In Brighton, East Sussex, a grant of 150,000 will be used to extend the Kemp Town Crypt under St George's church to create a 21-place underground nursery. Specially designed light shafts will let natural light into the building.
In Birmingham, the ground floor of a former Victorian factory is to be transformed into a 38-place nursery in the Balsall Heath area of the city with a grant of 100,00 made to the Hazrat Sultan Bahu Trust.
Merthyr Tydfil is the first recipient of 11m of NOF investment to build integrated children's centres in Wales. More than 1,000 children and 4,000 adults will use the childcare and adult training facilities on offer at the 400,000 new-build project in Pentrebach.
The NOF programme will fund up to two centres for every local authority in Wales, with grants allocated on the number of children and levels of disadvantage in each area.
To qualify for the NOF Integrated Children's Centre programme, facilities must offer pre-school childcare, early years education with half-time places for three to five-year-olds, free play - including outdoor activities, and community development in education, parenting and IT.
Services at the Merthyr Tydfil centre will include a nursery, book and toy libraries, wraparound childcare, playgroups, and creche and family rooms to support training.
In Scotland, the NOF announced funding of 2.6m to improve and develop sport and PE facilities at 18 different projects in ten Scottish local authorities. Projects include refurb- ishment of an outdoor adventure centre on the shores of Loch Lomond catering for 4,000 children and the local community.
North Ayrshire Council has received 382,590 for three projects, including an outdoor education centre with mobile climbing walls at John Galt Primary School in Irvine.
David Campbell, NOF Scotland board member, said, 'Today's awards will give more youngsters the chance to take part in sporting activities.'
Communities in Northern Ireland are to benefit from 232,120 of NOF grants to three schemes under the Building Quality Childcare programme.
Taughmonagh Community creche in south Belfast has received 100,000 to increase its capacity to 24 children, extend its baby clinic and run courses for parents.
Denise Butler, whose daughter attends the creche, said, 'It gives me time to myself - I hope to get involved in training.'
Families living in a rural area of County Tyrone will benefit from a Pounds 114,000 grant for the Loughmacrory Development Association to refurbish the village's childcare facilities.
