The UK Fund
The National Lottery Community Fund
Award
£500k – £5m
Deadline
Rolling — apply any time
Where
UK-wide
Summary
The UK Fund offers large grants to grow proven projects. We fund work with impact that can scale, change systems, and benefit communities across the UK.
Who can apply
Your organisation can apply if it’s one of the following: • registered charity • company limited by guarantee (with a not-for-profit clause or registered as a charity) • community interest company (CIC) • charitable incorporated organisation (CIO) • community benefit society • co-operative society (with a not-for-profit clause and registered with the Financial Conduct Authority) • statutory body (such as a town, parish or community council) • local authorities • universities You can also apply as a partnership of organisations. Any partners who will receive funding must be one of the types listed above. If your organisation needs an asset lock Some organisations must have an asset lock. This means you have rules that stop your assets being sold or used for private benefit. You must have an asset lock if you're a: • CIC • company limited by guarantee that’s not a registered charity • community benefit society • co-operative society You can read more in the government’s guide to asset locks for CICs. Your organisation must have at least 2 board or committee members who are not related This means they must not be: • married or in a civil partnership • in a long-term relationship or living at the same address • related by blood or through a partner If you’re a company, including one that’s also a registered charity, you must have at least 2 directors who are not related in any of these ways. If you already have funding from us You can still apply. We’ll look at how this funding would work alongside your other funding when we assess your application.
Full details
• Project location: England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales • Amount: £500,000 to £5,000,000 • A decision in: 36 weeks • Programme status: Open to applications The UK Fund offers larger amounts of funding to help you develop work that’s already making a difference. To get funding you’ll need to show what’s working, how you know it’s having a proven impact, and why it’s ready to scale. We do not fund brand-new projects or services. Your work should also benefit communities across the UK, by working in different places or sharing learning between countries. Your project should go beyond delivering a service. It should help change how systems work, leading to lasting benefits for communities. All projects must meet one of these aims Your project must clearly meet one of the following aims: • improve relationships between people with different life experiences • help people and communities meaningfully connect online when it's hard to meet in person • support people from all backgrounds to influence the future of their communities • help children and young people facing specific challenges to change the systems that affect them • help more organisations to involve and listen to children and young people Your project must also meet all the criteria listed in ‘Criteria your project must meet’. We particularly welcome projects that are led by and for disabled people. Watch our video about The UK Fund on Youtube. It includes tips, examples and a checklist to help you with your application. The video includes British Sign Language interpretation. You can also read the transcript.