The National Lottery Community Fund has announced that its Change Makers programme is open for applications, with grants of £1 million to £5 million available for organisations supporting community leaders in England.

The National Lottery Community Fund distributes National Lottery funding to community projects across the UK. This programme aims to support community leaders who are making change in and for their communities, including leaders from under-represented groups and those with lived experience.

Relevant examples could include community leaders from (the list is not exhaustive):

• Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities
• disabled people and people with long-term health conditions
• LGBTQ+ communities
• refugees, asylum seekers and migrant communities
• Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities
• people with experience of homelessness
• people with experience of the criminal justice system

Applicants can apply alone or as part of a partnership. They must have experience supporting community leaders, working with places and communities facing poverty, disadvantage or discrimination, and established relationships with local organisations. They must also operate in at least two English regions and have a combined gross annual income of more than £1 million.

Projects should:

• enable community leaders to shape the future of their communities;
• support leadership across communities and organisations;
• help leaders influence wider systems change;
• share learning with the wider sector.

Most grants will run for five years, although three- or four-year projects may be considered in exceptional cases. The funder expects to support up to 12 projects. Applications close at 12pm on 5 August 2026.