The National Lottery was introduced by the Government in 1994, following the enactment of the National Lottery Act 1993, to raise money for good causes to compliment existing public expenditure.

The Lottery is the responsibility of the Department for Culture Media and Sport, through its regulatory body, the National Lottery Commission. Camelot in the operator of the lottery game.

The ‘Good Causes’ identified in the 1993 legislation were sport, the arts, the national heritage, charities and the millennium. Consolidating legislation passed in 1998 established a sixth ‘good cause’ – the New Opportunities Fund – focusing on health, education and the environment. At the end of the year 2000 the Millennium fund ceased to exist. By 2005, funding for social change via health, education and the environment was distributed through a new funder: the Big Lottery Fund.

From every National Lottery ticket bought, 28 pence goes directly towards the five ‘good causes’ to benefit communities across the UK. Lottery Funds allocated to each of the ‘good causes’ are administered through a network of distributing bodies.

Most organisations or groups can apply to the individual boards for lottery funding, and support can range form 30% to 100% funding in some cases.

These ‘good causes’ and their distribution bodies in Scotland are:

• Arts – distributed via the Scottish Arts Council – 16.66%
• Sports – distributed via Sportscotland – 16.66%
• Heritage – distributed via the Heritage Lottery Fund – 16.66%
• Social change, health, education and the environment – distributed via the Big Lottery Fund – 50%

The Scottish Borders

Since the National Lottery began, the Scottish Borders local authority area has attracted in excess of £34 million in funding which is the same as £312 per person.

Scottish Borders Council has a full-time Lottery Officer to assist all groups and organisations in the Borders who may want to apply to any of the National Lottery distribution boards. If you have a project which you think might attract lottery funding, or if you would like more information on any of the funds, please contact:

Jean Robertson, Lottery Officer, Scottish Borders Council, Council Headquarters, Newtown St Boswells, Melrose TD6 0SA. Tel: 01835 826543 or Email.

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