John Rose, Wales Director, shares a look back into our work in 2024 and looks forward to an exciting new year ahead for The National Lottery Community Fund. 

As we start a new year, and look ahead to 2025, I am filled with immense pride and gratitude for the incredible work community groups have achieved all over Wales. The last year has been a testament to the power of community, collaboration and positive change. Over 2024 in Wales, we’ve awarded £36.8 million to over a thousand projects across the length and breadth of the country, which is a testament to the exceptional community groups that serve their local communities. I’d also like to thank our team here in Wales, who have been vital in supporting applicants and funded projects the length and breadth of Wales.  

We refreshed our People and Places funding offer in Wales 

This year, we refreshed our People and Places funding programme to better align with our UK-wide strategy, It starts with community. This update is designed to make a bigger impact by focusing on four key missions: supporting communities to come together, be more environmentally sustainable, help children and young people thrive, and enable people to live healthier lives. 

We have committed £20 million to the People and Places programme for the 2024/2025 financial year, with grants ranging from £20,001 to £500,000. The refresh includes a more streamlined application process and a stronger emphasis on environmental sustainability. As well as telling us about the main purpose of their project, all applicants are now required to demonstrate how their projects will mitigate negative environmental impacts or contribute positively to the environment. You can read about our refresh in more depth here. 

Celebrating 30 years of The National Lottery  

This year marks 30 years since The National Lottery was launched, and it is a milestone moment to reflect on the transformative impact we have had on Welsh communities. Over the past three decades, we have awarded over £18.4 billion to communities across the UK, with a significant portion benefiting Wales. Over £1 billion was awarded to community groups based in Wales, with over 23,000 projects being a recipient of our funding. Our funding has supported countless projects that have strengthened communities, improved lives, and fostered a sense of belonging.  

As we celebrate this milestone, we are reminded of the power of community-led initiatives and the importance of continued support for grassroots projects. The stories of change and resilience that have emerged over the years are a testament to the dedication and passion of the people we serve. You can learn more about the history of The National Lottery Community Fund in Wales here.  

Visiting projects with our Wales Committee 

In October, we visited several National Lottery Community-funded projects in Pembrokeshire with our Wales Committee. The visit was an opportunity to see first-hand the difference that National Lottery funding is making in helping people live healthier lives and become more environmentally sustainable.  

The projects visited showcased the incredible impact of our funding and the dedication of local communities to creating positive change. In West Wales, our funding has made significant strides in promoting health, wellbeing, and environmental sustainability. Read more about the visit here. 

Our commitment to environmental sustainability 

Over the year we have also delivered Sustainable Steps Wales, a £20 Million Dormant Assets programme which we deliver in line with Welsh Government priorities. This included innovative ways of engaging with new groups including face to face “speed dating” events for the Green Careers strand of the programme. The programme will enable young people with disabilities and young people from ethnically minoritised communities to build their confidence and skill and pursue green careers.   

Looking ahead 

As we look ahead to 2025, we will further embed our equity-based approach to our funding programmes ensuring we tackle inequality and invest in where there is greatest need. This will include communities effected by poverty, disadvantage and discrimination, and we’ll also be increasing our funding to projects primarily meeting our environmental sustainability mission.  We will also develop and launch a funding initiative to focus on children’s wellbeing and the natural environment as a way of improving health. This has involved extensive stakeholder engagement and will be launched in 2025. 

We remain committed to providing a significant proportion of funding to meet community needs that meet with one or more of our 4 priorities, by making up to £20m available through our People and Places programme and increasing our annual budget for National Lottery Awards for All to £14m. You can view all our funding programmes here. 

On a personal level, I am excited about the possibilities that lie before us and getting out to visit the amazing projects we support – as they are the true stars of what we are about.  I want to also say a big thank you to National Lottery players who raise over £30 million for good causes each week throughout the UK. Without this generosity we wouldn’t be able support amazing community-led projects up and down the country. Finally, I wish you all a very healthy and happy New Year, and a firm promise that we are here to support your community in accessing vital funding. 

To find information on applying to The National Lottery Community Fund, visit tnlcommunityfund.org.uk. You can talk to us about your idea for a community project by emailing wales@tnlcommunityfund.org.uk or calling 0300 123 0735.