After a year of engaging with communities and gathering ideas and aspirations, the National Lottery Community Fund has unveiled its new strategy and vision for funding, aiming to strengthen society and enhance lives across the UK.
The strategy centres around the belief that communities are the core of a healthy, happy, and thriving society, emphasizing the importance of social connections and activities that bring people together. The fund reaffirms its commitment to supporting communities in shaping their own future.
In this new phase, the fund aims to build upon the knowledge gained from the past 30 years. While maintaining the highly valued local and relational grant-making approach, the fund seeks to make a greater impact. Recognising the need for bolder change, they aim to focus more deeply and form stronger partnerships. As more than just a funder, the goal is to learn from and collaborate with others.
The strategy is based on three key principles:
- Turbo-charging grassroots funding: The fund will double down on grassroots community funding, acknowledging its immense value and reach. Projects will now have access to larger grant awards and longer project durations. This significant change to the National Lottery Awards for All will provide over £1 billion of new funding for communities over the next seven years.
- Community-led missions: The fund recognises the desire for transformative change within communities and aims to address major challenges they face. They have established four community-led missions, focusing on bringing communities together, promoting environmental sustainability, supporting the well-being of children and young people, and enabling healthier lives. By forging purposeful and localised partnerships, the fund aims to maximize its impact.
- Adapting to change: As The National Lottery approaches its 30th anniversary, the fund plans to build upon its national success story by adopting new values and ways of working. They will prioritize an equity-based approach, directing funding where it is most needed and helping communities overcome barriers. Environmental impact and nature conservation will also be central to their decision-making process, as they aspire to be an environmentally regenerative funder.
The strategy serves as a platform for action, enabling the fund to remain adaptable in response to evolving circumstances. By focusing on the hallmarks outlined for 2030, they aim to provide long-term and transformational support where it is most crucial.
The National Lottery Community Fund intends to collaborate with communities, funders, the public sector, and civil society to achieve their shared goal of strengthening society and improving lives. With their passionate and knowledgeable team, they are ready to embark on this journey, with community at the forefront.
To learn more about their new strategy, visit their website.
