Thanks a billion: how more than £1billion of National Lottery funding has helped support people and projects during pandemic

As the first anniversary of lockdown approaches, the funding package has boosted the arts, heritage, sport and community/charity sector and helped protect the future of thousands of organisations across Scotland during the last year. 

The £1.2 billion awarded has gone towards initiatives and programmes designed to tackle loneliness and isolation, provide support for the elderly and vulnerable young people, and those promoting physical and mental health in the community.

One such project to have benefited from the £30 million raised by National Lottery players every week is the Scottish Youth Theatre, who provide training to young, creative talent across the country.

The company, who are based in Glasgow but operate across Scotland, received a National Lottery grant from Creative Scotland of almost £50,000 and have used the much-needed injection of cash to expand their digital presence. Many young people needed somewhere to turn to more than ever during lockdown, with Scottish Youth Theatre’s ever-increasing nationwide presence providing a crucial outlet of creative support.

The funding has enabled them to run their first ever digital festival – called Making Space – and Jacky Hardacre, Chief Executive at Scottish Youth Theatre, thanked National Lottery players for enhancing their reach and handing young people a vital lifeline.

Jacky, 54, said: “National Lottery players’ contribution really makes a difference. The theatre industry has been hit really hard, and we’re working with young people who want to follow a creative career. 

“What I hope we’ve continued to do is give them some optimism and a pathway into the industry so they can shape it in future. And how good is that?  National Lottery funding, through our Creative Scotland grant, has certainly been a big part of [what we’ve done]. It’s funded a programme of activity for six months of the financial year.

“National Lottery funding has enabled us to develop our company priorities, work digitally and reach further across the whole of Scotland.”

Another project to benefit from a much-needed injection of cash is The Caledonian Railway, an entirely volunteer-run charity that restores, maintains and operates a heritage railway based in the heart of Angus.

The Scottish Youth Theatre embraced digital platforms in lockdown and moved many of their creative ventures online

A grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund has enabled the project to undertake essential maintenance throughout lockdown, providing older volunteers with a vital support network and enhancing mental wellbeing.

Promoting community is at the heart of everything The Caledonian Railway does and Jon Gill, Chairman, thanked National Lottery players for giving his volunteers a crucial lockdown escape.

Jon, 45, who lives in Inverurie, said: “Thank you very much to National Lottery players. To a very large degree, what we’ve done has been a conduit to the community. It’s been great that we’ve been able to keep the railway going, but what it’s really done from a wellbeing point of view is that we’ve been able to get volunteers back on the railway in an area that suffers heavily in terms of deprivation. 

“Yes, we’ve managed to continue and preserve the heritage and make sure it’s safe to operate, but it’s allowed us to do much more than that.”

And in Edinburgh, Scran Academy have used a grant from The National Lottery Community Fund to deliver free hot meals to vulnerable people right across the city.

The catering social enterprise significantly intensified its Edinburgh-wide meal production service when lockdown first struck and has worked with local partners to ensure gaps in service were covered.

The Caledonian Railway were a major Scottish beneficiary of National Lottery funding

Scran Academy’s work prevented homeless people and families from going hungry and thankful John Loughton, 33, Founder and Chairman of the organisation, said: “Every time you buy a National Lottery ticket, you’re sewing a little seed that might grow up to help somebody and flower something that you don’t even realise.

“That’s what we do. There’s a phrase that it takes a whole village to raise a child, and they’re part of that village to help save and raise children and support families. National Lottery players should feel part of that – it’s an amazing project to be part of together as a country, now more than ever.”

Ros Kerslake, Chair of The National Lottery Forum said: “Thanks to The National Lottery’s players, we have been able to offer comprehensive packages of support to thousands of projects throughout the UK over the last year. 

"This funding has helped alleviate some of the significant and unprecedented challenges faced by the community, arts, heritage and sports sectors as a result of the pandemic. None of this would have been possible without the important work of amazing and dedicated people throughout the UK who keep these projects going.”  

To find out more about how The National Lottery supports good causes throughout the UK, visit www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk