The National Lottery is an important source of revenue for voluntary and community organisations. Run on a licence by a private company (Camelot), it has so far raised £20 billion for good causes, distributed through various bodies specialising in areas such as arts, heritage and sports. Following criticism that it funded large bricks and mortar projects, such as the Millennium Dome, at the expense of local groups, the government launched a ‘permanent revolution’ in 2002 to support more community-based, sustainable projects.
There is however concern about the impact of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games on the funding from the National Lottery.
This overview sets out how the National Lottery provides finance to the voluntary and community sector.
