GrantRadar

The National Lottery Community Fund (Wales)

People and Places: large grants

The large grants strand of People and Places, The National Lottery Community Fund's main open programme in Wales. It gives £150,001 to £700,000 for community-led projects of up to 5 years that meet at least one of the Fund's missions: helping communities come together, helping children and young people thrive, enabling people to live healthier lives, or being environmentally sustainable. It can fund activities and capital costs (land, buildings, vehicles, refurbishment). After an informal chat there is a two-stage process (a short idea form, then a full application by invitation), and a decision usually takes at least 40 weeks.

Apply on the funder’s site
You could get
£150,001 – £700,000
no fixed round
Deadline
Rolling
apply any time
Effort
Heavy
budgets, references, often several stages

Who can apply

  • Constituted voluntary or community organisations, constituted groups or clubs, registered charities, not-for-profit companies, community interest companies (CICs), social enterprises, schools (only if the project involves and benefits the communities around the school and is outside statutory provision) and statutory bodies (including local authorities, health boards, and town, parish or community councils)
  • Partnerships can apply, but every partner receiving funding must be one of these types
  • At least 80% of the people who benefit must live in Wales
  • The organisation needs at least 3 board or committee members who are not related (companies, including charitable companies, need at least 3 unrelated directors)
  • Two unrelated named people living in the UK, with different email addresses, must be given: a main contact and a senior person legally responsible for the grant
  • No income limit is stated
  • Individuals, sole traders, organisations based outside the UK and companies that can distribute profits cannot apply
  • Projects must be delivered bilingually in Welsh and English

What it funds

New or existing community-led projects in Wales, for up to 5 years, that involve the community in design and delivery, build on its strengths, fill a local gap, consider their environmental impact and meet at least one mission (communities coming together, children and young people thriving, healthier lives, environmental sustainability). Large grants can fund:

  • Activities, including help for an organisation to adapt to change or challenges
  • Capital costs such as buying land, buildings or vehicles or refurbishment
  • Eligible costs include:
  • A share of overheads (full cost recovery)
  • Equipment
  • One-off events
  • Staff salaries
  • Training
  • Transport
  • Utility bills
  • Volunteer expenses
  • Accessibility costs, including the cost of delivering bilingually

Unlike medium grants, large grants do not list separate funding for planning a capital project.

Some non-party-political campaigning can be funded.

What it will not fund

  • Individuals and sole traders
  • Organisations based outside the UK
  • Companies that can pay profits to directors, shareholders or members (including companies limited by shares)
  • Organisations applying to more than one National Lottery Community Fund programme for the same project at the same time
  • Applications written by a private business or consultant
  • Retrospective costs (things that have already happened or been paid for)
  • Alcohol
  • Contingency costs, loans, endowments or interest
  • Application-writing services or consultants
  • Activities that make a private profit or raise money for fundraising
  • VAT you can reclaim
  • Religious activity (religious organisations can be funded if the project benefits the wider community and has no religious content)
  • Statutory duties or activities
  • Activities that support schoolwork during school hours
  • Travel outside the UK, or projects that happen outside the UK
  • Giving cash directly to individuals
  • Projects whose main purpose is political activity, and any party-political activity

How to apply

  1. Contact the People and Places team for an informal chat about your idea (peopleandplaces@tnlcommunityfund.org.uk or 0300 123 0735, Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm); nothing needs preparing
  2. A funding officer in your area contacts you within 5 working days to talk over the idea
  3. Stage 1 (idea stage): if eligible, you are sent a short idea form covering the project, your organisation, income and contacts
  4. The Fund assesses the idea and checks your organisation, and tells you within 6 weeks whether you are invited to submit a full application
  5. Stage 2: complete the more detailed full application form with supporting documents, and agree to the terms and conditions for funding over £20,000 (plus the People and Places capital terms for land, building, vehicle or refurbishment costs)
  6. The Fund aims to decide within 16 weeks of receiving the full application and explains its reasons if you are unsuccessful
  7. If successful, a funding officer contacts you within 2 weeks to explain the grant contract, agree a start date and explain payment; the project must start within 6 months of the offer email

The idea and full application questions can be previewed online. Easy Read and PDF versions of the forms are available on request.

Applications written by private consultants are not accepted; free help is available from your local authority or County Voluntary Council.

The maximum rose from £500,000 to £700,000 on 9 September 2026. Applicants with an active application can withdraw and resubmit for a larger amount.

Have ready

  • Most recent accounts (12-month projections if the organisation is under 15 months old)
  • Completed land, building and refurbishment guidance and checklist (capital projects only)
  • For vehicles: an options appraisal of travel options, vehicle specification, budget for the full funding period and 3 quotes
  • For land or buildings you do not own: a lease of 5 years or more (or a letter confirming one will be granted) and the owner's or landlord's written permission
  • Safeguarding policy (if working with children, young people or vulnerable adults)

The full list of stage 2 documents was not established, because the published stage 2 form preview was not read in detail; expect a budget too. The Fund may ask for your equalities policy.

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