The National Lottery Community Fund
The UK's largest community funder, distributing National Lottery good cause money across the four UK nations.
Region
UK-wide (separate programmes for England, Scotland, Wales, NI)
Typical award
£300 – £500,000 (multiple programmes)
Funds core costs
Yes — Reaching Communities funds core/running costs
Multi-year
Yes — up to 5 years on larger programmes
Focus areas
Eligibility
- UK-based voluntary or community organisation
- Constituted with a bank account in the organisation's name
- Project must benefit communities in the UK
Application process
Awards for All: a single online form, decision within 8–12 weeks. Reaching Communities: a two-stage process with an initial proposal, then a full application.
What this funder looks for
- Projects shaped by the people they're for
- Clear, evidenced community need
- Realistic delivery plan and budget
- Diversity, equity and inclusion taken seriously
Application tips
- Use plain English. The Community Fund explicitly asks for it and assesses against it.
- Show co-design and community voice — not as a tickbox, but as how the project was shaped.
- Don't pad: questions have firm character limits and assessors read hundreds of bids.
Application questions
Where funders publish application questions or guidance, Serin helps surface available requirements inside the platform. We do not claim to hold every question for every funder — always check the funder's own guidance for the current application form.
Frequently asked questions
Can we apply to Awards for All and Reaching Communities at the same time?
Yes, for different projects. Read both sets of guidance carefully as criteria differ.
Do they fund core costs?
Awards for All can fund project running costs. Reaching Communities can fund core and running costs for community-led organisations.
View The National Lottery Community Fund inside Serin
Where funders publish application questions and guidance, Serin surfaces them inside the platform — so you can prepare, draft and submit your application in one workflow rather than starting from a blank page.
Application information varies by funder. Always confirm current criteria on the funder's own website.