Photo: Arts Education Exchange

Arts Education Exchange, based in Margate, Kent, has previously received funding through the Reaching Communities programme

Photo: Arts Education Exchange

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National Lottery Community Fund tells charities to hold off applying for £362m programme

The National Lottery Community Fund has advised applicants to wait until April as it works on creating a new fund that will combine two existing grant programmes.

Chris Sharratt
2 min read

The National Lottery Community Fund (NLCF) is urging voluntary and community organisations to delay applying to its £362m community grant programme until April.

It has advised charities to postpone applications to its Reaching Communities programme, which supports community activities across the UK, including community arts projects, until 1 April.

The NLCF website states that from April the Reaching Communities programme will be combined with its Partnerships grants programme to create a single fund.

Both funds are currently for England-based projects and organisations. They have previously distributed grants of £20,001 or more for a period of up to five years.

An NLCF spokesperson said that while the programme criteria and application form will be updated, the new version of the fund will “fully align to our community-led missions focus”.

Last year, NLCF announced plans to make its funding available for more than 80% of areas across the UK, and to reach more than 60% of areas with its grant awards.

Extending grassroots funding

The commitment was outlined in the fund’s Corporate Plan for 2024-27, which also set a goal of directing more than 50% of all grants to communities experiencing the greatest levels of poverty and disadvantage.

NLCF chief executive David Knott said at the time: “We pledge to extend grassroots funding to communities across the UK, concentrating on reaching places that have not previously sought funding and staying rooted in the communities we serve.”

Arts projects previously funded by the NLCF include a £311,976 grant to Arts Education Exchange’s young person arts programme. 

Other funded arts initiatives have included projects directed at improving wellbeing through art therapy, drama therapy and dance and movement therapy. 

A three-year project in North Tyneside received £200,000 to provide an arts therapy service that also offers peer support, one-to-one creative support trips, events and activities.