About
The National Lottery Community Fund is the UK's largest community funder, distributing money raised by National Lottery players to communities across the UK. They fund community projects that help people connect, grow and build a better future, with a focus on supporting people facing poverty, disadvantage or discrimination. By 2030, they will share over £4 billion to create stronger, fairer communities across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales through four community-led missions: bringing communities together, helping children and young people thrive, promoting healthier communities, and supporting environmental sustainability.
Funding Opportunities
The Solidarity Fund
The Solidarity Fund provides large, long-term grants to organisations in England that are taking action on the root causes of inequality, such as poverty, disadvantage and discrimination. The fund aims to support and strengthen work that creates lasting change, led or shaped by people with lived experience. This funding is designed for work that can grow and continue over the long term, focusing on systems change rather than short-term fixes. The fund supports work that tackles root causes through five key approaches: being led by lived experience, making systems change by shifting power and reshaping decisions, working in solidarity across different issues and communities, building community power by ensuring people have skills and confidence to lead, and creating and sharing learning from people who experience inequality. This is a highly selective fund with only a small number of large grants available. In the first year, approximately 10 organisations will be funded from over 100 applications received. The fund sets a high bar for applications and reflects an ambitious approach to tackling inequality through community-led, long-term systemic change.
Sustainable Steps Wales - Egin Grants
This funding supports community groups in Wales that are taking action on climate change and aiming to live more sustainably, or helping them kick-start their ideas. To apply, your group must have received support from the Egin mentoring programme. The main aim of your project should be to help your community engage with climate change and take steps to live more sustainably. We aim to fund groups that consider the impact of their activities on nature and, where possible, limit any potentially damaging practices. We're also interested in other benefits your project could bring, including improving people's wellbeing, improving relationships between people and organisations, and improving biodiversity. We want to fund organisations that are open to learning and plan to share what they've learnt with others.
Supporting Great Ideas
Supporting Great Ideas helps organisations bring bold ideas to life. These ideas should lead to positive and lasting change in Wales. The programme funds projects that are innovative, testing new ways to tackle emerging or longstanding issues. It enables organisations to work in new ways, including becoming more digitally capable, enabling mutual support, or building the infrastructure needed for local action to thrive. The programme also aims to enable more people to reach their potential by tackling problems early. We're looking for ideas that involve the people who will benefit, build on or add to existing work, and show a clear commitment to inclusion and sustainability. We're looking for organisations that are community led, strengths based, and connected - working well with others locally.
The UK Fund
The UK Fund offers larger amounts of funding to help organizations develop work that's already making a difference. To receive funding, applicants need to demonstrate what's working, how they know it's having a proven impact, and why it's ready to scale. The fund does not support brand-new projects or services. Projects should benefit communities across the UK by working in different places or sharing learning between countries. Projects should go beyond delivering a service and help change how systems work, leading to lasting benefits for communities. All projects must meet one of five specific aims related to improving relationships, connecting communities online, supporting community influence, helping children and young people change systems affecting them, or helping organizations involve and listen to young people.
Strengthening Organisations
This funding programme is specifically for organisations in Scotland that currently receive funding from The National Lottery Community Fund. It supports organisations to try out new ideas and ways of working, develop their organisation, and improve their current work. The programme offers grants ranging from £300 to £50,000 for projects lasting up to 2 years. Organisations can be of any size but must work with people affected by poverty, disadvantage, or discrimination, and involve the people they support in designing how they work. The funded organisations must meet at least one of two key outcomes: overcome challenges and plan for the future, or try out new ideas and ways of working. This funding does not support the staffing or delivery of existing services or the expansion of these services to new locations.
Strengthening Communities
Strengthening Communities funds community-led projects that help people live healthier, happier lives in Northern Ireland. It supports The National Lottery Community Fund's strategy 'It starts with community'. The programme funds projects that involve people who experience poverty, disadvantage or discrimination, support people early to help prevent negative experiences, and are led by the community building on its strengths and connections. Projects must achieve at least one of five specified outcomes: reduce health inequalities, improve people's physical health, mental health or wellbeing, help people have positive relationships and connections, help young people reach their potential and thrive as adults, or help children and young people develop good social and emotional skills. Funding is available from £20,001 to £500,000, with specific eligibility requirements based on organizational size. Organizations with annual income under £500,000 can apply for amounts under £200,000, while organizations of any size can apply for £200,000 or more.
Scottish Land Fund
The Scottish Land Fund helps urban and rural communities across Scotland become stronger and more sustainable by helping communities own and manage land and buildings that matter to them. The fund offers community-led organisations grants of between £5,000 and £1 million to buy land or assets, and provides practical support to help develop ideas into viable, long-term projects. The fund is backed by the Scottish Government and delivered in partnership by The National Lottery Community Fund and Highlands and Islands Enterprise. The fund prioritises projects that can show a clear and lasting benefit to the wider community. Successful projects will aim to support economic, environmental or social development through land ownership, give the community more control over its future, and own land and buildings that are well managed and financially sustainable. Applicants work with a Scottish Land Fund Adviser at Highlands and Islands Enterprise to help shape their project and explore options before applying. The fund supports both the purchase of land or land assets and provides support to help applicants plan and develop their ideas. This comprehensive approach ensures that community-led organisations have both the financial resources and practical guidance needed to create long-term, sustainable projects that benefit their communities.
Reaching Communities England
Reaching Communities England is a funding programme designed to help strengthen communities and improve lives across England. The programme is available to all communities, with priority given to places, people and communities that need it most. Projects must support people experiencing poverty, disadvantage or discrimination, or help communities shape decisions that affect their lives. The funding aims to achieve one of four key missions: bringing communities together through inclusive places and activities, helping children and young people develop positive skills, addressing health inequalities, or engaging with environmental sustainability and climate issues. Awards range from £20,001 to £500,000 for most projects, with funding available for projects running up to 5 years. Larger grants above £500,000 are available but require consultation with the regional team. The programme welcomes applications from both single organisations and partnerships working to make a difference in their communities.
People and Places
People and Places is a funding programme from The National Lottery Community Fund that supports projects working closely with people and communities in Wales. The programme is designed to be accessible and responsive to issues that matter most to local communities, whether defined by shared identity, interest, experience, or geographic location. Projects must involve the community in development, design and delivery; build on community strengths, skills and experiences; understand existing local activities and fill gaps; and consider environmental impact. Applications must align with at least one of four community missions: helping communities come together, helping children and young people thrive, enabling healthier lives, or promoting environmental sustainability. The programme offers two grant sizes: medium grants (£20,001 to £100,000) for projects up to 5 years with a single-stage application process taking 15 weeks, and large grants (£100,001 to £500,000) for projects up to 5 years with a two-stage application process taking at least 40 weeks. Both grant types can support organizational adaptation, capital costs including land, buildings, vehicles, and refurbishments. Medium grants also offer up to £50,000 for capital project planning. Capital projects must follow the RIBA Plan of Work and be at stage 4 or higher for medium grants. The programme emphasizes community-led approaches and requires projects to demonstrate how they address local needs while minimizing environmental impact.
National Lottery Awards for All Wales
The National Lottery Awards for All Wales provides funding for projects that bring people together and improve communities across Wales. This grant programme supports projects that bring people together to build strong relationships in and across communities, improve the places and spaces that matter to communities, help more people to reach their potential by supporting them at the earliest possible stage, and support people, communities and organisations facing more demands and challenges because of the cost-of-living crisis. The funding can be used to start a new activity or continue an existing one, as well as help organisations adapt to new challenges. Awards range from £300 to £20,000 for projects lasting up to 2 years, with decisions typically made within 12 weeks of application.
National Lottery Awards for All Scotland
The National Lottery Awards for All Scotland funds projects that bring people together and help communities across Scotland thrive. Social connections and community activities are at the heart of healthier, happier lives, which is why this programme supports community-led projects. The funding can be used to start new activities or continue existing ones, help organizations adapt to new challenges, or run one-off events. The programme is particularly interested in projects that bring people together to build strong relationships in and across communities, improve the places and spaces that matter to communities, help more people reach their potential by supporting them at the earliest possible stage, and support people and communities facing more demands and challenges because of the cost-of-living crisis. For community-led projects, organizations can apply for between £300 and £20,000 to support work lasting up to 2 years. For projects that focus on the arts or sports, organizations can apply for up to £10,000 for work lasting up to 12 months. This funding is delivered in partnership with sportscotland and Creative Scotland.
National Lottery Awards for All Northern Ireland
The National Lottery Awards for All Northern Ireland provides funding for projects that bring people together and improve communities across Northern Ireland. Grants between £300 and £20,000 are available for projects lasting up to 2 years. The programme supports community-focused projects with decisions made within 12 weeks of application. Projects should focus on at least one of these areas: bringing people together to build strong relationships in and across communities, improving the places and spaces that matter to communities, helping people reach their potential by offering support at an early stage, or supporting people, communities or organisations facing challenges because of the cost-of-living crisis. This is a rolling programme open to applications throughout the year.
National Lottery Awards for All England – Environment
The climate and nature emergency affects us all, but local action can make a real difference. This funding programme supports community-led projects that improve the environment and help people connect with and enjoy nature where they live. The programme funds projects that meet one of two priorities: help people connect with and care for nature in their area, or make a positive difference to the environment. The funding can be used to start a new activity or continue an existing one, help your organisation adapt to new challenges, or run one-off events that have a clear environmental benefit. Awards range from £300 to £20,000 and decisions are typically made within 16 weeks. This programme is specifically designed for community organizations in England working on environmental projects. It is part of the National Lottery Awards for All funding scheme but specifically focused on environmental and nature-based initiatives. Applicants should note that they cannot apply if they already have an existing Awards for All grant. For more general community project funding, applicants should refer to the standard National Lottery Awards for All England programme.
National Lottery Awards for All England
The National Lottery Awards for All England provides funding for projects that bring people together to build strong relationships and improve communities in England. This grant programme supports community organizations with awards between £300 and £20,000 for projects lasting up to 2 years. The funding can be used to start new activities or continue existing ones, and to help organizations adapt to new challenges. The programme specifically funds projects that bring people together to build strong relationships in and across communities, improve the places and spaces that matter to communities, help more people reach their potential by supporting them at the earliest possible stage, and support people, communities and organizations facing more demands and challenges because of the cost-of-living crisis.
Fairer Life Chances
Fairer Life Chances is a funding programme designed to support children, young people and families to thrive, or help people have better relationships, connections and physical or mental health. The programme specifically targets projects that support people experiencing poverty, disadvantage or discrimination in Scotland. Projects must be designed with the people they serve, involving them in how the project is developed, delivered and led, making use of their existing skills and interests, and complementing other services that support them. The programme funds both new and existing projects from organisations of all sizes and levels of experience. Grants range from £20,001 to £500,000 for projects lasting up to 5 years, with most grants expected to be £250,000 or less, and £100,000 or less for organisations without previous long-term funding experience.
Dormant Assets for All
Dormant Assets for All is a funding programme for voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations in Northern Ireland. The programme helps organisations build skills and capacity, become more resilient, and prepare for future challenges. This funding is specifically designed to strengthen organisations through improvements in areas such as digital technology confidence and skills, impact tracking and measurement, financial management, governance and leadership, and volunteer recruitment and management. The programme focuses exclusively on organisational development and does not fund the delivery of community activities or the expansion of existing services into new areas. The funding comes from the Dormant Assets Scheme, which uses money from financial accounts that have not been used in over 15 years, not from The National Lottery.
Community Action
Community Action is a funding programme for communities in Scotland designed to help people connect more with each other. The programme supports projects that are open, inclusive and led by their community. By community, the fund means people who share something in common, such as their background, where they live, or a shared experience. Projects must bring people together through an activity or a space (online or in person), reach and support people affected by poverty, disadvantage or discrimination, be led by the community with people from the community leading on project ideas, planning and decisions, build on existing strengths, skills and experience in the community, and demonstrate understanding of available services while showing how the project fills a gap. Projects must meet at least 2 of 4 outcomes: build positive relationships, support people's health or wellbeing, help people improve their access and connection to nature, or make a positive difference to the environment. The programme funds both new and existing projects from organisations of all sizes and experience levels.
At a Glance
- Total Funding Opportunities
- 20
- Active Now
- 17
- Source Domain
- tnlcommunityfund.org.uk
Catalog Data
This funder profile was automatically extracted from grant listings. Information may be incomplete.
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