It starts with community – The next chapter for The National Lottery Community Fund
David Knott – Chief Executive of The National Lottery Community Fund
Today, after a year of exploring and listening to your ideas, hopes and dreams for your communities, I’m excited to launch our new strategy and vision for our funding that will strengthen society and improve lives across the UK.
It starts with community - the social connections and activities that bring us together as the very beating heart of a healthy, happy and flourishing society. That’s why our strategy reaffirms our commitment to supporting communities to shape their future.
Bolder change
In this new chapter, we’re building on what we’ve learned over the last 30 years. We’ll retain the local and relational grant making approach we know is valued so highly. But we want to make a bigger difference. We know that bolder change demands greater focus and deeper partnership. We don’t expect to have all the answers and, by being more than a funder, want to learn and work with others.
We’ve crafted our strategy with three powerful hallmarks at its core.
Turbo-charging grassroots funding
First, we’re doubling down on our grassroots community funding. We’ve heard the value that communities place on this. We know this is where our funding has furthest reach. And where it supports and creates the most volunteering opportunities. Over the last year I’ve heard this time and time again talking to communities and seeing projects in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. That’s why we’ll now double both the size of the possible grant award available and the time any project can run for. It’s the biggest change to our National Lottery Awards for All for a generation and will see more than £1 billion of new money for communities over the next seven years.
Community-led missions
Second, we know communities want bolder change to tackle some of the big challenges they face and heard that as a funder we can be bolder. We’ve set four community-led missions, where we’ll focus our funding, learning and efforts to influence change. We’ll forge new and deep partnerships, rooted in purpose and place, to support the greatest impact. Our community-led missions will support communities to:
- come together
- be environmentally sustainable
- help children and young people thrive
- enable people to live healthier lives.
Watch our brand new video launched today to hear from community voices who highlight the importance of our community-led missions – like Gavin from Reach Every Generation and Rashta from the Unity Hubb.
Adapting to change
Third, as The National Lottery’s 30th anniversary approaches we’ll build on the great national success story we’ve been a part of, supporting life changing projects across the UK. As One Fund we’ve renewed our values and ways of working to be a springboard for action. For example, we’re clear that we’ll take an equity-based approach to tackle inequality, investing most where there is greatest need and helping communities overcome barriers. We’ve also put impact on the environment and nature at the heart of our decision making, setting our ambition to be an environmentally regenerative funder.
Our strategy is a platform for action. We’ll be ready to adapt to changing circumstances, as recent experience has taught us. But, by looking to 2030 and at this hallmarks with confidence, we’re clear that we will not allow this to hold us back from the action and support for longer-term and transformational change where it is most needed.
It starts with community
Our 2030 strategy focuses on making an even greater difference in the years ahead. We’ll expect to work in partnership with communities, funders, the public sector and civil society bringing the passion, purpose and expertise of our people to accelerate our shared goal to strengthen society and improve lives. The journey starts now and it starts with community.
Find out more about our new strategy - It starts with community