UK-WIDE Charity Receives £2.7m National Lottery Community Fund to Tackle Inequality and Trauma
Active Communities Network (ACN), a leading UK-wide charity focused on tackling inequality, has been awarded £2.7 million from The National Lottery Community Fund. This funding will support ACN’s flagship programme, The ACN Way, over the next five years, helping the organisation tackle inequality and trauma—issues it identifies as the root of challenges like poverty, underachievement, poor health, homelessness, discrimination, and conflict.
Oliur Rahman, Joint Chief Executive of ACN, describes the ACN Way as a holistic approach to tackling inequality and trauma at their core. The programme will utilise a range of tools, from personal development and sports to education, community work, and conflict resolution, all aimed at supporting disadvantaged communities across the UK. It will foster opportunities, celebrate achievements, and monitor the progress of individuals and the 100 groups involved in the programme throughout the UK.
He said: “Our mission is to address the root causes of many societal issues today. For 17 years, we’ve been working in communities where disadvantage has been pervasive, and while our personal and social development programmes have made an impact, we now recognise the need for deeper intervention.
“Thanks to the National Lottery Community Fund we now have the resources to deliver real, long-term change.”
The ACN Way’s four-pillar approach targets various aspects of societal challenges, with a particular focus on the cultural and social norms that often reinforce trauma. By reflecting on life events and experiences, the programme helps individuals become aware of and even break cycles of trauma that have persisted for generations. The programme will run across five areas of the UK, including Wales, the North of England, London, the Midlands, and Northern Ireland. Each area will work with a network of 20 groups to address these critical challenges.
Oliur continues: “The ACN Way is about pushing policymakers to address inequality and trauma, and we aim to bring together 20 organisations per area to strengthen community groups with a grassroots, bottom-up approach.
“The £2.7 million grant from The National Lottery Community Fund will help us to expand our impact significantly. By playing the National Lottery, people are giving back to their own communities, supporting initiatives like the ACN Way that work to address the most pressing challenges faced by individuals today.”
By working closely with local organisations and individuals, the ACN Way programme aims to create sustainable, positive change that will ripple through communities across the nation.
Melissa Eaglesfield, Deputy Director for UK Portfolio at The National Lottery Community Fund, said: “We are pleased to award this vital funding to Active Communities Network, who are tackling trauma head on for people facing some of the greatest poverty, disadvantage and discrimination.
“We know that giving people more agency creates more resilient communities, and this project will drive community-led change through peer mentoring and skills development.
“Now, thanks to National Lottery players and The UK Fund, communities will have the opportunity to connect and make a lasting difference. We’re looking forward to seeing this project strengthen society and improve many lives.”
The grant awarded to ACN is part of The National Lottery Community Fund’s commitment to supporting initiatives that bring people together, one of the funder’s four key missions. The funding aligns with the strategy ‘It starts with community,’ which focuses on empowering people to come together and take an active role in shaping their futures.
Thanks to National Lottery players, ACN is now equipped with the resources necessary to expand its influence and continue the fight for equality and trauma-informed care across the UK.
