The National Lottery Community Fund initiatives - deadline of 5 February approaching

Right now, we are looking for partners for the development stages of three new approaches. If you are interested in being our partner for these approaches, please find further info below.

Community Power

·       We’ve committed to a £100 million, 10 year Community Power fund. We aim to launch the broader programme in 2026

·       By community power, we mean local communities being able to influence and change the places they live. As well as the services they use, and decisions that affect their lives

·       We’re looking for 10 to 15 partners to work with us in the development stage of the Community Power fund. This work will shape how the Community Power fund runs in the future

·       For the development stage we have up to £1.2 million funding available for one year

·       As a partner you’ll deliver activities in and with communities to increase their power, agency and control. You’ll also work with us, and the other partners, to understand what works best to increase community power

·       We want to work with a range of organisations from small grassroots organisations to larger strategic ones. Particularly those that work in and with communities that are the most excluded and marginalised, and the least empowered.

You Decide

·       We want to directly involve communities in how we work and give out funding. We’ll dedicate at least 5% of our £500 million funding for England each year to You Decide to help us do that

·       We’re looking for up to 5 expert partners to involve communities in decisions about who and what to fund

·       We have £2 million funding for this development stage. Partners will support communities to decide how to give out most of this funding to communities

·       You Decide can support communities who share an identity, interest or experience. Or people living in the same place. Particularly those from communities who experience poverty, disadvantage and discrimination

·       We want to work with a mix of organisations. Including people working at local and national levels

·       Partners will engage communities directly in decision making about our funding. And contribute to how our future You Decide fund will work.

Grant Holder Support

·       We want to deliver a package of funding and support to address the most common challenges that community organisations face

·       We’ve committed £150 million of funding until 2030 to support our grant holders and other organisations that need it most. This funding will help increase the knowledge, skills and resilience of civil society organisations

·       We’re looking for a partner to lead the development phase of this package of support. We’re offering £2.1 million in funding for this first stage

·       The lead partner will bring together 8 to 10 other organisations and specialists in a partnership. Together they’ll work to find out what existing and future grant holders need, and what support would help them. Then use this to provide appropriate support

·       We’ll focus on longer-term investment in those working with people facing the greatest challenges. Specifically people, places and communities who experience the most disadvantage, discrimination and poverty.