National Lottery faces scrutiny over £143m in refugee funding

The National Lottery has faced criticism following reports that it has donated more than £143 million to various refugee and migrant-related projects since 1994. Data from National Lottery Good Causes indicates that over 2,500 organisations and projects have received funding to support refugees through initiatives such as accommodation, integration, and community advice.

A recent five-year audit of the National Lottery Community Fund identified approximately £114.7 million in grants linked to refugees, asylum seekers, or migration between July 2021 and June 2026. Major recipients of these funds include Refugee Action, the British Refugee Council, the Scottish Refugee Council, Task Force Trust / Action Asylum, and the Refugee and Migrant Centre.

Critics have characterized these donations as funding for “left-wing pro-migration pressure groups.” Some organisations receiving funds have actively campaigned against UK government asylum policies, with certain groups advocating for the transformation of the asylum system and the right to move.