The National Lottery Community Fund appoints new England Director

The National Lottery Community Fund is delighted to announce the appointment of Elly De Decker as Director for England with effect from 1 January 2020. She will be responsible for all grant making in England.

As England Director, Elly will seek to build upon the Fund’s successful shift towards a more local model of grant-making and to deliver on the organisation’s strategic framework that when people are in the lead, communities thrive.

Elly has worked at The National Lottery Community Fund for the last five years. She has played key roles in the Fund’s Headstart programme - a £56 million programme, testing new ways to improve young people’s mental health. Elly also set up and co-led funding awards – worth over £90 million a year - made to the south of England.

Recently, she led on the development and launch of the Fund’s £100 million Climate Action Fund, awarding money raised by National Lottery players to help communities take the lead in tackling the climate emergency.

Before joining the Fund, Elly worked with the international children’s charity, Save the Children, in overseas development and in management consultancy and also ran a number of strategic funding programmes for Impetus.

Dawn Austwick, Chief Executive of The National Lottery Community Fund, said: “We’re fortunate to have a wealth of talent at the Fund and I’m delighted that Elly is stepping into this important role. People across England are passionate about their communities and know what they need to thrive. Elly’s expertise and experience will be invaluable as we continue to support their great ideas with National Lottery funding and help them bring their projects to life.”

Elly De Decker, incoming England Director, said: “I’m thrilled to take on the role of England Director and lead on our funding – raised by National Lottery players – across England. People use this funding to do extraordinary things, taking the lead to improve their lives and communities.”

This month, 25 years ago, saw the advent of The National Lottery, which has raised £40 billion for good causes to date. The National Lottery Community Fund – the largest funder of community activity in the UK - distributes money raised by National Lottery players for good causes. Last year, it awarded £1.4 million a day on average to projects that help people and communities thrive.

To find out more visit www.TNLCommunityFund.org.uk