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National Lottery Awards

By: Jennifer Lowe - Updated: 24 Mar 2021 | comments*Discuss
 
National Lottery Applying For Funding

The National Lottery was introduced in 1994 and since then, more than 280,000 grants have been awarded.

Grants from £300 up to £10,000 are awarded to sport, heritage and community activities and projects that go towards promoting education, health and the environment in local communities.

Depending on what the project is will determine which Body you need to apply for to get a Lottery funded grant. There are currently six different bodies: Sports Council; Arts Council; Heritage Lottery Fund; Big Lottery Fund; NESTA; and Awards for All.

Sports Council

The Community Investment Fund is the National Lottery funding available from the nine regions of Sport England (formerly Sports Council for England).

Sport England funds projects that help people get involved in sport and physical activity. The money received can be put towards refurbishment costs, the building of new facilities, or used to develop activities that improve help and education within local communities

There is, however, a very complex application process for this form of funding, and the final decision is made by the Sport England Board. This is mainly because of the large amount of money being given, the minimum grant being £10,000.

Arts Council

The Urban Cultural Programme provides around £19.5 million of funding for cultural projects in 19 urban areas across the UK, including 14 in England.

Projects that could be eligible for the funding are required to demonstrate how culture and the arts contribute and influence the lives of those in an urban area.

Heritage Lottery Fund

Money that is raised through the national lottery is used by the Heritage Lottery Fund to help sustain our heritage, including various museums, historic places, parks and archaeology.

Big Lottery Fund

The Big Lottery Fund is the largest Lottery distributor responsible for giving out half the money raised by the National Lottery for good causes: 14 pence of every pound spent on a Lottery ticket.

These grants cover health, education, environment and charitable purposes with a focus on the difference that the funding makes to communities, as opposed to the specific organisations that receive the money.

NESTA

New ideas often fail due to a lack of funding. NESTA uses National Lottery funds to encourage the exploration of new idea, development of new products, or other projects that use the arts, technology and science to encourage creativity.

This grant is not just available for groups or organisations, individuals can also apply for help.

The funding starts from £500, and awards of more than £85,000 can be made to worthy applicants.

Awards for All

If you have a project in mind that will bring people together to take part in community activities, then you could benefit from this fund.

Specifically designed for those projects that help to improve the lives of individuals, boost creativity or encourages more people to get involved in local communities, the fund can supply anything from £300 to £10,000.

There are lots of lottery funds available that cover such a wide remit, and there are a lot of projects eligible to receive some help. There is more information on each specific fund and the requirements for applications available at

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Hi there I am severely disabled I was widowed last year, my only living relative my mum is on palletive care, I have 5children who all have individual special needs and I would like to set up a drop in center for for anyone vulnerable that needs a lending ear to listen to or a peer to give support
Kat - 24-Mar-21 @ 7:00 PM
I would like to start woodwork and general craft classes for more marginalised groups in the Coventry area. These would include: the elderly, people with learning disabilities, unemployed, homeless, refugees, and low income groups. From whom could I request financial help in order to purchase equipment and training venues? Any help would be much appreciated. Best wishes. John
John - 10-Aug-19 @ 7:01 PM
I'm currently a local busniess in small village lazenby near redcar. I've just open up a shop after it was closed for 12 years. It is a dog groomers. Reasons for shop that is was important to open that only one other in village help put lazenby on the map. But what I have realised that people love their animals but do t always have funds to get them groomed. I was wanting a grant which but help.me was and train someone who was a future in dog grooming but to groom those animals who have pets are on low income families a free groom or donation only to help keep upkeep of their pets. Grant would help train pay wage at same time please could you help I think it would be great to have this just like a vets gives free treatments to those who need it but I could train someone and pay them at same time . Thank you k9 divine
K9 divine - 20-Apr-19 @ 2:53 PM
Hello, I have a severely disabled son, he has autism epilepsy atrial fibrillation and a severelearning disability He lives at home with both myself and my husband. He needs constant supervision/observation. He spend most of his time in our conservatory as he likes his own space, the conservatory is just off our living room so we can keep an eye on him at all times, but allowing him to have his own space. My son is 29yo and he is 6ft 6inches tall. the conservatory is small and old and cold. Are there any grants available to add an extra room on to our living room, I have a small amount of money that i have saved to go towards the cost.
son - 2-Apr-19 @ 3:53 PM
Hi I'm trying to see if I can get a grant to clean up our coastline from plasticand other waste I had a shock to open up a crab to find a substantial amount of plastic .
Tango - 5-Aug-18 @ 12:48 AM
I am hopeing to get a grant to become a search and rescue and recovery, first response with cpr and O2 administrator diver,funding required would cover the cost of the training courses and a special dry suit with full face mask also cold water regulators,i am currently a qualified open water diver and wish to undertake these special courses so that i can help within the emergency services in cold water situations where speciality diving is required ,can the lottery help me in achieving this ?
Bob - 16-May-18 @ 7:18 PM
I Morine Barnes have depression discharged from CMHT to my GP. Rommel my son at home as Parnoid Schizophrenia Dementia. Rommel as discharged himself from CMHT. My daughter Myola is a workaholic and as a studio flat. I pay my bill planner up budget benefits off work sick with DEPRESSION ends did not meet with a job. I am single parent my childrens dad Donald and me were divorced he passed away we are bereaved. I need a grant of £2500 for cooker, carpets, settee, decorating, gardening. Hope you can help. Thanks. Morine Barnes 58. Donald 60, Myola 38 & Rommel Edwards 36 Graham 90.
Mo - 12-Apr-18 @ 6:12 PM
I was thinking of applying to the Lottery fund for the charity I run. I am looking for an expert to advise us for payment. Many years ago I applied and was horrified to find that so many of the questions seemed almost identical that I really couldn't work out what the application form wanted. However, maybe things have changed? The charity seeks to prevent unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning which costs the taxpayer £178 million a year (according to an All Party Group of MPs) yet we can't seem to make real progress in obtaining funding for prime time TV warnings and victim support. I am also surprised that only 14p in the £1 spent on tickets goes to good causes.
Steph - 4-Sep-16 @ 6:16 PM
Dory - Your Question:
Hi would I be able to get a grant from the lottery fund to undertake a course to get qualified in running a project which would benefit public health?

Our Response:
It's always worth applying. Is the project a new one? Is it your idea? It's unlilkely you'd be given funding to run a course that already exists. If so it might be worth looking at alternatives like adult study bursaries etc.
GrantsExpert - 29-Jan-16 @ 12:45 PM
Hi would I be able to get a grant from the lottery fund to undertake a course to get qualified in running a project which would benefit public health?
Dory - 28-Jan-16 @ 12:23 PM
I would like to open a new child care centre in one of the most deprived areas in South Yorkshire. Through out the day the centre will provide excellent child care and maybe even a before and after school club. On a evening I want to open the centre up for adults to come and learn english and provide free child for those parents if required. We have EAL issues and I believe if we can educate parents/adults this will have a positive effect on the child. To do this I'm looking for support in the costs of setting up.
smithy - 28-Dec-15 @ 10:54 AM
@Maz. You could try your local council (you could try going through the fostering agency who will have close contacts with them). Alternatively, there is a range of grants on the Turn 2 uswebsite.
GrantsExpert - 18-Jun-15 @ 2:05 PM
Im not too sure if you can help me but I will do anything to try. I'm a foster mum currently to two beautiful little girls who have been with us for 8 months. Over this time space in our family home has become limited and this has also prevented other children that very much need a temporary safe home coming into our home. I also have two teenage children of my own and privacy is paramount to them. I was wondering if there was any funding of re-homing so we can continue to work with our local city council and provide a warm safe environment for the children that come into the system through no fault of their own. I don't know if we fit into a "category" for any help, but I see and read about so many benefit large family's being granted bigger homes to house all their children, and I just want to help make a difference to a child's life without being limited on space as there's no limit to the time and love that my family give to these children. I await any advise, help and reply. Thank you for your time.
Maz - 14-Jun-15 @ 10:05 AM
Hiya bit of a hard year for me and my little family my two daguters and son and my patner hvae been with me every step of the way. I had cancer which at 29 was mind blowing after 5 months I had the chemo and went in to remission only for it come back. I then was told that o had 20% chance to live and to plan my funeral which was another shock. I did it and in febuary o had a bone marrrow transplant from America which has saved my life it was lymphoma I had I would love to meet the guy who saved my life. As from now I am stuck.on benifits and its getting financialy worse. So I've come to with a strong idea I want to become a barber I have alwaysed cut hair but just stacked shelfs as my co.fidance was low now I have seen a way out but need help to pay for my 10week course up I. London. To study barbering and in that 10th weeks I will Gau. My level 2. But there's one thing stopping me and that's money to pay for the course please could you dind out if you could hell me.and my family beat poverty by helping pay toward my course thank you Sooooo much x
styler - 23-Dec-14 @ 12:01 AM
@hopeton. Start with a charity such as Scope
GrantsExpert - 8-Dec-14 @ 12:37 PM
i am a 45yrs man with mltipul diagnoses so i would like to help the disabled like myself i would like to have a none profit charity to help my people who r disabled i hope you will be abled to help me with my dream.thank you
hopeton - 5-Dec-14 @ 10:29 PM
i would like to know is there a government grant available for damp proof
angie - 4-Aug-14 @ 2:39 PM
Jackattack. Try the job centre. I know they are often pretty useless but he might drop lucky and get someone who's got a bit of nouse. Otherwise try citizens advice, Prince's trust (depending on his age) etc. There used to be a return to work grant and return to work credit but they've both been disbanded so it's pretty tough for people out there. I guess the only other option would be to ask for a loan from someone who knows him welletc
marsmuncher - 5-Jun-14 @ 11:29 AM
please can anyone help me my friend has been offered a job but needs his fork lift truck licence his run out over 3 years ago is there anyway he can get any help paying towards his licence be renewing as he has no money to this but has a chance of a job can he get a grant of any kind of job centre or anyone else. thank jackie
jackattack - 4-Jun-14 @ 5:02 PM
hi, does anyone know if i can apply for a grant. I am going to be a foster carer in january, and i am a single woman unemployed but wanting to give these children the help support and care they need. I need a grant to buy bedroom furniture and all the necessary equipment for the children.
poppie - 4-Dec-13 @ 2:30 PM
My son Evan is 7 years old and classically autistic. He is still in nappies and is at the development age of a 2 yr old. He is also noise sensitive. I am trying to raise funds to have a room built for him that can be a sensory chill out area. As he is one of nine children there is no where at present he can go.Am desperately saving to try and fund some of this. He just looks so lost and fed up. Just don't know what to do
Brozy1 - 18-Apr-13 @ 7:15 PM
Im 29 year old 6 yrs ago I had a opperation that went wrong which has mad me disabled i have to use a mobility scooter to leave the house I brought a Traveso end off last year and last week found out that I'd been conned I now have to find the money to buy another one so im not suck in doors all the time and was wondering if I could get a grant to help I never thought I'd be a victim to this and not sure what to do im at rock bottom please can you help
Tara - 13-Apr-13 @ 5:48 PM
I have experimented to generate electricity with no carbon emisions at a very low cost. if we take a 500kwh wind turbine and take off the wind blades and take away the tower. then put the alternator along with a number of other alternators in to a small local work unit. my methiod the generators will operate each other. I am looking for some one with knolage of the industrial generation just to talk to. with the vue to helping develop this idea. low cost electric is the most impotant power sause in the world Bill welsby
bill - 27-Jul-12 @ 9:06 AM
I would like to have a grant to set up a business providing advocacy to the over 50. I really think they need this service and have been working voluntary as an advocate.
jac - 16-Mar-11 @ 4:37 PM
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