GrantRadar

The National Lottery Community Fund

Reaching Communities England

The National Lottery Community Fund's main England programme for projects of £20,001 or more lasting up to 5 years, to strengthen communities and improve lives. Projects must fit one of four missions (communities coming together, children and young people thriving, tackling health inequalities, being environmentally sustainable) and prioritise people and places experiencing poverty, disadvantage or discrimination. Most awards are under £500,000; the 2025 average was £319,000 over 3 years.

Apply on the funder’s site
You could get
£20,001 – £20,000,000
no fixed round
Deadline
Rolling
apply any time
Effort
Heavy
budgets, references, often several stages

Who can apply

  • Organisations working with communities in England: voluntary or community organisations with a written constitution, registered charities, CIOs, not-for-profit companies limited by guarantee, community interest companies, schools, statutory bodies (local authorities, town, parish or community councils), and community benefit or co-operative societies registered with the FCA
  • All must have at least 2 board or committee members who are not related (including by marriage, civil partnership, living together or blood)
  • CICs, non-charitable companies limited by guarantee and community benefit/co-operative societies must have an asset lock
  • Partnerships can apply with one lead organisation and a written partnership agreement
  • Unincorporated groups can apply, though incorporation is recommended
  • Safeguarding policies are required; land/building projects over £20,000 need ownership or a lease of at least 5 years after completion

What it funds

Projects that support one of four missions:

  • Help people come together through inclusive places, spaces and activities
  • Help children and young people thrive
  • Tackle health inequalities
  • Help communities be environmentally sustainable

Priority goes to 'places, people or communities experiencing poverty, disadvantage or discrimination' and work that enables people to shape decisions affecting their lives.

Existing or new work can be funded.

Costs can include project staff and volunteers, equipment, room hire, evaluation, organisational development, core costs (core salaries, rent, utilities), capital work on buildings and community spaces, systems change work, non-party campaigning, and vehicles.

What it will not fund

  • Activities that make profits for private gain
  • Religious activities (religious organisations can apply for projects benefiting the wider community)
  • Replacing government funding
  • Projects where political activity is the main purpose
  • Retrospective costs
  • Loan repayments
  • Building up reserves
  • Applications from individuals or sole traders
  • Organisations based outside the UK
  • Companies that can pay profits to directors, shareholders or members
  • Applying on behalf of another organisation (except as a partnership)
  • Applying to more than one of the Fund's programmes for the same project at the same time

How to apply

  1. Check your project fits one of the four missions and the eligibility rules
  2. If asking for more than £500,000, contact your regional Reaching Communities team first
  3. Stage one: submit an outline of your project through the online portal (account.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk) covering what you want to do, how it fits the missions, who benefits, how the community is involved and why your organisation is right to lead it
  4. If invited, stage two: give detailed information including community context, budget and costs, organisational background, governance, policies and accounts

Most applications take around 40 weeks; alternative formats and communication support are available on request

Have ready

  • Detailed project budget (stage two)
  • Financial accounts and current financial position (stage two)
  • Organisational policies, including safeguarding
  • Written partnership agreement (partnership bids)
  • Proof of ownership or lease of at least 5 years (land/building projects over £20,000)

Most documents are needed only if invited to stage two

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