Our priority at the National Lottery Community Fund, Scotland is to support people and communities to access our funding in the best way we can.

Right now that means we are open for business and our Scotland funding programmes are open to applications. Further information here 

However all funding decisions we make for the next six months will prioritise getting funding to groups best placed to support their communities at this vital time focusing initially on existing grant-holders and current applicants.

For the next six months we will prioritise:

  • Organisations supporting people who are at high risk from COVID-19
  • Organisations supporting communities most likely to face increased demand and challenges as a direct result of COVID-19
  • Organisations with high potential to support communities with the direct and indirect impact of COVID-19

This may mean other decisions take a bit longer.

We also know that many of in Scotland’s Third Sector are well placed and motivated to either redefine service provision or deliver new services to isolated or vulnerable people during this crisis. We want to help organisations to do this.

For organisations or projects that do not currently hold a grant with us we are asking if you are prioritising activity or projects as outlined above to get in touch with us.

All organisations should also be aware there is also Government support for third sector organisations.

Third Sector Resilience Fund (£20million) open and accessible via the SCVO website at: https://scvo.org/support/coronavirus/funding/for-organisations/third-sector-resilience-fund.

UK Government’s ‘Employees Furlough’ funding which delivers 80% of wage costs for employees unable to work during this period: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme

Our National Lottery funding is always limited and we cannot fund all applications that come to us. We know we will have to make difficult decisions, but we will do so fairly on merit and on a case-by-case basis.

(Update provided by TNL Community Fund Scotland)