For three decades, the National Lottery has been a staple of British life. It is a genuine national institution, belonging to all of us – like the NHS or the BBC – woven into the fabric of our nation. From the elite athletes who inspire us on the global stage to the local projects that are the heartbeat of our towns, this funding is a crucial tool to ensure our sport, culture, and heritage do not just survive, but thrive.
With over £53 billion generated for more than 680,000 projects, its impact across the whole of the UK is undeniable. We see it in the restoration and upkeep of our industrial history, the cinematic triumphs that tell our national story, the community hubs that bring us together and the grassroots sports clubs in every corner of the UK. These are not just buildings and organisations; they are the anchors of our communities and the foundations of our society. They are the places where confidence is built and where the next generation discovers their talent belongs on every stage and on every pitch they choose to play on.
But we have to be honest; while the impact of this funding has been life-changing, the way it is distributed is showing its age. The current funding model was built for a world that has long since passed us by. It is a model rooted in a different era, too often reliant on centralisation, with decisions about where this money goes being made in distant rooms, far from the communities who know their needs best. We need to flip that model, and as we look towards the next thirty years, we want to ensure the National Lottery is not just something that happens to people, but something that is driven by them…
The call for evidence will run for 12 weeks, closing at midday on 23 September 2026.
Read more about the open call for evidence and ways to respond, at the link below.
