Christopher Laing of the Big Lottery Fund recently came to Torbay to meet with CVA Torbay and other groups to discuss the fact that the amount of applications to the Big Lottery Fund is low in torbay in comparisons to other regions.
Big Lottery Fund The recent change of name to the Big Lottery Fund is a bit of a misnomer as the amount of funding available to the voluntary and community sector is reducing year on year. It is increasingly difficult to access Lottery grants. However, if successful a Lottery bid can make a considerable difference to your organisation. The Lottery remains one of the few funders that will consider large projects and will fund them for a number of years. Some of the grants allow applications for up to five years. There are a number of grant programmes. We will keep you up-to-date with new funding rounds but we recommend you visit the Big Lottery website by clicking on the following link. Link to Big Lottery Fund
Awards For All BIG has introduced some changes to Awards for All making it easier to apply for a grant. Firstly, following a review of the new programme that launched in April this year, and after assessing how applicants have been using the new application materials, BIG have “tweaked” them to make some of the questions, and the guidance notes, clearer.
Secondly, a new guide to support groups during the application process has been introduced. It fully explains requirements of groups that have been offered a conditional grant, and should prove useful for deciding whether to apply to Awards for All in the first place.
The third change, is the relaxation of the requirements for a referee. The application form will no longer ask for referee details to be included. Whilst the requirement has not been removed all together – certain groups may be asked where it is felt a referee is needed once the application has been looked it – making the initial application process quicker and easier for all.
Awards for All England is a simple small grants scheme making awards of between £300 and £10,000. The Awards for All programme aims to help improve local communities and the lives of people most in need.
Projects need to meet one or more of the following outcomes:
- People have better chances in life - with better access to training and development to improve their life skills.
- Stronger communities - with more active citizens working together to tackle their problems.
- Improved rural and urban environments - which communities are better able to access and enjoy.
- Healthier and more active people and communities.
Call the team for advice on: 0845 4 10 20 30. Visit: www.awardsforall.org.uk/england/summary.html or email: general.enquiries@awardsforall.org.uk
