National Lottery Community Fund - Reaching Communities

The funding is intended for projects that support communities to thrive by:

• Building strong relationships in and across communities.
• Improving the places and spaces that matter to communities.
• Helping more people to reach their potential, by supporting them at the earliest possible stage.

Funding start from £20,001 or more, for up to 5 years. But most applications we fund are for less than £500,000 in total. We can fund many different types and sizes of work.

Applications will be accepted from:

• Constituted voluntary and community organisations.
• Registered, exempt or excepted charities.
• Charitable incorporated organisations (CIOs).
• Not-for-profit companies limited by guarantee (must be a registered charity or have a not-for-profit "asset lock" clause in the articles of association).
• Community interest companies (CICs).
• Schools.
• Statutory bodies (including local authorities, town, parish, or community council).
• Community benefit societies.
• Co-operative societies (must have a not-for-profit "asset lock" clause in their society rules and be registered with the Financial Conduct Authority).
• Groups of organisations, as long as they are led by an eligible organisation.

The funding is for projects that work to make positive changes in their community. “Communities” can be people living in the same area, or people with similar interests or life experiences. Projects that can test new approaches to issues in the community are encouraged.

How To Apply

Applications may be submitted at any time.

Funding proposals can be submitted using the online application form on the National Lottery Community Fund website or applicants can send an email or video to their regional funding officer (details are on the National Lottery Community Fund website).

Organisations will then be contacted by the National Lottery Community Fund within 12 weeks of submitting a proposal to discuss the next steps of the application process.

Contact the National Lottery Community Fund for further information.