Scottish Children’s Lottery Trust

The Scottish Children’s Lottery Trust, established in 2015 (Scottish Charity SC046177) and funded by the Scottish Children’s Lottery, is dedicated to improving the lives of children and young people across Scotland by alleviating poverty, social exclusion, deprivation, disability, and illness. With a vision to empower every child to reach their potential regardless of background, the Trust prioritises evidence-based interventions tackling root causes of disadvantage, fostering a fairer society through practical support for vulnerable families and communities. Its distinctive all-Scotland focus emphasises measurable impact, having distributed over £8.8 million to date via agile funding streams like the Small Fund, Medium Fund, and Bright Futures Fund.

It supports projects delivering essential services such as accessible childcare, after-school and holiday programmes with educational elements, mentoring and employability training, IT/educational equipment, community libraries, recreational/sporting activities, and initiatives building self-confidence for at-risk youth, including those facing socio-economic hardship, disability, illness, or family challenges. Funding targets direct interventions like food, clothing, and family support, benefiting over 25,000 children annually through grassroots charities.

Eligible applicants are Scotland-registered charities delivering projects throughout Scotland, with a preference for small to medium-sized, locally-based organisations that have a charity bank account, recent accounts, and match funding; no strict income thresholds apply, but large national charities are less favoured. Applications via online form are accepted only during annual windows—no rolling or unsolicited outside these—with quarterly Board decisions. Next deadlines: Medium Fund closes 27 March 2026 (£1,000–£10,000); Small/Bright Futures closes 2 October 2026 (up to £5,000/£1,000).

Exclusions include core/admin costs, multi-year projects, capital-only/endowment grants, unrestricted funding, or projects outside Scotland; active grantees cannot reapply for 12 months post-start. Unique for its strict, transparent governance, impact reporting, and singular child-focused mission amid Scotland’s poverty challenges.