Aims/priorities: As part of its vision for funding in England, and its commitment to its new funding strategy (It Starts with Community), the National Lottery Community Fund (TNLCF) is establishing a £100 million, 10 year Community Power Fund. The aim is to help people influence and change the places they live, the services they use, and decisions that affect their lives across England
Before the launch of the broader programme in 2026, TNLCF wants to work with partners on a one-year development phase. This will run from spring 2025 to spring 2026, and have up to £1.2 million funding. Partners will run activities to improve community power in local communities and work with TNCLF to learn from what’s worked best.
This is one of three partnership approaches announced by TNLC in November 2024.
The others are:
- National Lottery Community Fund – You Decide – Development Phase .
- National Lottery Community Fund – Grant Holder Support - Development Phase .
Who can apply? Applications will be accepted from the following types of organisations:
- Constituted voluntary or community organisation
- Constituted group or club
- Registered charity
- Charitable incorporated organisation (CIO)
- Not-for-profit company
- Community interest company (CIC)
- School (as long as their project benefits and involves the communities around the school)
- Statutory body (including local authorities, town, parish and community council)
- Community benefit society.
Any other funded partners must also be one of these types of organisations.
To be eligible, applicants must:
- Have experience of going beyond engaging communities by doing work to increase their community power.
- Work in and with communities that are the most excluded and marginalised, and the least empowered.
- Have experience of working in communities where the conditions are currently least suited to growing community power. For example where people have less trust in each other, do not feel they belong, or do not have places to meet.
- Show how the values and approaches of community power are central to their work.
There is particular interest in hearing from smaller community groups as well as larger or national organisations.
Grant amount: A total of £1.2 million is available over one year.
Grants of between £50,000 and £80,000 are available per partner organisation.
Application process: Full details can be found on the TNLCF website.
Expressions of Interest are expected to open 8 January 2025.
TNLCF is holding a webinar on 28 November 2024 (14:00 to 14:45). Registration is required and can be done via the TNLCF website. The webinar will be recorded and shared.
Deadline: Not specified.
Contact information: Email: EnglandPortfolioTeam@tnlcommunityfund.org.uk
Website: Community Power | The National Lottery Community Fund