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What’s New - Community and charity

  1. garden

    Discover our top National Lottery funded places to visit this spring

    28th May 2026

    From family fun trails and castle adventures to wildlife encounters and stargazing sessions, here are a few National Lottery funded days out to visit this spring.

  2. Jessica Telling

    World Autism Acceptance Month: How National Lottery funding is helping Chameleon bring autistic voices to the stage

    29th April 2026

    This World Autism Acceptance Month, we're celebrating Chameleon, a dark comedy play supported by National Lottery funding that explores life as a newly diagnosed autistic woman with honesty and humour.

  3. The Book of Bradford image from Comma Press

    Read all about it: From bookish Bradford’s City of Culture legacy to the nationwide Year of Reading 2026

    22nd April 2026

    £1bn+ of National Lottery literary links - the latest chapter being The Book of Bradford (2025), 11 short stories grace National Year of Reading 2026 - writer Nick Ahad reflects on his story and his home city of Bradford

  4. Lincoln Castle pictured from the high walkway around the castle keep, at sunset.

    Built to last: The growing legacy of a National Lottery funded scheme for Heritage skills

    17th April 2026

    A bursary scheme backed by The National Lottery Heritage Fund gave 27 people up to two years of hands-on Heritage skills training. We tracked down one graduate and their employer to ask about the jobs won, the careers changed, and why 41% of those who trained in 'traditionally male' heritage trades were women.

  5. Denton Court Room

    Revealing the "HiDDEN" during National Lottery Open Week

    12th March 2026

    A medieval library, working class movements, a Victorian courtoom and more: five interviews and a 30-year dataset reveal the 'HiDDEN Network' connecting Britain’s reform heritage and the Mancunian spirit - all helped by National Lottery funding.

  6. NIght-time astro-photo of Saturn and Venus pictured over Kielder Observatory, a recipient of funds for good causes that took part in Open Week's 2025 mission to say thanks to National Lottery players. (Photo: Dan Monk, Kielder)

    From cosmos to classroom: National Lottery Open Week meets British Science Week

    12th March 2026

    Data-driven dive into nearly £3b of National Lottery funds to science of all kinds - key facilities, research, astronomy clubs, school science projects.

  7. Last chance to unlock free UK days out in film, science, wildlife and more with a National Lottery ticket

    10th March 2026

    National Lottery Open Week gives players the chance to explore the extraordinary projects, hidden gems and iconic venues they help fund, through the £32 million raised for good causes every week.

  8. A bird eye view of the National Botanic Garden of Wales

    Animals aplenty: National Lottery Open Week 2026 roars into action

    9th March 2026

    Billions raised. Thousands of projects. Millions of wildlife encounters. This data-rich feature unearths how National Lottery funds have helped the UK’s animal kingdom — and what Open Week 2026 could mean for nature lovers ready to explore.

  9. Some family fun at Altrincham Speed Skating Club, Mrs O'Hara and her daughter, club member, Isla,

    Get your skates on: The family-run speed skating club growing the next gen

    6th March 2026

    Under the lights of the ice rink in Altrincham, a handful of skaters are keeping a winter sport alive. This is how the foundations of UK speed skating get built up, one steady session at a time.

  10. Joanna Page

    Hidden gems take centre stage this National Lottery Open Week

    24th February 2026

    With growing interest in hidden gems and unique local experiences across the UK, more people are choosing distinctive days out over viral attractions - and Joanna Page is leading the way with her top hidden gems. National Lottery Open Week (7-15 March) invites players to follow in her footsteps and explore hundreds of extraordinary places, unlocking free entry and special offers at venues made possible by the £32 million raised every week for good causes.

  11. Niall Treacy

    Ice cool: Team GB’s speedster Niall Treacy discusses his journey from Solihull to Milano-Cortina

    19th February 2026

    Meet Niall Treacy, Team GB Speed Skater, discussing Olympic insights, highs and lows, and staying cool under pressure

  12. Niall Treacy at the Milano Ice Skating Arena during Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.

    Rink roots - Team GB Coach Richard Shoebridge's call to the next gen

    19th February 2026

    Team GB speed skating Coach Richard Shoebridge explains why the next generation should consider the ice, and bigs up the rink roots that are growing the next crop of talent