This page provides a general summary of the funding that is available through the National Lottery good causes and where further information and support can be obtained.

The five good causes established when the Lottery began in 1994 were arts, charities, heritage, Millennium projects and sports.

Currently there are 14 Lottery Funders who distribute money to good causes.  Each is independent of Government but must adhere to guidelines issued by The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) when deciding who should receive National Lottery funding.

Following a change in distributor arrangements, the Big Lottery Fund (BIG) commenced operations in 2005, embracing the "good causes" funding that was historically available through the Community Fund and the New Opportunities Fund and is committed to distribute half the money raised for good causes by the National Lottery.  The Big Lottery Fund's new approach to funding has resulted in programmes that are demand led and lightly prescribed or strategically focused with 60-70% of funding going to voluntary and community sector (VCS) organisations.

Further details about the BLF's range of programmes (including Awards for All) are available at www.biglotteryfund.org.uk

The other organisations responsible for distributing Lottery money to the good causes are:

Arts Council England

Arts Council of Northern Ireland

Arts Council for Wales

Scottish Arts Council

Scottish Screen

UK Film Council

Sport England

Sport Scotland

Sports Council for Wales

Sports Council Northern Ireland

UK Sport

Heritage Lottery Fund

Millennium Commission

To find out more about applying for funding visit the National Lottery website or for more general information visit the National Lottery Good Causes website.

Sunderland has a new comprehensive website - Sunderland 4 Community which has been developed so that voluntary and community organisations can have easy access to information on a wide range of appropriate funding organisations.  The website includes news about organisations which have successfully accessed funds, announcements of new programmes and a database which includes information about:

- Local funding 

- Government funding 

- Lottery funding

- Trust funding 

More Information?

For further information about the Big Lottery Fund and other aspects of the National Lottery good causes please email europe.team@sunderland.gov.uk or telephone 0191 553 1191.

last updated 30/05/07.