National Lottery Climate Action Fund Doubles Support for Community Projects
The National Lottery Community Fund has announced a new £50m round for its Climate Action Fund, extending support into 2025 with a sharper focus on community-led adaptation and nature-based solutions. Here’s what your team should know before drafting with Crafty.
TL;DR
- The new £50m phase opens for expressions of interest in March 2025 and prioritises flood resilience, nature recovery, and community energy.
- Local authority partnerships are encouraged, with at least two community anchor partners required per bid.
- Refresh your evidence bank, risk register, and trust-based reporting toolkit to match the fund’s learning-first approach.
What did the National Lottery announce?
On 21 November 2024, the National Lottery Community Fund confirmed an additional £50m for the Climate Action Fund, doubling down on community-led climate projects after evaluating the first phase (source: NLCF press release). The new funding stream emphasises adaptation, with the aim of supporting 100+ local partnerships over the next three years.
What priorities and eligibility changes should you note?
The fund now expects:
- Consortium bids involving at least two community anchor organisations plus local authorities or housing associations.
- Evidence of community leadership in design and governance, aligning with NLCF’s insights on climate action.
- Integrated nature-based solutions (blue-green infrastructure, peatland restoration) and climate justice outcomes.
What’s the application timetable for 2025?
NLCF plans two expression-of-interest windows in March and September 2025, followed by invited full proposals. Bids can request between £500k and £3m over up to five years.
How should you prepare with Crafty?
Start by refreshing your consortium MoUs to include climate adaptation roles and shared measurement plans. Update the trust-based reporting toolkit with climate justice storytelling and integrate real-time data into the leading indicator dashboard.
Next steps and resources
Download the updated Climate Action Fund criteria, budget template, and Crafty prompt pack for climate narratives. Stay close to the NLCF funding newsletter for rolling updates.
Action plan
- Map priority climate risks with community partners before EOIs open.
- Co-create governance documents and budget scenarios with local authorities.
- Load climate evidence and prompt libraries into Crafty for rapid drafting.