Big Lottery Fund

The Big Lottery Fund (BLF) is a new organisation that will
hand out half the money to good causes from the National Lottery.
BLF was created by the merging of the New Opportunities Fund and
the Community Fund.
CHANGES TO THE BIG LOTTERY FUND
The Big Lottery Fund is entering an exciting period of change
as they begin to develop new programmes.
During 2005, responding to the views given to them in their
two consultations, and building on the achievements of programmes
previously delivered by the Community Fund and New Opportunities
Fund, they will introduce a new set of programmes and new
approaches to funding.
The new programmes and ways of funding will improve access to
Lottery money, achieve our aim of tackling social disadvantage, and
involve individuals and communities in bringing about positive
social change.
Making way for the new programmes
To make way for their new programmes, from the middle of the
year The Big Lottery Fund will wind down their existing
programmes.
The UK-wide Strategic grants, Research grants
and International programmes will continue to accept
applications until 31 May 2005 and continue to make grants until
November 2005.
The Medium and Large grants programmes in
England will continue to accept applications until 31 May 2005 and
make grants until November 2005, except for applications for
building work or property refurbishment that will cost more
than £30,000. Because these are more
complicated to assess, all grant applications for building work or
property refurbishment must be in by 31 March 2005
You will be able to download application forms from our
website for these programmes until 31 March
2005. After that, you can still get an
application form up until the date the programmes close for
applications, by calling the Big Advice Line (0845 4 10 20
30).
BIG ANSWERS ON VOLUNTARY AND COMMUNITY SECTOR PROGRAMME WIND
DOWN
What programmes are winding down this year?
The UK wide strategic grants, Research grants and
International grants programmes, and the Medium and Large grants
programmes.
When is the last date I can get an application
form?
31 May 2005. To get a form you will need to
call the BIG Advice Line.
If you want to download a form from our website, the last day
you will be able to do this will be 31 March
2005. This is because The Big Lottery Fund have
no way of ensuring that The Big Lottery Fund can inform you of the
cut-off dates if you download an application form.
When is the last date I can send in an
application?
31 May 2005 - unless you are applying for a grant to do
building work or to refurbish a property, when the last date you
can send in an application is 31 March 2005.
Why is the date different for applications to do building
work or refurbishment?
It takes more time to assess these applications.
What if I post my form and it is delayed?
The Big Lottery Fund will only accept forms which are received
before or on the deadline. Please make sure you
post your forms in good time.
If I get a form in May I won't really have time to put
together a good application.
If you want to make an application, The Big Lottery Fund
recommend that you get an application form in good
time. The Big Lottery Fund are however keeping
it open to allow you to get a replacement application form if you
have lost your form and for last minute
applications. The mailing house will remind
people of the deadline when they send out forms.
Last time I made an application, I forgot to enclose my
accounts. What if that happens now?
Our usual rules will apply.
There is a checklist on the end of the form which sets out
what you have to send with your application.
(Double check this to make sure that you enclose
everything.) If you omit anything, The Big
Lottery Fund will write to you telling you what you have forgotten
to send, giving you four weeks to send in the missing
documents.
I already have a grant from the Big Lottery Fund for my
project and want to apply to continue and develop this
project. Can I?
You will be able to apply for a grant to continue and develop
a project already funded by the Big Lottery Fund if your current
grant has less than twelve months to run on 31 May
2005. (If you are applying to the Large or
Medium programme in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, this date
may be different. Please call the appropriate
office for advice.)
If you are applying to develop a project The Big Lottery Fund
already fund, please remember that The Big Lottery Fund will ask
you to contribute at least 25 per cent of the cost from other
sources. The Big Lottery Fund will also only
support your project for a maximum of six
years.
When can I expect a decision?
The Big Lottery Fund anticipate that they will receive a large
number of applications in the last month of the programme, so they
cannot guarantee our usual turnaround times. Our
last set of decisions in England will be in November 2005, so you
will certainly have a decision by December 2005 in England.
Does all this apply to the International grants programme,
Research grants programme and Strategic grants programme
too?
Yes.
Why are you closing all these programmes?
The Big Lottery Fund is a new distributor, and The Big Lottery
Fund will have a set of new programmes distributing half of all
Lottery funding. The Big Lottery Fund need to
look at our future funding for the voluntary and community sector
and The Big Lottery Fund need to close all our existing programmes
to make way for these new programmes.
After May 31 2005, when will I be able to apply for a Big
Lottery Fund grant again?
The Young People's Fund programmes will still be open after 31
May 31 2005. If your work fits that programme,
you will still be able to apply to it.
The Big Lottery Fund expect to launch a further series of Big
Lottery Fund programmes open to voluntary and community sector
organisations in the summer and autumn of 2005.
So there will be a gap before the new programmes?
New programmes will be launched
incrementally. The Big Lottery Fund expect to
make some announcements about the new mix of programmes in early
summer 2005.
I won't be ready to make an application before 31 May, but
The Big Lottery Fund don't want to delay till autumn, because that
will mean The Big Lottery Fund can't start till 2006.
2005 will inevitably be a transition year. It is important
that The Big Lottery Fund get the mix of programmes right and that
The Big Lottery Fund improve on our processes.
They will be in place for a number of years so we don't want to
rush and repent at leisure.
How will I find out about these new programmes?
The Big Lottery Fund will be launching an extensive publicity
and outreach campaign to prepare for their
launch. Our website will also contain
details. You will also be able to contact your
local Big Lottery Fund office.
Won't the government be taking all the money that
used to be for the voluntary and community sector?
We have given an undertaking that between 60 per cent and 70
per cent of BIG money will go to the voluntary and community sector
and 30-40 per cent to the public sector and
others. It is absolutely appropriate for the
Government to set out the strategic framework for the Fund, since
we are an NDPB. We will then determine our own programmes and
decide how they are delivered. We will, of course, want to work
closely with the Government and other partners.
Won't the new money be for your priorities, not
ours?
The Board will, quite properly, have the final say on
priorities and programmes. The BLF have consulted widely on what
these priorities should be. Our website gives
details of what the wide range of community and voluntary groups
who answered our consultations suggested we do, and of what we are
doing in response.
We expect to commit substantial sums to programmes or
programme streams that will be "demand-led" and lightly prescribed.
There will also be a range of national, strategic programmes.
Have you considered the Government Voluntary Sector Compact
in all this?
Yes. We attach great importance to the
principles of open communication with voluntary and community
sector organisations, of consultation and giving good notice of our
intentions. These announcements give voluntary
bodies a long period of notice to make plans for applying for funds
to the programmes which are closing, well in excess of the three
months recommended in the compact. We have
consulted the voluntary sector both on how we should run our
programmes in future and on the overall framework of future funding
priorities. We will continue to make every
effort to keep the voluntary and community sector up to date with
our timetables and intentions.
COMMUNITY FUND
Grants for large projects
The Community Fund aim to give grants mainly to groups that
help meet the needs of those at greatest disadvantage in society
and also to improve the quality of life in the community.
The Community Fund want to target our funds as effectively as
possible at both country and regional level to tackle disadvantage
among those in greatest need. As we have less money than in the
past, our programmes must work harder to do this. This means that
your application will be more likely to succeed if it meets one or
more of the priorities of the country or region to which you are
applying. You can still receive a grant if you do not meet a
priority.
This programme closes for England on 31 May 2005.
For further information, please contact the regional office on
0113 224 5311.
Grants for medium-sized projects
The Community Fund aim to give grants mainly to groups that
help meet the needs of those at greatest disadvantage in society
and also to improve the quality of life in the community.
The Community Fund want to target our funds as effectively as
possible at both country and regional level to tackle disadvantage
among those in greatest need. As we have less money than in the
past, our programmes must work harder to do this. This means that
your application will be more likely to succeed if it meets one or
more of the priorities of the country or region to which you are
applying. You can still receive a grant if you do not meet a
priority.
This programme closes for England on 31 May 2005.
For further information, please contact the regional office on
0113 224 5311.
Strategic Grants Programme
The Strategic grants programme provides large and medium-sized
grants mainly to help meet the needs of those at greatest
disadvantage in society and also to improve the quality of life in
communities.
It funds projects that benefit people who live in either:
- three or more England regions,
- England as a whole,
- more than one UK country, or
- the UK as a whole.
The programme is open to voluntary and community organisations
that meet our eligibility criteria.
The Community Fund are, however, particularly keen to fund
projects that will benefit as many people as possible by
influencing practice or policy. This is because we wish to fund
projects that will have an impact on the lives of the greatest
number of disadvantaged people. And we believe this can best be
achieved through projects that Influence practice and
policy.
The assessment criteria for influencing projects is now available
within the Strategic Grants questions and answers section.
Influencing could be directed at both the voluntary and the
statutory sectors. In this way strategic projects will benefit the
widest number of disadvantaged people and have the long-term impact
we are looking to achieve.
The Strategic grants brochure provides more detail upon this, and
the Community Fund recommend that you read this before getting an
application form.
Please also apply under the strategic grants programme if your
organisation is:
- Offering similar projects across regions or countries; or
- piloting a project locally but plan to apply your learning to
influence policy or practice widely.
The Community Fund want to fund projects that meet the needs
of our six priority groups of beneficiaries and other disadvantaged
people not covered by those groups.
This programme closes for England on 31 May 2005.
For further information please call the Strategic Grants team on
0115 934 2960.
International Grants
The Community Fund aim to fund effective projects that tackle the
causes of poverty and deprivation and bring about a long term
difference to the lives of the most disadvantaged people in the
world.
The Community Fund award grants to development organisations
based in the UK, who are working in partnership with overseas
organisations. For more information about the Community Funds
geographical focus and funding priorities, please see the programme
summary.
The Community Fund will fund projects up to five years. The minimum
grant size is £60,000. So far we have funded projects worth a
total of £152.2 million. At present, six per cent of the
Fund's total grant budget is allocated to International
Grants.
Important notice:
This programme closes for applications on 31 May
2005.
You must make sure your application reaches our office before
5pm, 31 May 2005.
For further information please call the International Grants team
on 020 7211 3821
Research Grants
Our main aim is to fund high quality medical and social
research in the areas of health and social well being.
The Community Fund make grants directly to
charities and voluntary sector organisations. Because many of these
organisations are not able to carry out research by themselves, we
want to promote partnerships between the voluntary sector and the
research community.
The main theme of any application must be to promote
social inclusion. The Community Fund
particularly welcome applications that address the social
inclusion of the following groups:
- young people.
- older people.
- people from black and minority ethnic groups.
- people with learning difficulties.
If your project does not involve one of these priority groups,
you can still get a grant.
For more information, please contact the regional office on
0113 224 5311.
NEW OPPORTUNITIES FUND
EDUCATION PROGRAMMES
Football Foundation:
| Total Allocated Budget: |
£30,000,000 |
| Application Closing Date: |
01 September 2005 |
| Initiative: |
Education |
| Country Allocated Budget: |
£30,000,000 |
The Fund have delegated funding to the Football Foundation to
support capital projects for schools and the community. The
Football Foundation will accept applications from schools and LEA's
for innovative football projects that fulfil the aims of the
Foundation and the Fund. Funding will be distributed to successful
applicants on an individual project, and for more information and
details of how to make an application please visit:
www.footballfoundation.org.uk or telephone (freephone) 0800
027 7766.
Their Past Your Future is a £10 million programme
focuses on schools, intergenerational learning, and learning
through the resources offered by museums, libraries and
archives.
Their Past Your Future:
Big Lottery Fund is working with a range of key partners from
the education and museum, libraries and archives sector. The
programme will commemorate the 60th anniversary of the events that
led to the end of the Second World War and encourage younger
generations to learn from the experiences of those who lived
through the Second World War.
Their Past Your Future is providing up to £2.3 million
in National Lottery Funding to local education authorities across
the UK (education and library boards in Northern Ireland). This
funding will enable schools to undertake activities that enable
young people to engage in commemoration and reflect upon the impact
of the Second World War on the UK and the people who lived through
it. The types of activity that can be funded include UK and
overseas commemorative visits, events and exhibitions in local
schools or the local community, activities that link young people
with veterans and others who lived through the Second World War,
and creating learning resources. Schools and education authorities
are encouraged to make use of a range of support materials in
developing projects.
Their Past Your Future is also providing up to £7
million to the museums, libraries and archives sector to support
exhibitions commemorating the Second World War and develop related
educational programmes aimed at schools and the wider public. Our
strategic partners for this part of the initiative are the Imperial
War Museum, Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (England),
Scottish Museums Council, National Library of Wales and Northern
Ireland Museums Council.
Heroes Return:
Heroes Return provides funding for veterans who wish to return
overseas to the place where they saw active service during the
Second World War. If you are a UK resident and served with, or
alongside, British and Allied Armed Forces in the Second World War
and want to find out more about the funding, please call our
helpline on 0845 410 2030.
The Fund has been working with the Confederation of British
Service and Ex-Service Organisations (COBSEO), the Ministry of
Defence (MOD), the Department of Culture, Media and Sports (DCMS,
the Department for Education and Skills, the Imperial War Museum
and others to develop a new funding programme, Veterans Reunited.
The Heroes Return scheme is part of this new programme and will
ensure that veterans have the funding they need to commemorate the
events of the Second World War, and to ensure that new generations
can learn from their experience.
The Big Lottery Fund recognises that 2004 and 2005 are special
years for many Second World War veterans when we will be
commemorating the 60th anniversary of the momentous events that led
to the end of the Second World War: the Anzio Landings, the
campaigns in North Africa, the Eastern Fleets engagements with
Japanese installations, D-Day and the Normandy Campaign, the
landings in Southern France, the campaigns in Burma, the Battle for
Italy, Operation Market Garden and the Rhine Crossing, the
liberation of the Channel islands, VE and VJ Day.
The Heroes Return scheme will fund travel costs for veterans
(including former prisoners of war), their spouses and/or
widows and their present-day carers to visit the countries
where they served. In partnership with the Imperial War Museum, we
are helping veterans record their experiences on these visits
so that new generations can learn from them.
If you are a UK resident and served with, or alongside,
British and Allied Armed Forces in the Second World War and want to
find out more about the funding, please call our helpline on 0845
410 2030.
Home Front Recall
The vital contribution of groups of WW2 home front veterans,
through the Second World War, will be marked in the run up to the
60th anniversary of the ending of the war, through a multi-million
Lottery funding scheme Home Front Recall.
Home Front Recall is part of the Big Lottery Fund's Veterans
Reunited programme. It is a joint funding scheme from Lottery good
cause distributors the Big Lottery Fund and the Heritage Lottery
Fund.
The scheme provides small grants to fund activities across the
UK to commemorate the part played by those on the home front during
the war years - among them fire fighters, auxiliary services, Bevin
Boys, dock workers, seamen, nurses - and people in many other roles
including Britain's code-breakers. The scheme also provides funding
for veterans who wish to organise or take part in reunions or
commemorative events in the UK.
The scheme will fund street parties, services, reunions,
parades, and other activities that will allow communities to come
together and ensure that all generations can commemorate and
remember the contribution that the people of Britain made in the
Second World War. Further information and application pack are
available by phoning 08457 458 458.
Positive Activities for Young People
| Total Allocated Budget: |
£12,750,000 |
| Application Closing Date |
See Further Information |
| Initiative: |
Education |
| Country Allocated Budget: |
England - £12,000,000
Wales - £750,000 |
The Fund have joined forces with the DfES, Youth Justice
Board, Home Office and DCMS, to combine existing Connexions Summer
Plus and Splash schemes and launch a new scheme from this summer to
give greater help and support to vulnerable young people. The Fund
have contributed to a single pot of funding for year 1 of this
programme. Funding will be routed through the Government Offices
for the Regions, who have identified a range of lead organisations
at the local level to oversee the programme.
New Opportunities Fund Environmental Programme
| Programme: |
Transforming Waste |
| Total Allocated Budget: |
£49,500,000 |
| Application Closing Date: |
See further information |
| Initiative: |
Education |
| Country Allocated Budget: |
England - £38,750,000 |
| |
Northern Ireland - £2,250,000 |
| |
Scotland - £5,250,000 |
| |
Wales - £3,250,000 |
Part of the Fund's transforming communities initiative, this
is a delegated programme run on an open application basis. The
award partner accepts applications from community groups, etc. The
programme supports community recycling, reuse and composting
projects to increase the amount of waste collected in deprived
communities.