The National Lottery Community Fund Scotland

08/06/2026

👀. In Case You Missed It - Sign up for our Supporting Change – Carers information sessions

Join our information session to hear more about our Supporting Change – Carers programme and the types of projects we’ll fund.

We aim to support projects that create better health and wellbeing for unpaid carers in Scotland, by funding those that tackle the root causes of the challenges they face.

🔖. Our website has more detail about the Supporting Change Carers funding programme to see if it’s right for you before signing up: https://ow.ly/PpCj50YZscH

We’re hosting the last session on Thursday 18 June, 11am-12pm.

✍️. Sign up for our Supporting Change - Carers information session to learn how you can transform the health and wellbeing of unpaid carers in Scotland: https://ow.ly/Sskt50YZscG

📸. Golden Friendships project

03/06/2026

📣. Sign up for our Supporting Change – Carers information session.

✍️. Register for our Supporting Change – Carers information session to learn how you can help transform the health and wellbeing of unpaid carers in Scotland: https://ow.ly/Yp4650YZsxs

We’re committed to creating better health for carers by funding projects that tackle the root causes of the challenges they face.

📆. Our last information session will tell you more about the programme and the types of projects we’ll fund. We’re hosting this session on Thursday 18 June, 11am-12pm.

We hope you can join us and be part of making a lasting difference for unpaid carers in Scotland.

📸. Cowal Elderly Befrienders

01/06/2026

Help your community make a positive difference to the environment and get closer to nature with our Community Action grants.

We’re keen to support community-led projects focused on improving the environment and people’s access and connection to the outdoors. Grants from £20,000 up to £250,000 are available for up to five years.

If you have an idea for a project that brings people together to help the environment, check out the Community Action programme on our website: https://ow.ly/1x9N50Z5xVC

We recently visited Sea the Change in Eyemouth, Berwickshire to see how they are bringing people together to create a happier, healthier and more sustainable community. Their cycle shack is a hub of activity helping more people repair and hire bicycles, get out, get active, and explore the local area together while reducing their environmental impact. They’re also making the coastline more inclusive, with beach wheelchairs and Cycling Without Age Scotland trishaws that enable everyone to enjoy the shore safely and comfortably. 🚲🌊

📹. Video description: shots of people cycling around a seaside town on bicycles and trishaws.

27/05/2026

We're excited to announce over £5.6m in funding has been awarded to 69 projects supporting children and young people across Scotland!

Young Start projects like Skills Exchange SCIO ‘Let's Grow,’ received a grant of £99,498, to provide vital services to young people, like Callum, 19 from South Lanarkshire. The project helped him to develop and grow in a safe and nurturing environment to achieve their potential:

“Before I joined Let’s Grow, I didn’t really have much confidence, and I found meeting new people and being in new places really hard because of my autism. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do or where my life was going. Skills Exchange helped me come out my comfort zone, build my confidence, and realise I’m capable of more than I thought. I’ve made new friends, learned loads of new skills, and now I’ve got a job doing something I actually enjoy. If I hadn’t joined the course, I’d probably still be stuck at home struggling and without a job. Now I feel like I’ve finally found direction in my life.”

Renfrew Baths Amateur Swim Club, Youth Inspired, Partick Thistle Charitable Trust, Goodtrees Neighbourhood Centre, Space at The Broomhouse Hub, Shaper/Caper, Ayr United Football Academy, Carrickfergus Rugby Football Club, Friends of the Broadway Prestwick

21/05/2026

🏃‍♀️‍➡️. Don’t miss out – Glasgow 2026 funding won’t last forever!

Communities across Scotland are being invited to go All In — but you’ll need to move fast.

Up to £10,000 is available through National Lottery Awards for All to support sport, arts and community activities inspired by the Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2026.

🎉. You can use the funding to bring people together, get more people active, support well-being, celebrate culture and diversity and create something lasting for your community.

Funding is open to new and existing projects - current grant holders can apply too!

There’s no deadline – but funding will close as soon as the money runs out.

⭐. Don’t wait — apply on our website now: https://ow.ly/j3IU50Z1LHT

18/05/2026

🎉The Scottish Nguni Families, led by Manaba Myeni, has turned early funding disappointment into a thriving programme benefiting communities by celebrating African heritage in Scotland.

After an unsuccessful application to The Ethnic Minority Development Fund (EMDF) which is delivered in partnership with The National Lottery Community Fund and CEMVO Scotland (CEMVO), the group refused to give up and Manaba’s determination paid off. A second application secured partial funding, and following guidance from the EMDF team, their third bid was successful.

Their progress was supported through one-to-one sessions with CEMVO Scotland Capacity Building Consultants, who provided tailored feedback and helped the group refine their proposal.

Manaba said: “We were able to present our project more effectively. The fund has been a game changer, it’s allowed us to bring ideas to life that wouldn’t have been possible otherwise,”

The group has created a library of Nguni language books and expanded its cultural activities. Music workshops, hands-on learning through arts, crafts, educational materials, and group trips have further enhanced the programme, strengthening cultural ties within the community.

For those unsure of whether to apply for the EMDF, Manaba offered a simple but powerful advice: “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”

As Scottish Nguni Families has shown, start small, stay consistent, and don’t be discouraged by setbacks. Determination can lead not only to funding success, but to meaningful and lasting community impact.

📣. The Ethnic Minority Development Fund is currently open to applications. The closing date is the 26th of May 2026 at 5pm. For information to apply please follow the link below:

⭐. https://ow.ly/eN8c50YY2fq

14/05/2026

One small company is making a big impact on Glasgow’s arts scene by opening its doors to new voices. Bijli Productions, co-founded by Mariem Omari and Umar Ahmed, they’re bringing fresh energy to Scotland’s creative sector by leading with diversity, inclusion and cross-cultural storytelling.

At the heart of Bijli’s work is Threads, an artistic development programme designed to nurture South Asian talent. The company set out to create something welcoming, creative and accessible, leading to the development of a lively series of workshops and events.

Mariem and Umar’s idea was supported by the The Ethnic Minority Development Fund which is delivered in partnership with CEMVO Scotland,. The fund made it possible to bring their much‑loved creative programme to life.

They found working with The Ethnic Minority Develpment Fund both smooth and rewarding, noting that guidance from CEMVO Scotland Capacity Building Consultants made the application process clearer and less daunting, saying: “The application was straightforward.”

For a small organisation, the EMDF has been game-changing. Its support has allowed Bijli to focus on what matters most: bringing people together through art. Their advice to others, “Be bold. Be clear. And don’t be afraid to collaborate.”

📣. The EMDF is currently open to applications. The closing date is the 26th of May 2026 at 5pm. For information on how to apply please follow the link below:

⭐. https://ow.ly/yy7E50YY1NW

13/05/2026

📣. Sign up for our Supporting Change – Carers information sessions

✍️. Register for one of our Supporting Change – Carers information sessions to learn how you can help transform the health and wellbeing of unpaid carers in Scotland: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/the-national-lottery-community-fund/e-xpdmag

We’re committed to creating better health for carers by funding projects that tackle the root causes of the challenges they face.

📆. Our information sessions will tell you more about the programme and the types of projects we’ll fund. We’re hosting sessions on:

Tuesday 19 May, 11am-12pm
Thursday 18 June, 11am-12pm

We hope you can join us and be part of making a lasting difference for unpaid carers in Scotland.

28/04/2026

On a warm spring afternoon on the banks of the River Ness, three women and two guide dogs stroll around a sunny park. Sandra, Wendy and their friend Janice first met through the funded project Highland VIP Walking Group.

What began as a simple way to get outdoors became the foundation of a deep and lasting friendship.

70-year-old Sandra's life changed dramatically when she lost her sight due to optic nerve damage during a liver transplant.

“I went to sleep with two good eyes and woke up three weeks later in hospital thinking ‘why don’t they pay their electric bill in here?’ because everything was dark!” Sandra recalls.

“At first I cried and cried. I treated my sight loss as a bereavement as that was the only way that I could come to terms with it.”

Sandra met Janice by chance in the park and learnt about the walking group.

"At the time I was relying on my husband Alan to take me out so it was really good to get my confidence back going out without him. Alan is glad to get rid of me for a bit and I’m glad to get rid of him too! Joining the group has really given me back my independence.”

The walking group, founded in 2021, is the first of its kind in the Highlands, offering monthly activities for people with sight loss — from boat trips and pottery to open water swimming, alongside their popular walks.

68-year-old Janice also struggled with feelings of loneliness after her cataract operation led to further complications and significant sight loss.

“When I was first diagnosed with sight loss I was stuck in the house all the time. It’s nice to get out and meet other people in the same situation. You don’t realise how many people there are in the same position. Before the group I felt like I was the only one in the world.”

“There can be a lot of frustrating things that happen that can get you down. With the group we can moan about these things and well as laugh together at the silly stuff that we do like walking into lampposts or sending text messages to the wrong people!”

Wendy, 51, also faced mental health challenges following her sight loss. “When I received the sight loss diagnosis, it felt like my world had ended. Discovering the Highland VIP Walking Group was a turning point.”

“When we’re out together, we feel unstoppable. The group’s support makes a huge difference. You just have to look at how many people turn up each month to see it’s truly one of a kind.”
Highland VIP Walkers which began with just a few friends is growing rapidly, now boasting over 40 members!

We share this story with warm respect for Janice, who recently passed away but was an important part of this fantastic group.

23/04/2026