The National Association for Voluntary and Community Action claims the Big Lottery Fund’s reaching communities programme is misnamed, as demand for the funding pot means cash is diverted away from the voluntary sector.

Kevin Curley, chief executive of NAVCA, said there was massive demand for reaching communities funding. “The trouble is that the funding for all these communities projects is the same that last year went only to the voluntary and community sector. Now only 60 to 70% of funds go to the VCS,” he added.

“It is excellent to see local authorities invest more in sports facilities for young citizens and primary schools invest in new community building,” Curley said. “But surely funds for these schemes should come from central and local governments’ own resources – not from lottery funding, thereby depriving VCS groups of funding for innovative schemes.”

The criticisms came as the first trials of the ‘Your pound, your choice’ scheme allowing National Lottery players to choose the good causes their money goes to came to an end. Camelot spokesperson Kathryn Williamson said the trials in Leicestershire and Plymouth had been a success and much had been learned from them.

In Leicestershire, Rushey Mead School and Countesthorpe Community College attracted the most player votes. Each will now receive grants of up to £50,000 from the Big Lottery Fund. In Plymouth, the charities the majority of players chose were Give a Child a Chance and Horizons.

“I wish to thank the voters, projects and all the people involved in delivering this groundbreaking trial,” said Big Lottery Fund chief executive Stephen Dunmore. “We will now evaluate the entire process before considering any next steps for this type of voting system.”