New Change Makers Funding to Support Community Leadership in England

The National Lottery Community Fund has announced a major new funding opportunity to strengthen community leadership across England.

Through its new Change makers programme, the funder will invest in organisations and partnerships that can support community leaders who are making change in and for their communities. The programme forms part of a wider £50 million investment in community leadership over the next five years.

About the fund

The Change makers programme aims to change the way community leaders are supported to succeed. It will fund organisations that can help develop the systems, networks and support community leaders need to thrive.

The National Lottery Community Fund says it wants to support work that:

• enables community leaders to shape the future of their communities
• involves community leaders across communities and organisations, including people from under-represented groups and those with lived experience
• helps community leaders influence wider systems and create systems change
• shares learning with the wider sector and other funded projects

How much funding is available?

Organisations could apply for between £1 million and £5 million, depending on their proposal.

Most funded projects are expected to run for five years, although in exceptional cases the funder may support projects lasting three or four years. The National Lottery Community Fund expects to fund up to 12 projects in total.

Who can apply?

Applications can be made by a single organisation or by a partnership.

To be eligible, applicants must already have:

• experience of supporting community leaders
• experience working with places, people and communities facing poverty, disadvantage or discrimination
• established relationships with organisations working at a local level

Applicants, either individually or through their partnership, must also operate across England and have a combined gross annual income of more than £1 million.

Why this matters

Community leaders play a vital role in identifying local challenges, building trust, connecting people and creating change. However, they often do this work without the support, infrastructure or long-term investment they need.

This funding recognises that strong community leadership does not happen by chance. It needs time, relationships, networks, learning and practical support. The Change makers programme is designed to invest in those wider systems, rather than only funding short-term activity.

For VCSE organisations and partnerships, this could be an important opportunity to think about how community leadership is nurtured, particularly in communities affected by inequality, disadvantage or under-representation.

Webinars

The National Lottery Community Fund is holding webinars to introduce the Change makers partnership. These will take place on:

Thursday 18 June 2026, 3pm to 3.45pm

Tuesday 30 June 2026, 10am to 10.45am

Registration is required through the National Lottery Community Fund website.