Manx Lottery Trust

Charity Number: CUSTOM_86213B39

Annual Expenditure: £0.6M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £600,000 (through Community Awards Programme)
  • Total Distributed: Over £13 million (across 34 years of operations)
  • Decision Time: 6-10 weeks
  • Grant Range: £300 - £75,000
  • Geographic Focus: Isle of Man only
  • Projects Supported: 153 projects through Community Awards Programme since 2015

Contact Details

Address: The Stamp Room, Second Floor, Bourne Concourse, Ramsey, IM8 1JJ

Phone: 0800 047 0036

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.mlt.org.im

Pre-Application Support: Available - contact the grants team for guidance and advice with applications

Overview

The Manx Lottery Trust is an independent charitable trust registered on the Isle of Man (charity number 1021), constituted under a trust deed dated 21 May 2008. As a delegated partner of the National Lottery Community Fund, the Trust has distributed over £13 million to good causes on the Isle of Man across 34 years. The Trust received £6 million in funding in 2021, enabling it to grant £600,000 annually to Manx causes over ten years through its Community Awards Programme. Since its launch in 2015, the Community Awards Programme has supported 153 Isle of Man projects. The Trust's mission is to provide grants to appropriate organisations for the benefit of people resident on the Isle of Man, funding a wide range of community projects aimed at developing skills, improving health, revitalizing the local environment, and enabling people to become more active citizens.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

1. Smaller Grants Programme (£300 - £2,500)

  • Simple, “light touch” application process
  • Rolling basis
  • Directly funded by Manx Lottery Trust
  • Decision time: 6-8 weeks
  • Submit 3 months in advance of project start date

2. Community Awards Programme (£2,501 - £50,000)

  • Improves communities and lives of people most in need
  • Rolling basis
  • Funded by National Lottery Community Fund
  • Decision time: approximately 10 weeks
  • Submit 4 months in advance of project start date

3. Dormant Assets Fund (up to £75,000)

  • Helps organizations adapt to future challenges
  • Builds financial resilience and organizational capacity
  • Develops skills and increases diversity of volunteers and trustees

4. Thematic Fund

  • Annual themed funding programme
  • Current theme: “Space to Thrive”
  • Grant amounts: £2,501 - £25,000
  • Fixed deadline application

5. Warm Spaces Fund

  • Supports community gathering and mutual support
  • Helps organizations assist people to stay warm and socially connected

Priority Areas

The Trust funds projects that address the issues, needs, and aspirations of local communities and people. They support a wide range of community activities including:

  • Developing skills and capacity
  • Improving health and wellbeing
  • Revitalizing the local environment
  • Enabling active citizenship
  • Youth activities and support
  • Addiction and mental health services
  • Community facilities improvements
  • Environmental and heritage projects
  • Support for vulnerable populations
  • Volunteer development and governance

What They Don't Fund

  • Projects not undertaken on the Isle of Man
  • Non-charitable purposes
  • Organizations without an Isle of Man bank account requiring dual signatories (unrelated, different addresses)
  • More than one application at a time from the same organization
  • Applications from current grant holders who have not met monitoring requirements
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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

Sarah Kelly (Chairman) - MHK for Douglas South, originally joined as Trustee in November 2021, previously served as Chair from 2018-2022, returned to Chairman role in 2025. On her return, Kelly stated: "It's a privilege to return to the role as Chairman of the Manx Lottery Trust.“ She has a passion for community-oriented work and enjoys ”watching a project evolve from an initial funding request to reaching its end goal."

Sarah Maltby - MHK for Douglas South, joined November 2021, background in education

Sophie Pearce - Head of Product Commercialisation, became Trustee in November 2018

Ralph Peake - Trustee since January 2017, involved in sustainability and climate change efforts

Helen Summerscales - Managing Director of Isle of Man Advertising & PR, joined Trustees in 2018

David Christian MBE JP - Joined Board in 2025, background in local government

Ian Begley FCCA - Joined Board in 2025, Group Director at Suntera Global

Officers

Trevor Butler (Chief Operating Officer) - Joined the Trust in 2010, responsible for Trust's operations

Ashley Roche - Administration team member, background in customer service

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

  1. Review the funding map to determine appropriate grant category
  2. Download and complete the Outline Proposal Form from www.mlt.org.im
  3. Review tier-specific Guidance Notes carefully
  4. Submit application via email or post
  5. Contact grants team for pre-application advice: [email protected] or 0800 047 0036

Applications are acknowledged within five working days of receipt. If incomplete, applications will be returned with 10 working days allowed to send missing information.

Decision Timeline

Smaller Grants:

  • Assessment period: 6-8 weeks
  • Recommended submission: 3 months before project start

Community Awards:

  • Assessment period: approximately 10 weeks
  • Recommended submission: 4 months before project start

Process: Complete applications are processed by the grants team, who prepare applications for a Trustee meeting. The grants team can provide a definite date for the Trustee meeting during assessment. Applicants are notified of outcomes within approximately eight weeks.

Assessment Process

During assessment, the grants team may ask questions to fill knowledge gaps and present the best possible case to trustees. These extra questions are unique to each application and should strengthen the chances of success.

Success Rates

Success rate data is not publicly available. However, the Trust has supported 153 projects through the Community Awards Programme since 2015.

Reapplication Policy

  • The Trust will only consider one application from an organization at a time
  • Current grant holders must satisfactorily meet all grant monitoring requirements before applying again
  • Grants must be used within one year

Application Success Factors

Direct Advice from the Trust

From Trustee Sarah Kelly: “Share a long-term plan, including how you intend to keep the momentum going after the initial project has been delivered.”

From the Grants Team:

  • Read the guidance notes carefully before applying - the Trust has very clear criteria about what they can and can't fund
  • Contact the grants team with questions or for guidance - they are there to help
  • The grants team will ask questions during assessment to strengthen your application
  • Submit applications well in advance (3-4 months before project start)

Recent Funded Projects (Examples)

  • Singing Jo & Co.: £97,314 from Community Awards Thematic Fund
  • Manx Mencap: £76,000
  • Motiv8 Addiction Services: £50,000 from Dormant Assets Fund for M-PACT programme supporting families affected by addiction
  • Isle Listen: £32,750 for mental health charity
  • Sulby Methodist Church: £17,500 to resurface and improve accessible parking
  • Junior Achievement IOM: £15,000 for part-time Volunteer Manager
  • Peveril Rifle Club: £40,000
  • Manx Whale and Dolphin Watch: Dormant Assets Fund grant for education programme
  • Isle of Play: Grant for adventurous activities for children needing enhanced support
  • Isle of Man Sub-Aqua Club: Essential scuba equipment and pool hire for youth training
  • Groudle Glen Railway: Maintenance of main station at Lhen Coan
  • Onchan Pensioners Club: Loft insulation to reduce heating costs
  • Hospice Isle of Man: £2,500 to update kitchen equipment

Language and Terminology

The Trust uses language focused on:

  • Community improvement and benefit
  • Addressing needs and aspirations of local people
  • Skills development and capacity building
  • Resilience and sustainability
  • Active citizenship
  • Lives of people most in need

Tips for Standing Out

  1. Demonstrate long-term thinking: Show how the project will continue beyond initial funding
  2. Focus on community benefit: Clearly articulate how the project benefits Isle of Man residents
  3. Engage with grants team: Use pre-application support to strengthen your proposal
  4. Submit complete applications: Ensure all information is provided to avoid delays
  5. Show organizational sustainability: Particularly for Dormant Assets Fund, demonstrate capacity building
  6. Align with current themes: Consider thematic funding opportunities when appropriate
  7. Meet governance requirements: Ensure proper bank account and signatory arrangements

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Geographic restriction is absolute: Only projects benefiting Isle of Man residents are eligible - ensure this is crystal clear in your application
  • Pre-application support is encouraged: The grants team actively wants to help strengthen applications - use this resource
  • Long-term sustainability matters: Trustees want to see how projects will continue and maintain momentum after funding
  • Apply early: 3-4 month lead times recommended to ensure funds available when needed
  • Complete monitoring is required: Cannot reapply until all previous grant requirements are met
  • Multiple funding streams available: Consider which programme best fits your needs - smaller projects get faster decisions
  • Thematic funding offers higher amounts: Watch for annual themes that might align with your work
  • Banking requirements are strict: Must have Isle of Man bank account with dual unrelated signatories from different addresses

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