What is the National Lottery?
The National Lottery – and with it National Lottery funding for Good Causes like heritage, arts, sport and charities – was established in 1994. Every time you play a game, you’re helping to support projects. Since The National Lottery began, players have generated over £39 billion pounds, which has been distributed across the UK.
National Lottery funding which is distributed through The National Lottery Community Fund (and 11 other specialist organisations) has helped Wildlife Trusts to achieve many amazing things for people and wildlife over the years.
About The National Lottery Community Fund
The National Lottery Community Fund, formerly known as The Big Lottery Fund is one of 12 distributors for The National Lottery and is one of the largest funders of community activity in the UK. In 2018/19 we awarded over £500 million, supporting projects across the UK for health, education, environment and charitable purposes.
It funds projects and activities that make communities stronger and more vibrant, and that are led by the people who live in them.
The aims of Wildlife Trusts align perfectly with this aspiration, making us ideal delivery partners to run projects that really make a difference to the local environment as a whole - we help people connect with nature and each other and in doing so, provide opportunities for people to take action for wildlife and its habitat in the places that are closest and most important to them.
How The National Lottery Community Fund supports Wildlife Trusts to make a difference
200 fantastic projects have been delivered by 40 Wildlife Trusts across the UK, all made possible with funding from the Big Lottery fund (now known as The National Lottery Community Fund). The projects have brought benefits to thousands of people of all ages, from all walks of life whilst also benefiting the wildlife and its surrounding habitat – an amazing achievement!
Projects include; inspiring people to learn life skills through nature, creating community green spaces for local people to meet and share interests, woodland therapy to address mental health issues and turning a derelict piece of land into a traditional wildflower meadow for local people to enjoy and wildlife to flourish.
Here are just a few examples of the many projects currently being run by Wildlife Trusts, supported by The National Lottery Community Fund.
Wild at Heart - Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust
Reaching over 4000 people in the over 50’s age bracket, adults who are isolated and vulnerable, this innovative community project has in many cases provided a much needed lifeline, using a whole variety of hobbies to engage and improve health and wellbeing, reduce social isolation and help give the confidence to get out and about in the community.
The Environment and Me (TEaM) - Warwickshire Wildlife Trust
Allotments, rivers, woodlands, parks and greenspaces across Coventry, all accessible by public transport, are the venues for this amazing project. Working in partnership with Coventry & Warwickshire Mind, the project provides positive, engaging outdoor experiences for people experiencing poor mental health in Coventry. Watch this short video clip for an inspirational story from one man who’s life changed for the better…..
Woodland Therapy Project - Hants & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust
Campfire cooking, green woodwork projects, rural crafts and wildlife watching are the kinds of weekly activities that adults living with mental health conditions in Yarmouth can take part in. Spending time and activities in nature help all of us and projects such as these have turned people’s lives around.
Wild Communities - The Wildlife Trust of South & West Wales
The Upper Swansea Valley in Wales hosts a range of habitats from limestone grassland to Rhos pasture and ancient woodland. It supports rare species such as the Marsh Fritillary butterfly. The populated area surrounding it has a high area of deprivation and this three-year project works with local partner agencies such as Jobcentre Plus and Communities First to help revitalise these communities and their local environment.
Our Bright Future
Our Bright Future was an ambitious and innovative partnership led by The Wildlife Trusts which brought together the youth and environmental sectors. It ran from 2016 to the end of 2022. This £33 million programme was formed of 31 projects across the UK. Each project helped young people aged 11-24 gain vital skills and experience and improve their wellbeing. Young people developed knowledge, skills, resilience and confidence and increased their employability.