Open Call: National Lottery Grants for All Wales (United Kingdom) – fundsforNGOs

Deadline: 31-Dec-2026

The National Lottery Grants for All Wales programme provides grants of £300 to £20,000 for projects that bring people together, strengthen communities, and create positive local change across Wales. Funding can support new or existing community activities, organisational adaptation, stronger community relationships, improvements to community spaces, early support for people to reach their potential, and responses to cost-of-living pressures.

About National Lottery Grants for All Wales

National Lottery Grants for All Wales supports community organisations and groups delivering projects that benefit people and communities across Wales.

The programme is designed to provide accessible funding for local initiatives that:

• Bring people together.
• Strengthen community relationships.
• Improve local communities.
• Create new opportunities for people.
• Help communities respond to changing circumstances.
• Improve important community places and spaces.
• Support people facing increased financial pressures.
• Help individuals reach their potential through early support.

Projects can either introduce a new activity or help an organisation continue an existing activity.

Key Funding Priorities

The programme supports projects addressing practical community needs.

Starting or Continuing Activities

Funding can help organisations:

• Start a new community activity.
• Continue an existing successful programme.
• Expand activities to reach more people.
• Adapt existing activities to changing community needs.

Building Stronger Communities

Projects can bring people together and strengthen relationships within and between communities.

Examples may include:

• Community events.
• Social activities.
• Intergenerational activities.
• Local networking initiatives.
• Activities that reduce social isolation.
• Projects encouraging community participation.

Improving Community Places and Spaces

Funding can support improvements to important community locations where these improvements directly contribute to the project’s objectives.

Examples could include projects that make community spaces more useful, accessible, inclusive, or welcoming.

Helping People Reach Their Potential

The programme supports early interventions that help people develop skills, confidence, opportunities, and connections.

Projects may focus on:

• Personal development.
• Community participation.
• Skills development.
• Early support.
• Activities for children and young people.
• Support for people experiencing disadvantage.

Responding to Cost-of-Living Pressures

The fund also recognises the increased demands experienced by people, communities, and organisations because of the cost-of-living crisis.

Projects can support community responses that help people cope with increased pressures and strengthen local support networks.

Funding Available

Applicants can request between:

• Minimum grant: £300
• Maximum grant: £20,000

Projects can run for a maximum of two years.

Applicants should request an amount that is realistic for the proposed activities and demonstrate how the funding will create meaningful community benefits.

Who Is Eligible?

The programme is open to a range of community, voluntary, charitable, and public organisations operating in Wales.

Eligible applicants include:

• Constituted voluntary organisations.
• Constituted community organisations.
• Constituted groups and clubs.
• Registered charities.
• Charitable Incorporated Organisations (CIOs).
• Not-for-profit companies.
• Community Interest Companies (CICs).
• Schools, where the project benefits the wider local community.
• Local authorities.
• Town councils.
• Parish councils.
• Community councils.
• Other eligible statutory bodies.

Applicants should ensure that their organisation has the appropriate legal or organisational structure required by the programme.

Who Cannot Apply?

Organisations cannot apply if:

• They have an unfinished current National Lottery Awards for All Wales grant.
• They are waiting for a decision on another application to the same programme.
• They are applying to more than one funding programme for the same project.

Applicants should resolve existing funding obligations and avoid submitting duplicate applications for the same project.

What Types of Projects Can Be Supported?

A project is more likely to fit the programme when it clearly demonstrates how it will benefit people or communities in Wales.

Potential project themes include:

• Community development.
• Social inclusion.
• Community participation.
• Tackling social isolation.
• Activities for children and young people.
• Early intervention and support.
• Local community events.
• Skills and personal development.
• Improvements to community facilities.
• Community resilience.
• Responses to cost-of-living pressures.
• Activities that strengthen relationships between different groups.

The key consideration is the community benefit and positive local change created by the project.

How to Apply

Applicants should prepare their application around the specific community need they want to address.

Step 1: Identify the Community Need

Clearly explain:

• What problem or opportunity exists.
• Who is affected.
• Why the issue is important.
• Why action is needed now.

Step 2: Develop the Project

Explain the activities you will deliver and how they will respond to the identified need.

The project should have clear and achievable objectives.

Step 3: Identify the Beneficiaries

Describe who will benefit from the project.

This could include:

• Local residents.
• Children and young people.
• Older people.
• People experiencing disadvantage.
• People affected by social isolation.
• Community groups.
• People experiencing cost-of-living pressures.

Step 4: Prepare the Budget

Create a realistic budget that connects expenditure directly to project activities.

The requested amount must fall between £300 and £20,000.

Step 5: Demonstrate Community Impact

Explain what will change as a result of the project.

Where possible, include measurable outcomes such as:

• Number of people participating.
• Number of activities delivered.
• Skills developed.
• Improvements in community engagement.
• Increased access to community services or opportunities.
• Improved use of community spaces.

Step 6: Check Your Eligibility

Before submitting, confirm that:

• Your organisation is eligible.
• Your existing National Lottery Awards for All Wales grant, if any, is completed.
• You are not awaiting another decision under the programme.
• The same project is not being submitted to multiple funding programmes.

How Applications Should Be Structured

A strong application should clearly connect five elements:

1. Need: What community issue needs to be addressed?
2. Activity: What will the project do?
3. Beneficiaries: Who will benefit?
4. Outcomes: What positive change will occur?
5. Budget: How will the funding deliver those outcomes?

This structure makes it easier for assessors to understand the purpose, feasibility, and community value of the proposed project.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid:

• Providing a vague description of the community need.
• Requesting funding without explaining the connection to project activities.
• Failing to identify who will benefit.
• Proposing unrealistic project activities.
• Providing unclear or unsupported costs.
• Applying while an existing National Lottery Awards for All Wales grant remains unfinished.
• Submitting the same project to multiple funding programmes.
• Focusing only on organisational needs rather than community benefit.

Why It Matters

Small community organisations often have a direct understanding of local needs but may have limited access to flexible funding.

The National Lottery Grants for All Wales can help organisations turn local ideas into practical projects that:

• Strengthen community connections.
• Improve opportunities for residents.
• Support people facing challenges.
• Build local resilience.
• Improve community spaces.
• Encourage participation.
• Help people develop their potential.

The programme therefore provides an opportunity for community-led organisations to respond directly to local priorities across Wales.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much funding can organisations receive?

Organisations can apply for grants from £300 to £20,000.

How long can a funded project last?

Projects can run for up to two years.

Can an organisation apply for an existing activity?

Yes. The programme can support organisations that want to continue an existing activity, as well as those starting new activities.

Can schools apply?

Yes. Schools can be eligible when the proposed project provides benefits to the wider local community, rather than only benefiting the school itself.

Can local councils apply?

Yes. Eligible statutory bodies include local authorities and town, parish, and community councils.

Can an organisation apply while another application is awaiting a decision?

No. Organisations waiting for a decision on another application to the programme cannot submit another application at that time.

Can the same project be submitted to another funding programme?

No. Organisations should not apply to more than one programme for the same project.

Conclusion

The National Lottery Grants for All Wales programme offers grants of £300 to £20,000 for community projects that create positive local change across Wales. Eligible organisations can use the funding to start or continue activities, strengthen community relationships, improve community spaces, support people to reach their potential, and respond to cost-of-living pressures.

A strong application should clearly demonstrate the local need, proposed activities, beneficiaries, expected outcomes, community impact, and realistic budget while meeting all programme eligibility requirements.

For more information, visit The National Lottery Community Fund.