Our statement on the Government’s consultation into the National Lottery’s Good Causes funding
The Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has announced a 12-week public consultation, or call for evidence, that will ask the UK public to help shape the future of National Lottery funding in the UK.
The first major consultation into National Lottery Good Cause funding in over 30 years, National Lottery Good Causes: Fund What Matters To You launches today and asks the public to help shape the future of National Lottery Good Cause funding.
DCMS have today issued a statement from Lisa Nandy, Secretary of State, and together with the other National Lottery distributors, we have welcomed this news:
We welcome today’s public consultation on National Lottery Good Causes funding. For more than 30 years, National Lottery players have helped change lives and strengthen communities across the UK. Funding for film does exactly that: opening doors for young people, through education and building skills and careers, keeping local cinemas and festivals at the heart of communities – often providing the only cultural offer for some across the UK, protecting our screen heritage, and backing our creative talent so they can bring UK stories to the screen. As the distributor of National Lottery funding for film, the BFI works with partners UK-wide to make that public investment count: reaching communities, supporting creative ambition, strengthening local cultural life, and by developing the filmmakers, storytellers and BAFTA and Oscar winners of the future, strengthening one of the UK's fastest growing industries.”– Ben Roberts, CEO of the BFI
Since 1994, the National Lottery has generated over £53 billion for good causes across every postcode of the UK, supporting everything from Team GB, iconic cultural venues and heritage sites to local grassroots football clubs and community choirs.
This is a valuable opportunity to gather evidence on the impact of National Lottery funding for film and consider how this funding can go even further to support communities. The government has said that they remain committed to continued funding for the existing good cause sectors, including arts and culture (including film).
The BFI will be championing the successes and variety of projects that have been delivered via National Lottery Funding, and we’d welcome responses from our supporters and their networks too. The deadline for the call for evidence is 23 September.