Funding applications we’ve solicited

This page shows details of funding applications The National Lottery Community Fund has solicited from applicants.

What we mean by ‘soliciting’ a funding application

We are allowed to directly invite applicants to apply for a specific project or programme. This goes beyond general encouragement or publicising our funding. For example, we could contact an individual organisation and ask them to apply.

We may do this when it’s the best way to achieve an important part of our strategy, or Spending Directions we’re given by government.

Asking someone to apply does not guarantee we’ll fund them.

We still assess all applications we solicit, using the criteria for the funding they’re applying for. We’ll also do our usual checks around:

• due diligence
• value for money
• feasibility of the work described in the application

Legislation that allows us to solicit applications

Our ability to solicit applications is an ‘express power’ given to The Fund. This means it’s a power that is written into the laws that govern how our funding works.

The legislation is:

• Section 25(2A) of the National Lottery etc Act 1993 (for our National Lottery funding)
• The Dormant Bank and Building Society Accounts Act 2008 as amended by the Dormant Assets Act 2022 (for our Dormant Assets funding)

Funding applications we solicited in 2026 

Social Investment Scotland 

On the 7 January 2026 we invited Social Investment Scotland to submit a written funding application for Dormant Assets Funding following our solicitation policy. This development funding application is for £92,000. 

Why we solicited this application 

A revised Dormant Assets Policy Directions Framework dated the 6 November 2025 was issued by the Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice. The revised Policy Directions set out four strategic priorities with one priority focusing on Financial Inclusion. This direction specifically provides: 

"Financial Inclusion, including specifically increasing access to affordable credit through providing strategic funding to one or more organisations with a strong understanding of the Financial Inclusion landscape and suitable expertise in providing support to the community lending sector in Scotland."

The Scottish Government considers Social Investment Scotland to be the most appropriate organisation with the governance, capacity and expertise to deliver the affordable credit element of the wider Financial Inclusion policy direction.  

Social Investment Scotland are a registered charity and social enterprise with a 25-year track record delivering loan funding and business support to social enterprises, charities and community groups.

Since its inception, Social Investment Scotland has invested over £167m in 570 customers. They have experience managing funds that help not-for-profit lenders provide affordable credit to low-income borrowers.

They are the lead member of Financial Inclusion for Scotland, a network that brings together sector leaders with the ambition to ensure everyone in Scotland has access to fair, affordable financial services. 

How this fits Dormant Assets funding priorities 

The Dormant Assets Acts and Secondary Legislation set limits on how we can use Dormant Assets funding. One purpose permitted for Dormant Assets funding in Scotland is ‘Financial Inclusion including specifically increasing access to affordable credit’ (from Revised Scottish Government Dormant Assets Policy Directions Framework 6 November 2025).

This solicited application fits the permitted categories for use of Dormant Assets funding, specifically the affordable credit element of the Financial Inclusion Dormant Assets Policy Directions.

The application for development funding will shape Social Investment Scotland’s strategic plan for future Dormant Asset funding to scale availability of affordable credit across Scotland.

They will undertake sector wide consultation and ensure that any future work on affordable credit is grounded in lived experience, sector expertise and delivery realities.

Building on established relationships, this phase will deepen engagement with key stakeholders and communities to shape a shared practical vision for scaling affordable credit. 

How we’ll assess their application 

We asked Social Investment Scotland to demonstrate how their project meets the priorities of the Dormant Assets Policy Directions Framework we received from the Scottish Government. 

We’ll assess their application to ensure we’re confident about its suitability, effectiveness, quality and value for money. 

Specifically, we’ll assess the application to make sure that the work it describes: 

• meets the objectives and priorities of the Dormant Assets Scheme 
• can deliver its objectives in a way that represents good value for money 
• will create a strategic plan with clear vision and plans to deliver the scaling of affordable credit across Scotland  

Funding applications we solicited in 2025

The National Literacy Trust

On 16 December 2025 we invited National Literacy Trust to submit a written application for up to £12.5 million of Dormant Assets funding, following our solicitation policy.

Why we solicited this application

In Spending Directions dated 12 December 2025, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport directed us to distribute up to £12.5 million Dormant Assets funding to the National Literacy Trust. This will fund services, facilities or opportunities to meet the needs of young people, or activities connected to providing these.

National Literacy Trust is a registered national charity with a 30-year track record of empowering people with the literacy skills they need to succeed in life. They’ve run the ‘Libraries for Primaries’ campaign for several years, which has successfully started to address the lack of library spaces and resources in primary schools. The campaign has established over 1,500 libraries and designated reading spaces, and distributed over 600,000 books in primary schools.

How this fits Dormant Assets funding priorities

The Dormant Assets Acts and Secondary Legislation set limits on how we can use Dormant Assets funding. One purpose permitted for Dormant Assets funding in England is “the provision of services, facilities or opportunities to meet the needs of young people” (from The Dormant Assets (Distribution of Money) (England) Order 2023).

This solicited application fits the permitted categories for use of Dormant Assets funding, specifically the youth strand of the Dormant Assets Scheme. This includes helping to foster a culture of reading for pleasure among disadvantaged children and young people. This can be through targeted intervention and increased access to reading material. It can also focus on the spaces and places that matter to young people, including schools, youth clubs and other settings like early year providers and libraries.

How we’ll assess their application

We asked the National Literacy Trust to demonstrate how their project meets the objectives of the Spending Directions we received from the UK Government.

We’ll assess their application to ensure we’re confident about its suitability, effectiveness, quality and value for money.

Specifically, we’ll assess the application to make sure that the work it describes:

• meets the objectives and priorities of the Dormant Assets Scheme
• does not replace or duplicate any services that government has a statutory responsibility to provide
• meets UK rules around subsidy control
• can deliver its policy objectives in a way that represents good value for money
• can be implemented accurately, sustainably and on time using the resources available