BIG Advice Services Fund

28 November 2011

For free welfare benefits, debt, employment and housing advice services in England.  Deadline 22 December (12 noon).

"The Government has made up to £16.8 million for a programme called the Advice Services Fund to support organisations in the free advice sector that have been affected by reductions in public spending. The programme aims to enable not-for-profit advice organisations to continue providing free services to people in their communities in England.

Grants of £40,000 - £70,000 are available and, to ensure this funding has the greatest impact, priority will be given to organisations that have experienced high levels of cuts and those that haven’t received funding through the Transition Fund. Account will also be taken of how applicants plan to use their grants, their plans for the future, including ways to improve efficiency, and how the quality of their advice services helps meet local needs.

The Government has identified four categories of advice that the Advice Services Fund will support, as they have been advised by the sector that these are the areas of greatest demand for free advice services.

The Advice Services Fund categories are:

• Advice on debt
• Advice on welfare benefits
• Advice on housing
• Advice on employment

Organisations that do not currently provide advice in at least one of the categories are not eligible for the Advice Services Fund."

For further details, guidance notes (help notes) and the online application form visit the Big Lottery Fund website.

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