National Lottery Community Fund — What’s Available for North West Groups in 2026
If you run a community group, charity, or voluntary organisation in the North West, the National Lottery Community Fund is the single most important funder you should know about. As the largest community funder in the UK, it distributes funds raised by the National Lottery to support health, education, community life and the environment across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. North East Fund
The good news is there are programmes for organisations of all sizes — from small grassroots groups applying for a few hundred pounds to established charities seeking multi-year funding in the hundreds of thousands.
Here’s a plain English guide to what’s available for North West organisations right now.
Awards for All England — £300 to £10,000
This is the entry-level programme and the most accessible route for smaller community groups across the North West.
Awards for All England offers grants of between £300 and £10,000 for grassroots and community activity that aims to build strong relationships in and across communities, improve the places and spaces that matter to communities, help more people to reach their potential, and support people facing increased demands as a result of the cost-of-living crisis. The Growth Company
Charities, community or not-for-profit groups, parish or town councils, health bodies, and schools are all eligible to apply. You do not need to be a registered charity to apply, however you must have a bank account that requires at least two people to sign each cheque or withdrawal. Groups with smaller incomes will be prioritised. The Growth Company
Decision time is typically 16 weeks. You can only hold one Awards for All grant at a time.
👉 Apply at: tnlcommunityfund.org.uk
Reaching Communities — £20,001 upwards
For more established organisations with larger and longer-term funding needs.
The minimum grant is £20,001 with no maximum, though most grants will be for less than £500,000. Funding can be for up to five years or for short-term projects. Applications may be submitted at any time. Northumberland County Council
This programme suits organisations delivering significant community impact over a sustained period — think larger voluntary sector organisations, established charities, and community anchor organisations across the North West.
On average it takes around nine months to receive funding through this programme. There is a two-stage application process. Worth planning ahead if you’re going down this route. Northumberland County Council
Climate Action Fund
For North West groups working on environmental projects, climate action, or connecting people with nature. Open to organisations across England and funds projects tackling the climate and nature emergency at a community level.
Who can apply?
The National Lottery Community Fund is deliberately broad in who it will fund. Eligible organisations include:
- Registered charities
- Community interest companies
- Voluntary and community groups
- Parish and town councils
- Schools and health bodies
- Constituted community groups — even without charitable status
The key requirement across all programmes is that your project must benefit the community and involve community members in its design and delivery.
Tips for a stronger application
The National Lottery Community Fund funds projects that are community-led rather than organisation-led. The strongest applications clearly show how local people shaped the project idea, how the funding will create lasting change, and how you’ll measure the difference it makes.
For North West organisations applying for the first time, your local Council for Voluntary Service (CVS) can provide free support with applications — every area has one.
Want to stay on top of funding opportunities like this?
Join the NW Funding Radar — we track National Lottery funding rounds and dozens of other opportunities across the North West every week. Plain English alerts, no jargon, straight to your inbox.
info@northwestfundingradar.co.uk
Related funding worth exploring:
- Key Fund — flexible loans and grants for social enterprises in the North West
- Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II — loans from £25,000 for growing businesses
- Innovate UK Business Growth — innovation funding for North West SMEs