Open call for evidence

Survey questions: individual responses

Published 1 July 2026

Please note: You may not see all the questions in this survey when completing it online, as some are only displayed based on your answers to previous questions.

About you

The government is interested in hearing from a diverse range of people and organisations from across the UK to gather feedback on how the National Lottery good cause funding is being spent. 

These first few questions about you help us understand who is responding and their interactions with the National Lottery. All responses will be treated confidentially in line with the privacy notice. 

PD1. Are you answering this call for evidence as an individual member of the public, or on behalf of an organisation? 

• 1. An individual member of the public
• 2. On behalf of an organisation

PD2. Where in the UK do you currently live?

• 1. England

  • A. North East England 
  • B. North West England
  • C. Yorkshire and Humber 
  • D. West Midlands 
  • E. East Midlands
  • F. East of England
  • G. London
  • H. South East England
  • I. South West England

• 2. Scotland

  • A. East Scotland
  • B. South West Scotland
  • C. North East Scotland
  • D. South East Scotland 
  • E. Highlands and Islands 

• 3. Wales

  • A. South East Wales
  • B. South West Wales
  • C. Central Wales
  • D. North Wales

• 4. Northern Ireland 

  • A. East Northern Ireland
  • B. West Northern Ireland

• 5. Other (Please specify) [free text box]

• 6. Prefer not to say

PD3. The government is interested in understanding whether there is a relationship between where someone lives and the impact of and access to National Lottery Good Cause Funding. To aid we are asking for your postcode, but this is not a mandatory requirement. 

PD4. If you are comfortable sharing, what is your postcode? (Click ‘Next page’ if you do not wish to give your postcode). 

PD5. What is your gender?  

• 1. Male
• 2. Female 
• 3. Non-binary 
• 4. Prefer to self-describe [free text box]
• 5. Prefer not to say 

PD6. How old are you currently?

• 1. 16 to 17 years old 
• 2. 18 to 24 years old
• 3. 25 to 34 years old
• 4. 35 to 44 years old
• 5. 45 to 54 years old 
• 6. 55 to 64 years old 
• 7. 65 to 74 years old 
• 8. 75 to 84 years old
• 9. 85+ years old 
• 10. Prefer not to say

PD7. How frequently, if at all, do you currently play National Lottery games? (including if you play as part of a group/syndicate)

As a reminder, this includes ticket lottery games (e.g. Lotto, Euromillions), scratchcards and other instant win games available online.

• 1. Twice a week or more
• 2. Once a week
• 3. Once a fortnight 
• 4. Once a month 
• 5. Every few months 
• 6. Less often 
• 7. Only occasionally for specific events/high jackpots etc. 
• 8. I never play National Lottery games
• 9. Prefer not to say

Empowering your community to feel benefits

The government wants to ensure that all communities can access and benefit from National Lottery good cause funding.

We’re now going to ask some questions about the impact of National Lottery good cause funding. 

Question 1. How aware, if at all, are you of the impact National Lottery good cause funding has had in each of the following?

• A. Your local area

• B. Nationally across the UK

• 1. Very aware
• 2. Somewhat aware
• 3. Not very aware 
• 4. Not aware at all
• 5. Don’t know

Question 2. You said you have some awareness of how the National Lottery good cause funding has impacted the UK more broadly.

What is the most positive impact you have seen on a national level from the funding? [free text box]

Question 3. You said you have some awareness of how the National Lottery good cause funding has impacted your local area.

To what extent, if at all, do you think this funding has had a positive or negative impact on each of the following?

• A. Your local area

• B. You personally 

• 1. Very positive 
• 2. Fairly positive 
• 3. Neither positive nor negative
• 4. Fairly negative
• 5. Very negative
• 6. Don’t know

Question 4. You said you have some awareness of how the National Lottery good cause funding has positively impacted your local area.

What is the most positive impact you have seen in your local area from the funding? [free text box]

Question 5. You said you have some awareness of how the National Lottery good cause funding has negatively impacted your local area.

How has the funding negatively impacted your area? - [free text box]

Question 6. You said you have some awareness of how the National Lottery good cause funding has positively impacted yourself personally.

What is the most positive impact funding has had on you personally? [free text box]

Question 7. You said you have some awareness of how the National Lottery good cause funding has negatively impacted you personally.

How has the funding negatively impacted you personally? [free text box]

Question 8. You said you have some awareness of how the National Lottery good cause funding has impacted your local area or the UK more broadly. 

From which of the following, if any, did you see, hear or read about this good cause funding? Please pick as many as apply. 

• 1. Direct from a funding recipient 
• 2. Official National Lottery channels (e.g. website, social media, advertising or physical signage at lottery funded projects)
• 3. Newspapers (national, local or regional)
• 4. Physical signage, posters or plaques (e.g. in shops, buildings, windows)
• 5. Television (national or regional programmes)
• 6. Radio (national, local or regional)
• 7. Social media (e.g. Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, Snapchat etc.)
• 8. Word of mouth
• 9. Community groups
• 10. Educational institutions
• 11. Local authority or council communication
• 12. Leaflets / written communications
• 13. Through big events like the Olympic Games
• 14. Other (Please specify) [free text box]
• 15. Don’t know/can’t remember
• 16. I’m not aware of any National Lottery good cause funding

Question 9. How do you think the National Lottery could better communicate with you about how it’s investing good cause funding in your local area? [free text box]

Funding what’s important to you

The government wants to understand the public’s views on the current good causes and whether they reflect today’s national priorities. 

Question 10. Which of the following areas, if any, do you think should be prioritised for receiving National Lottery good cause funding? As a reminder good cause funding should only be spent on projects and activities which do not typically receive core government funding - this is known as the additionality principle.

• 1. Arts and culture (e.g. funding for films, theatre, dance, music, literature etc.)
• 2. Sport (e.g. funding for grassroots sports clubs, sporting initiatives, Olympic teams etc.)
• 3. Heritage (e.g. funding to protect and promote historic buildings, public parks, community archaeology).
• 4. Funding for community-led initiatives (e.g. projects which tackle poverty, loneliness and support local charities etc.) 
• 5. Health and wellbeing which excludes core NHS spending (e.g. funding for mental health support, local wellbeing initiatives etc.)
• 6. Education and skills which excludes core education spending (e.g youth work, life skills, community training that opens doors to new opportunities etc)
• 7. The environment (e.g. local nature restoration, urban green spaces, tackling the climate crisis etc.)
• 8. Don’t know

Question 11. In the last financial year, the National Lottery raised £1.7bn for good causes. This is currently distributed as follows: Arts and Culture (20%), Sport (20%),  Heritage (20%), Charitable activities including health, education and the environment (40%). 

Considering this, what percentage of funding, if any, do you think each of these areas should receive? Your answers must add up to 100%.

• 1. Arts and culture 
• 2. Sport 
• 3. Heritage 
• 4. Charitable activities including health, education and the environment 

Question 12. As a reminder, the National Lottery good cause funding currently supports the following areas:  Arts and Culture, Sport, Heritage, Local communities and charities including Health and wellbeing, Education and skills and the Environment. Good cause funding should only be spent on projects and activities which do not typically receive core government funding - this is known as the additionality principle.

Question 13. Are there any further areas you would like to see supported by National Lottery good cause funding? 

• 1. Please input your response [free text box]
• 2. Don’t know
• 3. No more areas

Question 14. The proportion of funding given to each area is established in law, but is not subject to any periodical review. How often, if at all, do you think that the proportion of National Lottery good cause funding each area receives should be reviewed? 

• 1. Frequently (e.g. every 1 to 2 years) 
• 2. Regularly (e.g. every 5 years) 
• 3. Occasionally (e.g. every ten years)
• 4. Less often than every 10 years
• 5. It should never be reviewed
• 6. Don’t know

Empowering communities to take decisions

The government wants to ensure that communities across the country have the opportunity to access and benefit from good cause funding. 

Question 15. As you may know, National Lottery good cause funding is currently spent on both large-scale national projects and small-scale community-level projects. 

When making decisions on how to spend the funding, to what extent do you think large-scale national projects or small-scale community-level projects should be prioritised?

• 1. Local projects should receive lots more 
• 2. Local projects should receive slightly more
• 3. Both should receive roughly the same amount 
• 4. National projects should receive slightly more
• 5. National projects should receive lots more
• 6. Don’t know

Question 16. From the following options, how do you think National Lottery good cause funding would be best spent across the UK?

• 1. Funding should be primarily focused on communities with the greatest need (e.g. areas with higher poverty, fewer public services or facilities)
• 2. Funding should be primarily focused on all communities regardless of need
• 3. Funding should be primarily focused on higher profile or national projects (e.g. national museums, Olympic sports, UK films)
• 4. None of the above
• 5. Don’t know

Question 17. To what extent, if either, would you support or oppose the amount of National Lottery good cause funding an area receives being linked to how many lottery tickets are sold there?

• 1. Strongly support
• 2. Tend to support
• 3. Neither support nor oppose
• 4. Tend to oppose
• 5. Strongly oppose
• 6. Don’t know

Question 18. How much influence, if any, do you think your community has over decisions about where National Lottery good cause funding is spent?

• 1. A great deal of influence
• 2. A fair amount of influence
• 3. Not very much influence
• 4. Not influence at all 
• 5. Don’t know

Question 19. You said that your local community has some influence over where National Lottery funding is spent. 

What approach did your community take in order to achieve this? [free text box]

Question 20. We are aiming to make good cause funding more participatory, inclusive and representative for communities across the UK.

How best do you think the National Lottery and the 12 National Lottery Distributor Bodies, who distribute lottery funding to grant recipients, could give your community more of a say over where good cause funding goes? [free text box]

Simplifying access to funding

The government wants to improve efficiency and ensure that everyone can access the funding they deserve. 

Question 21. We’re also keen to gather feedback on the people’s experiences of applying for and accessing National Lottery good cause funding.

Which of the following statements best describes your experience with the National Lottery good cause funding application process?

• 1. I’ve applied/am applying for a grant on behalf of myself
• 2. I’ve applied/am applying personally for a grant on behalf of an organisation
• 3. I know some who has applied for a grant (e.g. colleague, friend, family member)
• 4. I’ve never applied for lottery good cause funding 
• 5. I was not aware that lottery good cause funding was available
• 6. Don’t know  

Question 22. How easy or difficult, if either, did you find the process of applying for National Lottery good cause funding?

• 1. Very easy
• 2. Fairly easy
• 3. Neither easy nor difficult
• 4. Fairly difficult
• 5. Very difficult
• 6. Not applicable (I didn’t personally apply)
• 7. Don’t know

Question 23. You said that you found the process of applying for National Lottery good cause funding somewhat difficult. 

Could you tell us what was difficult about the process? [free text box]

Question 24. You said that you found the process of applying for National Lottery good cause funding somewhat easy.  

Could you tell us what was easy about the process? [free text box]

Question 25. And was your application for a grant from National Lottery good cause funding successful or unsuccessful? 

• 1. Successful –  we received good cause funding 
• 2. Unsuccessful – we didn’t receive good cause funding
• 3. A mixture – I’ve applied successfully and unsuccessfully in the past
• 4. Don’t know/can’t remember

Question 26. Which of the following bodies have you applied for National Lottery good cause funding with? Please select as many as apply.

• 1. National Lottery Community Fund
• 2. National Lottery Heritage Fund
• 3. Arts Council England
• 4. Creative Scotland
• 5. Arts Council of Wales
• 6. Arts Council of Northern Ireland
• 7. UK Sport
• 8. Sport England
• 9. Sport Scotland
• 10. Sport Wales
• 11. Sport Council for Northern Ireland
• 12. British Film Institute 
• 13. Don’t know/can’t remember

Question 27. Thinking about all the times you have applied for National Lottery good cause funding in the past, approximately what has been the total amount of money you have applied for? 

• 1. Less than £1,000
• 2. £1,000 to £9,999
• 3. £10,000 to £24,999
• 4. £25,000 to £49,999
• 5. £50,000 to £99,999
• 6. £100,000 to £249,999
• 7. £250,000 to £999,999
• 8. £1,000,000 to £4,999,999
• 9. More than £5,000,000
• 10. Don’t know/Can’t remember

Question 28. From which of the following, if any, did you hear that you/your organisation could apply for National Lottery good cause funding? Please select as many that apply.

• 1. Direct from a funding recipient 
• 2. Official National Lottery channels (e.g. website, social media, advertising)
• 3. Newspapers (national, local or regional)
• 4. Television (national or regional programmes)
• 5. Radio (national, local or regional)
• 6. Social media (e.g. Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, Snapchat etc.)
• 7. Word of mouth
• 8. Community groups
• 9. Educational institutions
• 10. Local authority or council communication
• 11. Leaflets/written communications
• 12. Work conferences / networking events
• 13. Other (Please specify) [free text box]
• 14. Don’t know / can’t remember 
• 15. I’m not aware of any National Lottery good cause funding

Question 29. Based on your or your organisation’s experiences, what changes, if any, would you like to see made to the process of applying for National Lottery good cause funding? [free text box]

Question 30. Which of the following, if any, would most encourage you or your organisation to apply for National Lottery good cause funding? Please select all that apply.

• 1. Confidence that my application would be successful 
• 2. Clear eligibility criteria 
• 3. Simple and easy application process 
• 4. Opportunity to work with the National Lottery  
• 5. Positive testimonials from successful applicants 
• 6. High success rates of applications 
• 7. Access to supportive resources / templates when applying 
• 8. An accessible application process (e.g. different languages, methods of applying)
• 9. The opportunity to access extra funding / money
• 10. Other (Please specify) - [free text box]
• 11. Nothing would encourage me to apply for funding
• 12. Don’t know

Question 31. Which of the following, if any, would you say are the biggest barriers that you or your organisation would encounter when thinking about applying for National Lottery good cause funding? Please select all that apply.

• 1. Lack of confidence that an application would be successful 
• 2. Unaware of good cause funding opportunities
• 3. The application process would be complex
• 4. Unsure whether we’d be eligible for the funding
• 5. Lack of time to apply 
• 6. Competition for funding would be too high
• 7. Too much documentation/admin would be needed
• 8. Limited access to necessary technology needed to apply
• 9. Language barriers when applying 
• 10. Previous experiences of being rejected for funding 
• 11. Subsequent reporting obligations too demanding
• 12. No need to apply/don’t need the funding
• 13. Other (Please specify) [free text box]
• 14. There are no barriers to applying
• 15. Don’t know

Question 32. How do you think the National Lottery and the 12 National Lottery Distributor Bodies, who distribute lottery funding to grant recipients, could encourage more people that are eligible to apply for good cause funding? What more could they be doing? [free text box]

Question 33. We’ve just about finished. Do you have anything else that you would like to tell us  as part of this call for evidence?

• 1. Yes [free text box]
• 2. No – nothing else to add