Big Lottery Fund update
12 January 2012
How much money is available? The Big Lottery Fund share of Lottery sales was 50% then 46% in 2011 and will reduce further to 40% in 2012. 2011 was the best year ever for lottery sales so BIG has more funding to distribute. This amounts to £500 million across the UK next year (taking into account the increase in Lottery sales). An increase of £100 million.
Out of last year’s budget of £400 million, £28 million went to projects in Yorkshire & the Humber.
Changes to help available from the Y&H team: BIG has been tasked with reducing the amount spent on administering grants - this includes help and advice to groups. More support and more applications will be done online. There will still be other ways to contact staff and BIG is trying to streamline processes that will help groups applying.
Grant making will still be the core business.
A discussion document on funding for infrastructure projects (organisations that support and advise local community groups) has been published and BIG would like to hear from your group. The deadline for responses is 15 March 2012.
Awards for All
The success rate at the moment is quite poor. 47% in October for Yorkshire and the Humber - 37 grants were made (it was 53% in August).
Groups are making the same common mistakes, including not providing all the necessary information and not describing outcomes (the difference that the project will make).
Reaching communities
The success rate is currently 22% for England. Applications for capital projects have declined over the last 4 months.
Outcomes not being clear/ adequately described is a common reject reason at outline proposal stage.
Applicants need to show clear evidence of need “not random facts”.
Applicants also still need to provide detailed information, even if they are applying for a smaller amount of money. Assessors often struggle to understand what the group wants funding for and how it will benefit the local community. “Don’t rely on being able to explain the project in more detail verbally at interview”.
Some reduced offers are being made – projects need to provide a realistic budget.
Reaching communities is still encouraging groups to work in partnership. When similar projects apply in the same area at the same time, panels are asking at assessment stage “why groups aren’t working together?”
(notes from a presentation by HLC at the BIG Lottery Development Worker's briefing 7 Dec 2011, Sarah Moss SBVS).
Other speakers at the Big Lottery Fund development workers meeting were:
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