Big Lottery Fund

Latest changes, Impact & Opportunities

22nd November 2016

About the Big Lottery Fund

— We fund 12,000 projects a year

using money raised by National

Lottery Players

— We received over 90,000 enquiries

and applications during the past

year

— Most of our funding goes to

projects applying through open,

responsive programmes – such as

Awards for All and Reaching

Communities

— 91.3 per cent of last years’ awards

were small, with a value of less

than £10,000

Big Lottery Fund: Your Voice, Our ‘People in the Lead’ Vision

• ‘People in the Lead’ is a response to Your Voice

Our Vision: a UK-wide conversation which enabled

people to shape our future strategy

• We believe that strong, vibrant communities can

be built and improved by the people living in them

– making them ready for anything in the fact of

future opportunities and challenges

• It’s about empowering people and asking the right

questions. Not ‘what’s the matter with you’, but

‘what matters to you?’

Strategic framework principles ‘People in the Lead’

― Confidence, not control

― Simple processes, good judgements

― The strengths people bring

― A catalyst for others

― Shared direction, diverse approaches

― Using resources well

England Portfolio 2016-21

We will enable people across England to

take the lead by using their local knowledge,

strengths and assets to test and grow

ideas that matter most to them,

as well as to share learning about

‘what went well’ and ‘what didn’t’

so that many more can benefit.

By taking the lead people will create:

― Happier & stronger relationships

― Shared and sustainable places

― Early Action to prevent future

problems and tackle disadvantage

Design Principles

1. Strengths-based

2. Agile and iterative

3. Purposeful and collaborative

4. Joint learning and improvement

5. Backing new or different ideas

Current BIG Funding – Main themes Demand led:

—Awards for All (Small grants up to £10,000)

—Reaching Communities (Larger grants upwards from £10,000)

Targeted large programmes:

─ Including Women and Girls, Help Through Crisis, Early years children, Unemployed young people, People with multiple complex needs, Older people

Social investment:

─ Including Big Potential, Social Investment Bonds

Demand Led Funding

Awards for All

Reaching Communities

─ Rolling grant programmes so no closing date

─ Open to a wide range of ideas

─ Aim to build on community strengths to address issues

Awards for All Programme

─ Small grants scheme awarding £300-£10,000

─ Applications from community & voluntary groups, schools, health bodies and parish / town councils

─ Single stage application process

─ Decision within 8 weeks of application

─ Project must be complete within one year of award

Reaching Communities Programme

─ Larger grants scheme awarding grants over £10,000

o Revenue projects funding from £10,000

o Smaller capital projects funding from £10,000-£100,000

─ Grants can run for up to 5 years

─ 2 stage application process

Reaching Communities Stage 1

―Stage 1 asks you to explain your project to us

―Need to clearly state what you want to do, provide strong evidence of the need for your project and describe the changes that will result

―Time taken to give a decision is currently about ten weeks, depending on the complexity of your project and how much funding you are asking for

Reaching Communities Stage 2

─ Stage 2 asks you to explain your project in more detail

─ We will want to know more about the need for your project, consultation carried out, difference your project will make and detailed budget

─ You will have up to 4 months to submit Stage 2 application

─ We will assess your application in 8 weeks to assess your application and may contact you to clarify points

─ Decision will then be taken by a grant making panel which meets monthly

Think about your Strengths

─ What experience / skills can local people contribute?

─ What local approaches have worked so far?

─ What successes have you achieved with your work?

─ Can small approaches / pilots be scaled up?

─ What learning can your use to improve your approach?

─ What ideas do you have for new ways to solve problems?

Any Questions?

Support and Guidance Available

─ Big Advice Line: 0345 4 10 20 30

─ Big Lottery Fund website: http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk

─ Programme Guidance Notes

─ Good Practice Guides e.g. equalities, involving young people

─ Case studies of successful projects

─ Online courses – http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/englandwebinars

─ BIG Advice Line: 0845 4 10 20 30

─ Email enquiries: general.enquiries@biglotteryfund.org.uk