Over £9m of an overall £20m has been awarded in the first window of the Social Action Fund to 16 projects in England.

The Social Action Fund, which is managed by Social Investment Business on behalf of the Cabinet Office, is awarding grants ranging from £100,000 to £2m to provide teaching support; increase citizenship awareness; improve green spaces in cities; and provide services to homeless people, disadvantaged young people and local communities.

Jonathan Jenkins, the Social Investment Business’ chief executive, said: "The energy and vision of applicants has been impressive and we are pleased to manage a fund that finances ambitious, life-changing social action projects which will really make a difference and bring people together to improve the quality of life in their communities.”

A complete list of successful applicants is available on the Social Investment Business website.

The Social Action Fund is part of a broader programme of support for social action that was announced in the Giving White Paper, and takes its place alongside two other funding streams: Innovation in Giving Fund and Challenge Prizes.

The second and final window of the Fund, for monies which will be distributed up until March 2013, closed at noon today.