How The National Lottery Community Fund champions grassroots and disability sport
David Knott, Chief Executive at The National Lottery Community Fund, reflects on the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games and how National Lottery funding champions grassroots and disability sport in communities at home.
Louise Forrest, Chair of the Disability Staff Network at The National Lottery Community Fund, said: “Participation in sport provided me with a lifeline whilst growing up with a disability. I’m very proud that the Fund supports many projects using sport as a tool to build stronger communities and enable people to realise their full potential.”
Having taken home over 70 medals from the Paris Olympics and Paralympics, it’s safe to say we’ve had an incredible summer of sport. I’m always awed and inspired by the achievements of the Olympians and Paralympians. They make me reflect on the enormous impact that National Lottery funding has on grassroots sports projects in communities across the UK.
I feel particularly proud that since April 2021, The National Lottery Community Fund has awarded over £113 million through nearly 1,500 grants to an extraordinary breadth of UK projects that support people with disabilities through sport. From boccia to football, ice hockey to angling, and everything in between, thanks to National Lottery players, these projects can make an incredible difference to people’s lives.
One such project is North Cornwall Riding for the Disabled Group, which recently received £10,000 in National Lottery funding to purchase ‘Elodie’, a mechanical horse. Elodie will encourage disabled riders to get ‘back in the saddle’ - gain confidence, improve fitness and learn new skills.
Another example is the PHAB club in Bradford, which offers local young people living with physical conditions, learning disabilities, or who are neurodivergent (or who have intersecting conditions), accessible activities including caving and canoeing, as well as cricket, tennis, rounders, and much more.
Reading the testimony of people like Alex’s mother – Alex is 12 and has physical and learning disabilities – the individual impact of groups like PHAB is immediately clear. “He loves PHAB CLUB sports camps… The difference that it has made in him is enormous. He has grown in confidence and independence… Now there is no stopping him; he will try anything.” Such stories are heartening to hear.
As well as amazing disability sports projects, National Lottery funding also provides a huge boost to disability-led groups and organisations that support disabled communities across the UK.
Deaf-initely Women is a project run by and for Deaf women living in the East Midlands. This fantastic group is using nearly £20,000 in National Lottery funding to help to empower women who have experienced discrimination or isolation because of their Deafness or hearing loss.
Rachel Shaw, Operations Manager at Deaf-initely Women, said: “Thanks to National Lottery players, we can offer free advocacy, advice and support services to improve the wellbeing and confidence of Deaf, Blind and hard of hearing women across Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and beyond.”
Sadly, discrimination is still a real barrier, preventing many Deaf and disabled people from leading the lives they want and value. We know disabled people face huge challenges in our society, stemming from discrimination and other structural inequalities, which accounts for fewer job opportunities and leads to a pay gap between disabled and non-disabled employees. Other spectrums of difference, such as gender, age and race, also intersect with disability and may compound the challenges faced by a disabled person.
National Lottery funding is for everyone, and we believe that communities and organisations are stronger when everyone can participate. At The National Lottery Community Fund, our strategy – indeed, our motto - is: “It starts with community”. This is true. But it also starts with us; how we learn and grow as an organisation to ensure we reflect our values and the communities we serve.
Our Corporate Plan commits to ensuring that the Fund’s workforce reflects and is representative of the rich diversity and experiences of the communities we serve across the UK, both now and in the future.
We know we still need to improve in how we support our disabled colleagues and are working closely with members of our Disability Staff Network. We are a certified Disability Confident Employer, and partner with organisations like the Business Disability Forum, which provides access to resources and advice, including a helpline for managers. Later this year, we will be sharing our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Statement (EDI) of Intent, which sets out our commitment to EDI as an employer and as the UK's biggest funder of communities, with equity at the heart of our funding strategy.
Look out for our upcoming Disability Pay Gap Report, to analyse and understand the systemic reasons behind pay inequities faced by disabled colleagues, and our plans to address them.
The achievements of our extraordinary world-class athletes this summer are indeed something to celebrate. And, in the aftermath of the Games, it’s wonderful to feel part of the buzz sweeping the nation. I always marvel at the power of sport to bring so many of us together. But when the closing ceremonies have finished, the confetti has settled, and the news-cycle has moved on, what remains? The inspiring projects like North Cornwall Riding for the Disabled Group, Bradford PHAB Club, and Deaf-initely Women transforming people’s lives and strengthening communities, day in, day out, thanks to National Lottery funding. Now that is something to celebrate, all year round.