Aims/priorities: The new priorities are projects that:
- Support places, people or communities experiencing poverty, disadvantage or discrimination, and
- Support people and communities to shape the decisions that affect their lives.
Projects must achieve one of the NLCF missions, which are to support communities to:
- Come together, by
- Providing inclusive places, spaces and activities (either physical or virtual). Especially for communities where people are least able to come together.
- Help children and young people thrive, by
- Developing positive social and emotional skills.
- Providing safe spaces and relationships they can trust.
- Involving them, and their families, in the decisions that affect their lives
- Helping prevent issues before they happen.
- Be healthier, by
- Supporting people most affected by health inequalities.
- Supporting people who've experienced health inequalities to influence the health system.
- Helping prevent issues before they happen.
- Be environmentally sustainable by:
- Empowering people to engage with climate issues and adapt to the impacts of a changing climate. Or,
- Taking part in activities to make a positive environmental impact. Like reducing carbon emissions or creating space for wildlife. Or,
- Helping communities to have access to nature. By increasing the amount and quality of natural space for wildlife. Meaning that people can experience nature around them, and that more varieties of wildlife can thrive.
Who can apply? Applications will be accepted from:
- Constituted voluntary and community organisations.
- Registered 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 or public bodies (including local authorities, town, parish, or community councils).
- Community benefit societies (registered with the Financial Conduct Authority)
- Co-operative societies (must have a not-for-profit "asset lock" clause in their society rules and be registered with the Financial Conduct Authority).
Partnerships or groups of organisations can also apply as long as all the partners are one of the types listed above. (The separate NLCF Partnerships programme is now closed. Information on NLCF future plans for partnership funding will be provided when it becomes available.)
To be eligible, applicants must:
- Serve communities in England.
- Have at least two board or committee members who are not related.
- Have at least two directors who are not related.
Grant amount: The minimum grant is £20,001.
There is no maximum grant; however, most grants will be for less than £500,000.
The funding can be for up to five years or for short-term projects.
Application process: Applications may be submitted at any time.
Full details about the programme and the online application form can be found on the National Lottery Community Fund website.
NLCF advises that ‘on average it takes around nine months to get funding. Some applications (those asking for smaller amounts) can take a lot less time. Some may take longer (applications that are larger and more complex, or for building work).
There is a two-stage application process. It can take:
- Up to four months to get a decision at the first stage, from when the application is submitted.
- Up to six months to send extra information and get a decision at the second stage. The second stage is by invitation
Contact the National Lottery Community Fund for further information.
Deadline: No Deadline
Contact information: Email: General.Enquiries@tnlcommunityfund.org.uk
Website: Reaching Communities England | The National Lottery Community Fund