The National Lottery Community Fund appoints new Scotland Committee members

The National Lottery Community Fund, the largest funder of community activity in the UK, is pleased to announce the new members joining its Scotland Committee. The news comes at a time of significant renewal at the Fund as it embeds its strategy, It starts with community, setting a new direction to 2030.

Coming from local government, academia and the third sector, the new committee members bring years of experience and leadership working with and alongside Scotland’s communities supporting those experiencing poverty, disadvantage and discrimination.

They are:

Bruce Adamson, Scotland’s former Children and Young People’s Commissioner and an internationally recognised expert in human rights and work with children and young people.

David Dorward MBE, a former Chief Executive of Dundee City Council and a key charity leader in the city with a strong track record in anti-poverty and community work.

Erin Williams, a senior academic at the University of Edinburgh and co-founder and Director of Research and Communication at Feed, an independent infant feeding charity.

Melodie Crumlin, founding CEO of PEEK, a charity supporting children, young people and families in Glasgow and Deputy CEO at MCR Pathways.

Across the UK, we have also appointed one young person onto each of our funding committees as youth voice representatives. We are pleased to welcome Holly Hendrie who will bring her insights, skills and experience to our work and the Scotland Committee.

Welcoming their appointments, The National Lottery Community Fund’s Scotland Chair, Kate Still, said: “I am delighted to welcome new colleagues to our Scotland Committee who will bring passion for making communities across Scotland healthier, stronger and more inclusive to our decision making and strategic thinking.

“Drawing on their extensive experience and expertise of working in and alongside the community and voluntary sector, they will help us to implement our UK wide strategy here in Scotland and decide how National Lottery funding should be awarded to create impact for communities across the country.

“I would also like to extend my thanks and appreciation to our outgoing committee members - Lindsay Graham, Aaliya Seyal, Martin Johnstone and Janet Miles - who over the years have generously shared their time and expertise to help us deliver for communities across Scotland.”

The new members join Chair Kate Still, and existing committee members Jackie Brock and Naila Wood, to make up the eight strong Scotland committee responsible for setting Scotland’s strategic direction and policy framework, and ensuring that equity, diversity and inclusion lie at the heart of its decision-making.

Bruce Adamson said: "I am delighted to join the amazing team at The National Lottery Community Fund in Scotland. I have seen the huge impact that the Fund has had on children, young people, their families and their communities. At a time when communities are facing so many challenges, it is inspiring to see incredible and innovative projects across Scotland which are changing lives."

David Dorward said: "It is a privilege to be given this opportunity to facilitate positive change within local communities as a member of the Scottish Committee. Many individuals, families and communities in Scotland are facing very difficult times.

“I have witnessed first-hand the voluntary and third sector in Scotland working extensively and diligently with communities to improve the lives and opportunities of vulnerable people and The National Lottery has been instrumental in bringing much of that work to fruition. I am delighted and honoured to be given the opportunity to support the Scotland Committee at such a critical time."

Welcoming the appointment Erin Williams said: “Coming from a close-knit ex-mining community in Ayrshire, I’ve seen what communities can achieve when they have the resources and support they need.

“At a time when so many families are struggling, it’s crucial that funding and support reach those who need it most, and it's great to be joining a team who make this happen. I look forward to working with my fellow committee members to ensure the Scotland Committee continues to make a real and lasting impact in communities across the country.”

Melodie Crumlin said:” I am honoured to join The National Lottery Community Fund Scotland Committee and excited to support communities across the country. With growing challenges such as the rising cost of living, environmental concerns, and poverty, the need for meaningful support has never been greater.

“Having seen the transformative impact of this funding on children, young people, and families, I am committed to working collaboratively to improve lives and build stronger, more resilient communities, ensuring that local voices remain at the heart of every decision. Together, we can create lasting, meaningful change for and with the people who need it most.” 

National Lottery players raise over £30 million a week for good causes across the UK. Thanks to them, last year (2023/24) The National Lottery Community Fund awarded over half a billion pounds (£686.3 million) of life-changing funding to communities across the UK, supporting over 13,700 projects to turn their great ideas into reality. 

In the last five years over £339 million has been distributed to 9,822 groups across Scotland.

To find out more visit www.TNLCommunityFund.org.uk        

Date published: 20 March, 2025
Region: Scotland

Notes to Editors

About The National Lottery Community Fund  

We are the largest non-statutory community funder in the UK – community is at the heart of our purpose, vision and name.     

We support activities that create resilient communities that are more inclusive and environmentally sustainable and that will strengthen society and improve lives across the UK.    

We’re proud to award money raised by National Lottery players to communities across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and to work closely with government to distribute vital grants and funding from key government programmes and initiatives.      

As well as responding to what communities tell us is important to them, our funding is focused on four key missions, supporting communities to:   

1. Come together  

2. Be environmentally sustainable  

3. Help children and young people thrive  

4. Enable people to live healthier lives.    

Thanks to the support of National Lottery players, we distribute over £600 million a year through 13,000+ grants and plan to invest over £4 billion of funding into communities by 2030. We’re privileged to be able to work with the smallest of local groups right up to UK-wide charities, enabling people and communities to bring their ambitions to life.      

National Lottery players raise over £30 million each week for good causes throughout the UK. Since The National Lottery began in 1994, £49 billion has been raised and more than 690,000 individual grants have been made across the UK - the equivalent of around 240 National Lottery grants in every UK postcode district.  

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