Big Lottery Fund
Improving your chances of success
Sarah Carroll
Funding Officer (Local)
16 July 2014
Awards for All
• Grants of £300 - £10,000 (no more than £10,000 in
any 12 month period)
• 12 months to spend grant
• Open to community and voluntary groups, schools,
health bodies and parish / town councils
• New activity and projects - Not for running costs
• Repeat and regular activities (if income less than
£30,000 in last financial year)
• Apply 4-5 months before project starts
What the money could be spent
on...
Equipment hire
or purchase
transport costs
Training and
sessional workers
volunteer
expenses
venue hire
building and
refurbishment work
(costing less than
£25,000)
Research /
feasibility studies
updating equipment and premises
for health and safety reasons
What we
cannot pay for...
Money already spent or
activities that happen or
start before we pay the
grant
Fundraising
activities
Staff salaries
and other
day to day
running costs
incl. routine
repairs and
maintenance
Used vehicles
Activities which
promote politics or
religion
Activities which the
Government has a legal
obligation to provide
Reaching Communities
o 1-5 years funding
o Main programme (two stages):
― Revenue grants £10,000+
― Smaller capital grants £10,000 - £100,000
o Buildings programme (three stages):
― Larger capital projects £100,000 +
― Geographically targeted at most deprived areas
― Multipurpose buildings
Reaching Communities
• Very competitive programme
• Applications from community & voluntary groups,
charities, statutory bodies, social enterprises, notfor-profit companies
• Apply at least 10 months before project starts
• Outcomes focused
• Community led
Reaching Communities
You must contact us if...
• You are applying for Reaching
Communities Buildings project
OR
• You are planning to apply for
more than £500,000
OR
• Your project has previously been
funded by us
Improving your chances
• Read the guidance carefully and thoroughly
• Clearly define and EVIDENCE the need your
project is seeking to address
• Ensure that your proposed activities are clearly
linked to your outcomes
• Consult and involve your beneficiaries – they will
be fundamental to the design of your project
• Prove that your project will make a difference –
why is your way the best way?
Evidence the need
It’s not just about what you think
Don’t assume that
readers (funders
and partners) will
automatically see
there is a need. It is
up to you to
convince them.
Sources of evidence
‘Soft’ information
‘Hard’
Consultations
Information
Focus groups
Local statistics
Focus groups
Questionnaires
Questionnaires
Letters Interviews
of support
Interviews
‘Before and after’ data
Waiting lists
‘Hard’ Information
Local statistics
Census
Strategies and policies
Local & national priorities
Research reports
Deprivation Index
Office for National Statistics
Tips on evidencing need
• Tell us about the issues and needs of the people or
community you want to work with
• Quote and date your sources
• Evidence needs to be varied, recent and relevant
• Consultation: include when, who, how, numbers,
and findings
• Include local evidence
• Tell us about other similar services and how you
work with them
• Tell us if your project supports local priorities
Reaching Communities: Existing projects must submit an
evaluation report showing the impact the project has had
Remember....
 Keep your answers simple, clear,
specific and consistent.
 Act on any feedback we have given
you.
 Proofread your form and use the
form’s checklist.
 Make sure your application links
together
Getting funding and planning
successful projects
Where to find out more
www.biglotteryfund.org.uk
Big Advice Line: 0845 4 10 20 30
Textphone: 0845 6 02 16 59
Email:
general.enquiries@biglotteryfund.org.uk