Breathing Space: How Our Funding Helps Outdoor Spaces

Introduction

This research explores the difference made The National Lottery Community Fund grants to build, maintain and improve community outdoor spaces across the UK.

Outdoor spaces play a vital role in our wellbeing and community life. The report looks at how our funding has supported the creation, care, and accessibility of parks, playgrounds, and green spaces across the UK. The report also explores the ways these spaces benefit local people and why ongoing investment matters.

Findings

The research found that in five years to 2021, The National Lottery Community Fund awarded over £520 million to support the provision, maintenance and accessibility of outdoor spaces.

This funding enabled communities to build and improve:

• natural outdoor spaces such as woodlands and waterways,

• developed outdoor spaces such as parks and playgrounds,

• outdoor activities such as food growing and fitness, and

• access to the outdoors to ensure everyone feels welcome.

The research also found that every month, 1.8 million people use places and spaces maintained and improved through National Lottery grants. A large proportion of these are outdoor spaces where communities meet, play, exercise and work.