Torbay Lottery opens £12,000 fund to back grassroots community projects across the bay

The Torbay Lottery Small Grants Fund has opened for applications, with local groups able to bid for up to £2,000 to support community projects.

The fund will remain open until 4pm on Friday 6 March 2026 and has a total pot of £12,000 for the 2025/26 financial year. The money has been raised through support for the central Torbay Lottery Fund.

Torbay Council is inviting applications from local charity, voluntary and community sector organisations. Grants are intended to help cover the costs of specific activities or the purchase of equipment.

Since its launch in 2017, the Torbay Lottery Small Grants Fund has distributed £101,136 to local causes over the past eight years.

Councillor Jackie Thomas, Torbay Council’s Cabinet Member for Tourism, Culture & Events and Corporate Services, said the scheme had played an important role in supporting communities across the bay.

She said: “Torbay Lottery has been helping our local communities to raise additional funding since 2017. We have already given out £101,136 from the Torbay Lottery Small Grants Fund over the past eight years and would really like to see new local groups applying this year so that we can benefit even more residents.

“We want to encourage as many local groups as possible to join our Torbay Lottery. It is an easy and fun way to help raise monthly funding, with support from pre-designed marketing materials and a dedicated page on our Torbay Lottery website.”

Good causes receive 50p from every ticket sold for their organisation, and there is no cost to sign up. The Torbay Lottery currently supports 159 local good causes and has raised more than £291,414 since it was launched.

Last year’s top-earning good causes were South Devon Cats Rehoming, which raised £1,404, PATH and Torbay National Coastwatch Institution, which both raised £1,222, and Friends of the Vigilance of Brixham, which raised £1,014.

Applications do not need to come from organisations already signed up to the Torbay Lottery, but all bids must meet the fund’s eligibility requirements.

Funding will only be awarded where applicants can demonstrate a clear and defined impact that supports the ambitions of Torbay’s Community and Corporate Plan. Organisations are also expected to show how the funding will deliver outcomes for projects that benefit Torbay residents.

A Torbay Lottery panel will review all applications, with successful applicants notified within six weeks of the closing date.