less. Local authorities and central government organisations were invited to bid for funding.

MHCLG awarded a total of £1,251,492 of funding to 16 projects.

Learn more about Round 1

Blog post on MHCLG Digital: The 16 funded projects to kick-start ‘Mission Wiki Fix’ (7 December 2018)
Blog post on MHCLG Digital: Selecting the first Local Digital Fund projects (7 December 2018)

Go to Local Digital homepageALPHA