Building Better Opportunities
January 2016
Sue Ormiston and Kate Sawdy
Why BBO?
Overall Vision for BBO
ESF TO9
OUR MISSION
Promoting social
Making a real
inclusion and
difference to
combating
communities and
poverty
the lives of people
most in need
OUTCOME 1
To maximise
the impact of
this funding
OUTCOME 2
To improve
access to
European Funds
by VCSE
organisations
Key messages
• 38 Local Enterprise
Partnership (LEP) areas
are opting in with a total
of around 130 projects
• Approx £320m investment
over 3 years to tackle
poverty and promote
social inclusion
• 2 rounds of opportunities
launched in 2015
• Round 3 to be launched
March 2016
The Big Lottery Opt In Offer
A Summary
1. Supporting those furthest
from the labour market
2. Actual costs
3. Grants, not contracts
4. Two stage application
process
5. Development funding
available
BBO in Thames Valley Berkshire
C £3m total value
3
•
•
•
projects launched in BBO rounds 1& 2:
Supporting families with complex needs
Addressing barriers to work in rural and urban areas
Promoting enterprise
1 project now in assessment
2 projects to be redesigned and re-run in BBO Round 3
Thames Valley Berkshire
feedback from Panel
• Decision Panel didn’t take any applications through
for 2 project outlines because they felt none were
strong enough:
• Unsuccessful applicants can seek feedback from
esf@biglotteryfund.org.uk
Building Better Opportunities
BBO Round 3 next steps
• Consider why Addressing barriers to work in urban
and rural areas and Supporting Enterprise projects
did not get any successful applicants
• Redesign project outlines
• Re-launch competitions as part of BBO Round 3
Round 3 key dates
• End-Jan 2016: Big Lottery Fund and TVB
ESIF Committee agree focus of projects
• Mid-March: Project outlines published
• Mid May: application deadline
• June-August – Stage 1 Assessment
• September – Stage 1 Decision Making
• Oct-Dec – Stage 2 Application
• Jan-Feb 2017 – Stage 2 Assessment
(earliest of 2 deadlines to choose from)
• Feb 2017 – Earliest Stage 2 decisions
and award
Building Better Opportunities
* All dates are subject to minor change
How to apply
• Two stage application
process
• Stage one – outline proposal,
including requests for
development funding
• Stage two – detailed
proposal including
partnership agreement
• Project outlines and
application form available at
www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/esf
Feedback from round 1
BBO Decision Panel key messages about what we’re
looking for in applications:
•Understanding of local needs and context
•Clarity on roles within partnerships
•Strong focus on equalities
•Clear, measurable outcomes
•Ambitious but realistic participant numbers and targets
•Quality and detail at stage 1
See www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/esf
Assessment principles
• Clearly address project outline (PO)
• Targets areas and participant groups identified within PO
• Clear explanation for additional targets/participant groups
• Will make a significant difference
• Clear understanding of barriers faced
• Will integrate gender equality, equal opportunities and
sustainable development
• Adds value and complements existing services
Assessment principles
continued..
• Demonstrates planning for effective development work at
stage two
• Realistic project costs
• Lead has relevant and appropriate skills, experience and
resource
• Partners have appropriate experience and role
• Partnership has a strong foundation
• Clear understanding of State Aid rules
• Lead is financially healthy
A Partnership approach
• To increase the breadth and depth of experience to
address those most in need across the LEP area.
• To generate new ideas and extend the scope and
diversity of work that can be delivered
• Local organisations working together often have the
reach and expertise to make the greatest impact.
• Smaller organisations may be most effective for
delivering certain provision, but may not have the scale to
deliver across the LEP area.
Building Better Opportunities
Partnership structures
• A partnership may involve two or more organisations from
the public, private or voluntary sector
• Any organisation that will have a formal delivery role must
sign the partnership agreement
• If the applicant is a new organisation we’ll need to
understand how the people managing it have the expertise,
capacity and capability to lead the project.
• Any changes to partners must be discussed and agreed
with us beforehand.
Building Better Opportunities
Responsibilities of the
lead organisation
•The lead organisation will have legal responsibility for all
funding awarded.
•The lead organisation must be a legally constituted body in
its own right.
•They will need:
• A clear vision
• A proven track record
• Good connections
• Strategies for managing and coordinating the partnership
• The resources to respond to the needs of the partnership
Building Better Opportunities
Things to consider when
forming a partnership
•Roles and responsibilities of partners
•Financial and contractual arrangements
•Policies and procedures
•Administration, meetings and record keeping
•Monitoring and reporting
•Communication
Building Better Opportunities
Questions
Further information
www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/esf
Building.BetterOpportunities
@BigLotteryFund.org.uk
www.bboesfsupport.com