Who can apply
You can apply if your organisation is a:
- constituted voluntary or community organisation
- constituted group or club
- registered charity
- charitable incorporated organisation (CIO)
- not-for-profit company
- community interest company (CIC) limited by guarantee or limited by shares (if limited by shares, you must follow the Regulator of Community Interest Companies’ guidance on sharing profits)
- school – we can only fund your project if it mainly benefits and involves the communities around the school
- statutory body (including local authorities, town, parish, and community councils)
- community benefit society
Working with consultants or bid writers
You should write your own application. We do not accept applications written by private businesses, consultants or bid writers on your behalf.
No one is authorised to act on our behalf or claim to be a preferred supplier. Be cautious if someone says they are.
Your income
We prioritise funding for organisations with smaller annual incomes.
Because of high demand, organisations with larger incomes are less likely to get funding.
Requirements for board or committee members
You must have at least 2 board or committee members who are not related.
We consider people related if they are:
- married or in a civil partnership
- in a long-term relationship
- related through a long-term partner
- living at the same address
- related by blood
If you're a company (including one that's also a registered charity), you must have at least 2 directors who are not related in any of these ways.
Schools and organisations working with a school
We can only fund schools or organisations working with schools if your project mainly benefits the wider community, not just pupils, teachers, or parents.
We’re looking to fund projects that:
- bring the local community and school together
- use school spaces or resources for community activities outside of school hours
- help people in the wider community connect, learn, or take part in something meaningful
Your project must benefit the wider community, not just pupils, teachers or parents
For example, we cannot fund things like:
- curriculum-based activities or anything that happens during the school day
- improvements to school buildings, outdoor areas, or equipment
- training for school staff
- school trips, after-school clubs, or alternative learning environments
If you’re unsure if your project is eligible, it’s best to contact us before applying.
Political activity and campaigning
We fund some political activities, but only if it:
- is not party political. This means it must be about policy, practice or legislation, not about supporting or opposing a political party
- supports your organisation's cause and benefits the public
We will not fund projects where political activities are the main purpose.
Sports, arts or heritage projects
We fund projects that strengthen communities and create positive change. If this funding does not quite fit your project, you can explore other National Lottery funders who might be a better match.
Sports, arts or heritage activities can be eligible for funding, but only if they:
- create lasting benefit for the wider community
- do more than just provide an activity or grow a group’s membership
- help bring people together and build strong relationships
Your project should clearly show how it benefits the community beyond the activity itself.
For example:
A dance group for young people can be a great way to stay active and support good health, but that alone is not enough for this funding.
This project would be eligible if it also helps strengthen the community, such as by reducing social isolation or providing young people with a positive alternative to antisocial behaviour.