DLUHC launches platform to streamline funding application process

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) has launched a new online platform to streamline government funding applications. 

The new platform - called ‘Access funding’ - can serve multiple funds at the same time, saving time and money for the department and for the hundreds of organisations accessing government funding.  

The Access funding platform has been used for the latest round of applications for the Community Ownership Fund and Night Shelter Transformation Fund, and will be used for more DLUHC funds over the rest of the year.

The Funding Service Design team, which was was set up in 2021, said the tool is reducing duplication and generating savings within DLUHC - money which could be better spent elsewhere.  

“By listening to users - external applicants and our internal assessors - we are designing a service that is simpler and quicker to use, reducing the time it takes to apply for funding and the time to assess an application for funding. For fund recipients who are accessing more than one DLUHC fund, the user experience will be similar across multiple funds, again saving time and making the process simpler for them. 

“Last but not least, by collecting data across multiple funds in a more consistent and intelligent way, DLUHC will have a better understanding of the impact of its funding across multiple funds,” said Ruth Keeling, Service Owner in the Funding Service Design at DLUHC.

Poised for growth

The Funding Service Design team are already looking at taking  on more DLUHC funds and are interested in finding out if another government department might want to use the same platform.

The team said they are mid-way through building another multi-fund service 'Report funding progress', where fund recipients will report whether the funding is being spent as expected and what outcomes are being delivered.  

Lastly, the team is seeking feedback on what the next biggest pain points are for them in the funding system. “Based on those conversations, we will identify where we should focus our efforts next,” Keeling said.