The Local Data Accelerator Fund aims to improve the use of data to support children and families. It is a two-year funding stream of £7.9m split over two years. MHCLG invites bids from partnerships of local authorities and other local agencies that will improve outcomes for families. The core components for the bids which MHCLG are looking for are:

1. Exemplar data projects - Bids should include an exemplar data project which involves using data from different agencies to improve services. The projects should provide real world benefits, i.e. better targeted, earlier and more effective interventions to support vulnerable children and families. Projects should be innovative, sustainable and scalable i.e. appropriate for adoption by other local areas.

2. Sharing skills and good practice - Projects that improve the data maturity of the project partners i.e.: getting more advanced areas to share skills and learning with less other areas.

3. Partnerships of local authorities and other agencies, including universities - Bids should be from a partnership of local authorities and other local services including a mix of agencies with different levels of data maturity.

The projects will be evaluated and the findings will offer practical advice and help to other areas seeking to carry out similar work in the future. MHCLG would welcome a range of bids relating to services for children and families. For example, MHCLG would welcome bids from local authorities looking to use data to support their work to understand their local child and family population, or operation of specialist services, in relation to specific disabilities or social issues.

MHCLG is inviting full bids now with a submission deadline of 30th April 2021.

See full information here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-data-accelerator-fund-for-children-and-families