Input Request: National Lottery Community Fund – Scottish Dormant Assets Funding

Input Request: National Lottery Community Fund – Scottish Dormant Assets Funding

Overview

The National Lottery Community Fund has launched a Call for Input to help develop new funding programmes with the money from the Dormant Assets Scheme Scotland.

It was recently announced that financial inclusion will be one of the four broad priorities for Dormant Assets in Scotland.

Funding from the Dormant Assets Scheme Scotland is being used to develop new programmes focused on financial inclusion.

This work aims to better support people to:

• Access and use appropriate financial services
• Build financial knowledge and confidence
• Prepare for and manage financial shocks

Organisations working directly with financially vulnerable individuals—including credit unions—are invited to share their insights to help shape this funding.

Deadline for input: 13 May 2026

Why This Matters for Credit Unions

Credit unions play a critical role in:

• Providing affordable credit
• Supporting financially excluded communities
• Offering alternatives to high-cost lending

Your insight can directly influence how future funding is designed and targeted.

ABCUL’s View:

We welcome this request for input and the opportunity to help shape future financial inclusion funding in Scotland. Credit unions bring a unique frontline perspective on the challenges faced by financially excluded individuals and those struggling to access affordable credit, and their insight will be vital in informing effective solutions.

We strongly encourage our members to engage with this process, share their experiences, and highlight both the impact of their work and the gaps they see in current provision. This work aligns closely with the ongoing Credit Union Transformation Fund consultation in England led by Fair4All Finance, reflecting a broader, UK-wide focus on strengthening the role of credit unions in delivering financial inclusion.

ABCUL is keen to ensure that financial inclusion funding is used to support the credit union sector and is aligned with the wider transformation agenda and Sector Growth Plan. Aligning this funding with broader sector priorities will help maximise its impact and ensure it delivers meaningful, long-term benefits for both credit unions and the communities they serve.

Your feedback will be invaluable in ensuring that future funding is targeted effectively and reflects the realities of the communities you serve. As part of this process, we will be looking to host an online session with members to gather your views to contribute to our submission, details to be published soon. We strongly encourage each credit union to also submit individually to this request for input.

Who They Want to Hear From

They are seeking input from organisations supporting people who:

• Are experiencing financial crisis
• Are financially excluded (unable to access financial services)
• Have problem debt
• Cannot access fair and affordable credit

Key Areas of Interest

1. Financial Crisis Support

A financial crisis may include situations where someone:

• Cannot cover an unexpected essential cost (e.g. replacing a household appliance)
• Cannot afford basic living costs due to a sudden change (e.g. job loss)

They want to understand:

• What support is currently working well
• What is not working well
• Where there are gaps, particularly for people on low or insecure incomes

2. Financial Exclusion

Financial exclusion refers to people who cannot access or use essential financial services, such as:

• Bank accounts
• Affordable credit
• Savings products
• Insurance
• Reliable financial advice

They are asking:

• What would help people better access and use financial services?

3. Access to Affordable Credit & Problem Debt

They are particularly interested in:

• Experiences of accessing (or being unable to access) fair and affordable credit
• Experiences of problem debt

Some individuals rely on high-cost credit options such as:

• Payday loans
• Home credit (doorstep lending)

They want to learn:

• The challenges people face in accessing affordable credit
• The realities of problem debt
• What would improve access to fair, affordable lending options

How to Contribute

We would welcome all views and comments to be submitted by the 6 May 2026.

You can also submit your individual response to the National Lottery Community Fund via email: scotlandprogrammedevelopment@tnlcommunityfund.org.uk

ABCUL guide template for members who wish to submit a response: Template for Input Request – Dormant Assets Scheme Scotland

Deadline: 13 May 2026

Suggested Approach for Responses

When responding, consider including:

• Case studies or real examples
• Evidence of what works (and what doesn’t)
• Gaps in provision you are seeing locally
• Practical suggestions for improvement