National Lottery Community Fund launches Strategy Renewal process to shape future support
Melanie May | 7 April 2022 | News
The National Lottery Community Fund has today launched a Strategy Renewal process that will shape how it supports people and communities to prosper and thrive into the future.
It aims to engage a wide range of stakeholders in the 18-month process and provide touch points for people to join in conversations about the challenges, opportunities, hopes and ambitions of the UK’s diverse communities.
As such, the funder is running a programme of engagement and other activities designed to draw a broad range of people into the conversation. It has also launched a microsite and a hashtag, #TNLComFundStrategyRenew, where people can join in.
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The input gained will help shape how The National Lottery Community Fund invests in communities going forward as well as the wider support it offers.
Research released today from its Community Research Index – an annual survey of over 8,000 adults across the UK on how people feel about, and their ambitions for, their communities – shows that overall, almost three quarters of people in the UK (72%) think their local community is faring well for quality of life compared to other communities in the UK. This rises to 78% of people in the South West of England, but dips to 67% in North West and North East and falls to 62% for those living in the most deprived areas of the UK.
David Knott, Chief Executive of The National Lottery Community Fund, said:
“This research is about putting communities first and asking them directly what their challenges, hopes and ambitions are today and for the future. We know our funding has a critical role to play in supporting communities to unleash their energy and potential so they can get to where they want to be.
“It’s the start of an important conversation. That’s why we are kicking off a Strategic Renewal process today that will shape how we continue to invest in communities into the future and support them to prosper and thrive. We want to draw on the knowledge, foresight, experiences and ambitions of communities. Thanks to National Lottery players every seven minutes we’re able to back a community to bring people together and make amazing things happen. Now is an exciting and inspiring time to explore how we build on the best that’s been with the best that’s yet to come.”
National Lottery players raise over £30 million each week for good causes across the UK, with the National Lottery Community Fund having awarded £3.4 billion in 72,000 grants in the last five years.
About Melanie May
Melanie May is a journalist and copywriter specialising in writing both for and about the charity and marketing services sectors since 2001. She can be reached via thepurplepim.com.