£6 million Local News Fund backs 50 outlets
Howard Lake | 5 November 2026 | News
The government has announced that 50 organisations will share £6 million from the Local News Fund, as part of a package of support for local journalism across England and Wales.
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) confirmed the awards on 5 November 2026, alongside an update on a careers campaign aimed at young people.
Who is receiving the funding?
Most of the grants, worth up to £125,000 each, are going to local print and online news outlets, as well as independent local television and radio stations. A further seven organisations, including software developers and other industry players, have received infrastructure grants of up to £275,000 each. The awards are spread across England and Wales.
Advertisement
According to DCMS, the money will support community outreach, digital tools, apps and multimedia services, and efforts to build more sustainable income. A full list of the 50 grant recipients and the seven infrastructure awards is published with the original release.
Media Minister Ian Murray MP said: “I am determined not to leave local journalism to collapse.” Polly Curtis, co-chair of the Local News Fund Steering Board, said: “There are too many news deserts in this country and this fund is starting to make a difference.” Her fellow co-chair, Jeremy Clifford, noted that the volume and quality of bids meant many worthwhile applications had to be turned down.
Careers campaign reaches more than 11,000 students
DCMS also reported on Inspiring the Future, a careers campaign funded jointly with the News Media Association (NMA). Its first six-month pilot focused on schools in the North West with higher levels of deprivation, and has so far reached more than 11,000 students in over 100 schools. The government says it will consider a national rollout, subject to evaluation and funding.
Theo Bamber, chief executive of the NMA, said the association was pleased to have supported the pilot. Joanne Forbes, chief executive of the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ), said: “Local journalism matters enormously.” Laura Davison, general secretary of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ), welcomed the government’s support but said many members remain worried about their livelihoods.
Journalist safety and the next round of funding
The National Committee for the Safety of Journalists is due to agree a refreshed National Action Plan during Journalism Matters Week. The government says that in due course £1 million will be targeted at “news deserts next year,” with up to £5 million more to support sustainability and innovation.
The announcement builds on Amplify, the Local Media Action Plan, and the work of the Local News Fund Steering Board.
Why it matters to fundraisers
Local media remains an important route for charities, particularly smaller and community-based organisations, to reach supporters, recruit volunteers and publicise appeals and events. When local titles and stations close or shrink, that earned coverage disappears with them, and fundraisers lose a trusted channel.
The funding is aimed at media organisations rather than charities, so it is not a grant opportunity for the sector. However, fundraisers may wish to check whether their local outlets are among the recipients, and to consider how well-prepared case studies, event announcements and appeal stories can support titles that are working to build sustainable income.
Fundraisers could also use the announcement as a prompt to review their media contacts. Which local titles, radio stations and online news sites cover your area, and who commissions charity and community stories there? Building those relationships now, while new funding is reshaping who publishes and how, may help your organisation stay visible to local audiences and donors. This groundwork costs little time and pays dividends later.
- Newspaper Christmas appeals: who’s supporting who in 2024 (10 December 2024)
- National newspapers announce their Christmas 2025 charity partners (9 December 2025)
- Guardian readers donate more than £1 million to 2025 charity appeal (16 January 2026)
Related posts
The Good Exchange sees £4.7 million distributed to charitable causes in first year
New Aviva Community Fund campaign by bigdog focuses on difference support makes to local communities
FT Seasonal Appeal open for applications until 10 April
Queen Elizabeth Trust launched to strengthen communities across the UK
About Howard Lake
Howard Lake is consultant editor of UK Fundraising. He founded the site in 1994 and successfully sold it in 2022. As director of Giving X Ltd he is exploring growing giving on a massive scale.
He is the founder of Fundraising Camp and co-founder of GoodJobs.