The National Lottery Community Fund has relaunched its £362m Reaching Communities grant programme with new application priorities.

The grantmaker has today announced an updated version of its Reaching Communities grant programme, after previously urging prospective applicants to postpone applications until the programme’s new priorities were unveiled.

The NLCF’s Reaching Communities programme, which funds projects making positive changes in communities, distributes grants of £20,001 or more to charities in England for a period of up to five years. In 2023/24, the funder distributed a total of £362m through this programme.

While grant size and length will remain the same, the funder said the grant programme would prioritise projects that support people, places or communities that experience poverty, disadvantage and discrimination; and that meaningfully involve communities in steering the project.

The funder said the update comes as demand for its grants is exceeding the money available, saying: “Unfortunately, this means we have to make difficult decisions, as we are simply unable to fund all the worthwhile projects we receive applications from.

“By focusing our funding on equity, empowerment, and alignment with our four community-led missions, we are ensuring that every pound we invest drives meaningful change,” the NLCF said.

Under the new programme, all applicants will need to demonstrate how they plan to reach people who find it hardest to access support and show how communities are involved in their project – including in the leadership of the organisation, participation and voice.

Applicants will also be expected to strongly demonstrate their impact against one or more of the grantmaker’s four community-led missions from its latest strategy: supporting communities to come together; helping children and young people to access resources and experiences to thrive; enabling people to live healthier lives, and being environmentally sustainable.

The NLCF said it was particularly interested in projects that take positive climate action for those who are least engaged with the environment, with an emphasis on promoting access to quality natural spaces.

The grantmaker said its Reaching Communities funding more broadly would support community organisations to reduce their carbon emissions and be more environmentally sustainable.

The NLCF previously said that its Partnerships grant programme – which also offers grants of £20,001 or more for periods of up to five years – would be merged into the Reaching Communities programme.

The funder said it would announce its plans for delivering sector partnerships later this month, but added that its new approach “will not deliver partnerships in the form of a funding programme like the one that has existed to date”.

Instead, it will represent the NLCF’s “intention to be more than a funder”, the grantmaker said. But it added that Reaching Communities will be open to groups that wish to apply as partnerships.

Jon Eastwood, deputy director for England at the NLCF, said: “We are making an intentional shift in our funding model – one which will deliver a fairer, stronger, and more resilient future for communities across England. Our targeted, equity-driven approach will ensure that every pound we invest drives meaningful change.  

“Our customers and stakeholders have told us they value our local and relational approach to grantmaking. We’ll build on this existing strength, while making sure we deliver on our priorities and make a positive impact on communities most affected by poverty, disadvantage or discrimination.”