Committee publication · Correspondence · 8 July 2026
Letter from Baroness Twycross, Minister for Museums, Heritage and Gambling, regarding National Lottery Good Causes funding, 1 July 2026
From: Culture, Media and Sport Committee
Inquiry: The work of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport
Summary
Baroness Twycross announces a 12-week Government Call for Evidence on National Lottery Good Causes funding, titled 'Fund What Matters to You'. The consultation seeks public input on how lottery funding—which has generated over £53 billion since 1994—can better reflect current societal priorities and meet community needs. The Government argues the current distribution system has remained largely unchanged for over 30 years and requires modernisation.
Key findings
- National Lottery has generated over £53 billion for good causes since 1994, supporting Olympic/Paralympic success, heritage conservation, arts funding, and grassroots community projects across every UK postcode
- Current distribution system via 12 National Lottery Distributor Bodies across Arts, Heritage, Sport, and Communities sectors has not been substantially consulted on in over three decades
- Government launching 12-week Call for Evidence to determine public priorities for lottery funding and identify how the system can better serve local communities and reflect contemporary needs
Tone
SupportiveTopics
Key actors
Baroness Twycross, Dame Caroline Dinenage, Department for Culture, Media and Sport, National Lottery Distributor Bodies
Notable line
“The current system for distribution of good cause funding remains largely unchanged and has not been properly consulted on in over three decades.”
Key Quotes
“Since the first draw in 1994, the National Lottery has generated over £53 billion for good causes, reaching every postcode in the country.”
“The current system for distribution of good cause funding remains largely unchanged and has not been properly consulted on in over three decades.”
“When we buy a National Lottery ticket we are all donating to good causes across the country, and we should all have a voice in how it is spent.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗