National Lottery Community Fund: Powering Communities Through Voice and Equity
The National Lottery Community Fund (TNLCF) is one of the largest funders of community activity in the UK — but their mission goes far beyond grant-giving. At the heart of their work is a deep commitment to community voice, place-based equity, and transformative change led by the people most affected.
Across the West Midlands and beyond, TNLCF is prioritising four core impact areas: inclusive spaces and activities that bring people together, initiatives that tackle health inequalities, support for children and young people during key life transitions, and action on environmental justice and access to quality nature. Their approach is guided by one principle: the people closest to the issues are also closest to the solutions.
“What excites me is seeing how our organisation is evolving to become a stronger listening organisation,” one team member shares. Recent announcements reflect a growing commitment to putting communities in the driving seat — with new funds designed to give local groups a stronger say in how money is spent. “This makes the Lottery an even stronger ally for communities across the UK.”
Developing their new strategy has been a learning journey. Listening has become central — not just as a gesture, but as a mechanism for impact. “Through the development of its new strategy the National Lottery is listening much more to learn how it can make the grants it awards go further to better meet the need of communities across the UK.”
At the core of TNLCF’s ethos is the belief in collaboration and shared humanity. “What I value is that people still try to make this world a better place,” they explain. “We are all part of the community and between us can answer or address most of the problems we face through listening to one another, collaborating and acting together.”
Their current strategy reflects this inclusive ethos. From embedding lived experience into funded projects to opening up grants specifically aimed at enabling communities to shape funding decisions, TNLCF is making space for community voice to be heard and heeded. “Tackling racial injustice and other forms of prejudice is vital work for the Lottery,” they state. “We’re putting greater emphasis on need and equity.”
Looking to the future, the Fund is focused on reducing disparities in funding access — especially in communities that have historically been under-resourced. Health inequality, systemic disadvantage, and structural prejudice are firmly on their radar, as they invest in partnerships and approaches that strengthen local responses and amplify unheard voices.
What do they want to explore with peers across the Network? “How funding can make a difference across communities,” they share. “Funders need to better understand how they can collaborate more effectively... and use their influence to support greater understanding of local issues and solutions.”
Being part of the West Midlands Funders Network offers TNLCF an important opportunity to connect, reflect, and co-create. “It is a wonderful opportunity to collaborate with a range of organisations looking at similar issues,” they say. “We’re able to dialogue and consider ways to improve things for ourselves and the many thousands of organisations across the Midlands in need of our funding.”
