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The National Lottery Community Fund: 25th Anniversary Funding

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Overview

The fund, #CelebrateNationalLottery25, will help communities celebrate the extraordinary impact the National Lottery has had since its launch in November 1994. Thanks to National Lottery players, £40 billion has been raised for good causes so far, funding over half a million (565,000) projects across the UK.

The #CelebrateNationalLottery25 funding will support activity designed to bring people and communities together all over the UK. Up to £2 million will be made available this year in small grants of up to £1,000. The remainder will be released to the sector through the Fund’s National Lottery Awards for All programme.

Who can apply?

You can apply if you are:

  • two or more people applying together
  • a group or club (constituted or un-constituted)
  • a voluntary or community organisation
  • a registered charity
  • a not-for-profit company (including companies limited by guarantee) or community interest company
  • a school, college or university
  • a statutory body (including, town, parish and community council).

Un-constituted groups are eligible to apply. This could be an existing informal group, or people coming together for the first time. For this funding, they’ll ask you to agree to a simple set of rules which will help you run the group, make decisions about your event, activity or purchase, and manage any money given to you. This will only last for the duration of the grant.

What can you spend the money on?

They can pay for event, activity, or item costs, between £100 and £1,000 that will bring people together between 1 February and the end of 2020 (extended from the original date due to many applicants wanting to run Christmas events.)

They can fund a wide range of items, such as:

  • event and activity costs
  • equipment
  • staff costs
  • training costs
  • transport
  • utilities/running costs related to your idea
  • volunteer expenses

What they need to know

Below is an outline of what you’ll be asked to include in your application. Here is a handy checklist of all the information you’ll need to complete your application form.

Contact details

You’ll need to give the name, address, contact details and date of birth of both the main contact and the second contact. The named contacts can’t be married, in a civil partnership, in a long-term relationship, living together or related by blood. Both contacts need to live in the UK.

Group/Organisation details

You don’t need to be a formal group to apply – you can apply even if you are just two or more people who have a great idea to bring people together in your community.

About your event, activity or item being purchased

They’ll ask you to tell us:

  • What you would like to do and why (50-200 words)
  • When you plan to bring people together
  • How much money you’re applying for (between £100 and £1,000) and what it will be spent on
Who will benefit from this funding?

Although this will not be formally assessed, this information will help them understand who will benefit from your funding.

Terms and conditions

You’ll need to agree to their terms and conditions before you submit your application.