Lottery funding under the new regime must not act as a substitute for statutory spending cuts, Navca and the Directory of Social Change have warned in their joint submission to the government’s consultation of how National Lottery cash should be divided up.

Any changes to the current system must not lead to less money for local charities and community
groups, the two groups said.

They also demanded that BIG funding be accessible to a range of local organisations, such as community sports or arts groups as well as opera houses or elite athletics.

And they called for clear criteria for evaluating and tracking joint bids between civil society organisations and statutory bodies, so that funding is only for the sector and not a substitute for statutory spending cuts.

The proposed 5 per cent mandatory cap on Lottery admin costs should also be re-examined to ensure it doesn’t disincentivise smaller applicants, and any funds raised from the sale of Olympic assets should be reallocated according to previous proportions.

Kevin Curley, CEO of Navca, said: “It is really important that all lottery distributors target their funding at supporting local action and not elite activities.”