Local ecosystems fund
Local ecosystems fund
About
The Local Ecosystems Fund is a multi-year grant-making initiative, focused on improving outcomes for babies and young children, initially in two communities with persistent disadvantage gaps. We are trying to take a responsive approach that combines evidence of ‘what works’ with local insights to shape the funding strategies; and will then seek to provide flexible grants and support to build collaborations within these communities. The initiative will be delivered in partnership with the John Coates Charitable Trust.
Get involved
Where
Funding of ~£1 million over 3 years:
North and East Cambridge and Barrow-in-Furness
Seed funding of £150k over 3 years:
Central BedfordshireWhat
Long-term (3+ year) funding
Strengthen the early childhood ecosystem
(from conception to age 5)
Unrestricted grant funding to charity partners and some funding to support systems infrastructure
(leadership, convening, data etc.)How
Funding strategy shaped by data, local context,
and community insights
Supporting evidence-based approaches most relevant
for the specific community
The Local Ecosystems Fund brings evidence alongside community insights, to deliver better outcomes for babies and young children in areas with persistent disadvantage gaps, while building sustainable community infrastructure and capacity.
WHERE
Funding of £1.2m over 3 years:
North and East Cambridge and Barrow-in-Furness
Seed funding of £150k
over 3 years:
Central BedfordshireWHAT
Multi-year (3+) funding
Strengthen the early childhood ecosystem
(from conception to age 5)
Unrestrictive grant funding to charity partners and some funding to support development systems infrastructure
(i.e leadership development, convening, data etc.)HOW
Funding strategy shaped by data, local context,
and community insights
Supporting evidence-based approaches most relevant
for the specific community
Where
Funding of ~£1 million over 3 years:
North and East Cambridge and Barrow-in-Furness
Seed funding of £150k over 3 years:
Central BedfordshireWhat
Long-term (3+ year) funding
Strengthen the early childhood ecosystem
(from conception to age 5)
Unrestricted grant funding to charity partners and some funding to support systems infrastructure
(leadership, convening, data etc.)How
Funding strategy shaped by data, local context,
and community insights
Supporting evidence-based approaches most relevant
for the specific community
Where we’ll work
What we’ll fund
How the strategy will be decided
Where we’ll work
Where we’ll work
What we’ll fund
How the strategy will be decided
The Local Ecosystems Fund brings evidence alongside community insights, to deliver better outcomes for babies and young children in areas with persistent disadvantage gaps, while building sustainable community infrastructure and capacity.
The Local Ecosystems Fund brings evidence alongside community insights, to deliver better outcomes for babies and young children in areas with persistent disadvantage gaps, while building sustainable community infrastructure and capacity.
What comes next
Parent and carer strategy workshops take place throughout the spring and summer of 2026. Specific grants are expected to be agreed by the end of summer, with funding distributed from August onwards. We don't think we've got it all figured out. This is a first attempt, and we're building in learning from day one which will continue to shape our work and be shared with the wider community.
Get in touch
Get in touch
Get in touch
If you work in or alongside either of these communities and would like to know more, please get in touch with Sophie at sophie@collectivefutures.org.
If you're a funder who's been thinking about place-based early childhood funding and want to compare notes, we'd love to hear from you too.
Related page
Our guiding principles
WHERE
Funding of £1.2m over 3 years:
North and East Cambridge and Barrow-in-Furness
Seed funding of £150k
over 3 years:
Central BedfordshireWHAT
Multi-year (3+) funding
Strengthen the early childhood ecosystem
(from conception to age 5)
Unrestrictive grant funding to charity partners and some funding to support development systems infrastructure
(i.e leadership development, convening, data etc.)HOW
Funding strategy shaped by data, local context,
and community insights
Supporting evidence-based approaches most relevant
for the specific community
About
The Local Ecosystems Fund is a multi-year grant-making initiative, focused on improving outcomes for babies and young children, initially in two communities with persistent disadvantage gaps. We are trying to take a responsive approach that combines evidence of ‘what works’ with local insights to shape the funding strategies; and will then seek to provide flexible grants and support to build collaborations within these communities. The initiative will be delivered in partnership with the John Coates Charitable Trust.
Where
Funding of ~£1 million over 3 years:
North and East Cambridge and Barrow-in-Furness
Seed funding of £150k over 3 years:
Central BedfordshireWhat
Long-term (3+ year) funding
Strengthen the early childhood ecosystem
(from conception to age 5)
Unrestricted grant funding to charity partners and some funding to support systems infrastructure
(leadership, convening, data etc.)How
Funding strategy shaped by data, local context,
and community insights
Supporting evidence-based approaches most relevant
for the specific community
The Local Ecosystems Fund brings evidence alongside community insights, to deliver better outcomes for babies and young children in areas with persistent disadvantage gaps, while building sustainable community infrastructure and capacity.
Where we’ll work
Where we’ll work
What we’ll fund
How the strategy will be decided
Related page
Our guiding principles
Our Partners
Where we’ll work
What we’ll fund
How the strategy will be decided
Where we’ll work
What we’ll fund
How the strategy will be decided
Our Partners
Funding partner
The John Coates Charitable Trust (JCCT) is co-funding the Local Ecosystems Fund alongside us. This kind of funder collaboration, where foundations pool resources aligned towards a shared strategy rather than funding in isolation, is what we hope to see more of in future. We're grateful to the JCCT for their willingness to work in partnership with us.
Learning partner
Dartington Service Design Lab, in collaboration with Better Purpose and Place Matters, is expected to work with us throughout as our learning partner and have already started to design the evaluation framework, capture what we're discovering, and share insights openly with the wider sector. We expect to learn lots and are committed to improving our practice and sharing as we go.
Our Partners
Funding partner
The John Coates Charitable Trust (JCCT) is co-funding the Local Ecosystems Fund alongside us. This kind of funder collaboration, where foundations pool resources aligned towards a shared strategy rather than funding in isolation, is what we hope to see more of in future. We're grateful to the JCCT for their willingness to work in partnership with us.
Learning partner
Dartington Service Design Lab, in collaboration with Better Purpose and Place Matters, is expected to work with us throughout as our learning partner and have already started to design the evaluation framework, capture what we're discovering, and share insights openly with the wider sector. We expect to learn lots and are committed to improving our practice and sharing as we go.
What comes next
Parent and carer strategy workshops take place throughout the spring and summer of 2026. Specific grants are expected to be agreed by the end of summer, with funding distributed from August onwards. We don't think we've got it all figured out. This is a first attempt, and we're building in learning from day one which will continue to shape our work and be shared with the wider community.
Get in touch
If you work in or alongside either of these communities and would like to know more, please get in touch with Sophie at sophie@collectivefutures.org.
If you're a funder who's been thinking about place-based early childhood funding and want to compare notes, we'd love to hear from you too.
What comes next
Parent and carer strategy workshops take place throughout the spring and summer of 2026. Specific grants are expected to be agreed by the end of summer, with funding distributed from August onwards. We don't think we've got it all figured out. This is a first attempt, and we're building in learning from day one which will continue to shape our work and be shared with the wider community.
Get in touch
If you work in or alongside either of these communities and would like to know more, please get in touch with Sophie at sophie@collectivefutures.org.
If you're a funder who's been thinking about place-based early childhood funding and want to compare notes, we'd love to hear from you too.