Consultation on National Lottery Good Causes

Introduction:

The Government has launched a public consultation into the National Lottery Good Causes and how money is distributed to communities.

It covers The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Arts Council, The National Lottery Communities Fund and UK Sport.

This isn’t just a review; it’s about fundamentally re-evaluating how good cause funding is distributed and ensuring that the voice of the whole country is heard. Their mission is guided by three simple beliefs:

• This funding belongs to you. The billions of pounds raised should reflect the priorities of the British public. The Government want this investment to reach deep into communities and fund your priorities. 
• Decisions should be made by you. The Government want to give local people a genuine voice in how funding is spent in their own communities. It’s time to move beyond top-down mandates and trust the people who know their streets, their clubs, and their heritage best.
• Your ambition shouldn’t be met with red tape. The Government are committed to stripping away the bureaucracy that acts as a barrier to community spirit. They want to make it easier for small, grassroots organisations to access the support they deserve without being drowned in paperwork.

If you would like to take part and let them know your thoughts on this, please complete the online survey below. 

How to Take Part

The call for evidence will run for 12 weeks, closing at midday on Wednesday 23rd September 2026. They are seeking a wide range of views from both organisations and individuals. To make the process as straightforward as possible, their response will automatically guide you to the relevant questions based on the capacity in which you are responding. 

Only people aged 16 and over can participate in this survey.

This survey takes approximately 15 to 20 minutes to complete. You do not need to finish in one go; you can save your progress by closing the window and returning via the link later. Please note that incomplete responses will be automatically closed and recorded one week after your last entry, and all submissions must be finalised before the survey closes to be included in their results.

Responses to the call for evidence can be submitted in the following ways:

Online Survey (preferred)

They strongly encourage responses via survey. This is the simplest and easiest way to respond. If you begin the survey but do not formally submit it, your partial responses may still be saved and considered as part of their final analysis.

To complete the survey online, follow this link to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport website.

By email or post (alternative methods)

If you wish to share any further information with them relating to the questions contained within the survey, you can do so:

• By email: Please title your email: ‘National Lottery Good Causes – Fund What Matters To You’. Responses via this method should be sent to: lottery-good-causes@dcms.gov.uk
• By post: Please state the subject of your letter as: ‘National Lottery Good Causes – Fund What Matters To You’. If you decide to send a written hard copy response, this should be sent to: 

National Lottery Good Causes Team,
The Department for Culture Media and Sport,
100 Parliament Street, London
SW1A 2BQ

The government asks respondents to note that this call for evidence is focused on distribution of good cause funding. Respondents are invited to submit their views on the topics raised in this document, however you may also wish to share any broader insights you feel relevant to this issue. 

All responses will be considered in depth, but it will not be possible to give substantive replies to individual representations. They reserve the right to utilise AI to assist with the thorough analysis and thematic grouping of the high volume of responses expected.