The External Funding Team provides advice to individuals and organisations seeking grant aid from the National Lottery, and in some cases help formulate bids linked to Council Priorities for grants under the specific lottery headings such as Arts, Charities, Heritageand  Sports.

The National Lottery raises money to support the following good causes:

The Big Lottery Fund gives out half of the good causes money raised from Lottery ticket sales. BIG money goes to community groups and to projects that improve health, education and the environment.  For further information about the grant programmes they run, contact the Big Advice Line on 08454 10 20 30.

Sport England gives grants to non profit making organisations to support projects which will improve the quality of sports provision and increase the number of people participating in sports activities. For further information on the National and Regional programmes they run  contactthe Sport EnglandFunding Line on 08458 508 508.

Arts Council England   gives grants to non profit making organisationsand individuals to support projects which support the development of the arts . Funding for the Arts Council comes from the National Lottery and Central Goverment. For further information on its grant programmes contact the Arts CouncilEngland- North East on 0845 300 6200.

The Heritage Lottery Fund gives grants to non profit making organisations to support capital and revenue projects which will help to safeguard and enhance the heritage of buildings, objects and the environment. For further information on its grant programmes contact the Heritage Lottery Fund North East Office on 0191 255 7570.

The Awards For All programme is a jointly funded lottery programme which provides grants to Community organisationsfor between £300 and £10,000 in any 2 year period. For further information on this grant programme contact Awards for All on 0845 600 2040.