1. Islington Reaching Communities Briefing 01/12/2014
Big Lottery Fund
Islington Reaching Communities Briefing
01/12/2014

2. Introduction Jane Sterland Funding Officer Early Contact Team
Based in Holborn, London
Supporting applicants and potential applicants
Raising BIG’s awareness of local needs and priorities

3. Overview of Big Lottery Fund

4. Big Lottery Fund Mission
“The Big Lottery Fund is committed to bringing real improvements to communities and to the lives of people most in need”

5. Big Lottery Fund BIG is one of four distributors of Lottery funding
We are responsible for 40% of all the money raised for good causes by the National Lottery
We distribute £600 million in funding each year
80-90% of our funding goes to community and voluntary organisations

6. BIG is an outcomes funder
Your project must meet at least one of these four outcomes:
People having better chances in life
Stronger communities
Improved rural and urban environments
Healthier and more active people and communities

7. Big’s Funding Principles
Partnership
User Informed
Local
Long Term
Evidence, Impact and Influence

8. BIG Funding – Three main themes
Demand led:
Awards for All (Small grants up to £10,000)
Reaching Communities (Larger grants upwards from £10,000)
Targeted:
Focusing on Early years children, Young people with mental health problems, Unemployed young people, People with multiple complex needs, Older people
Social investment:
Building Capabilities, Social Investment

9. 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
BIG gives decision within 6 weeks of application
Project must be complete within one year of award

10. Reaching Communities Programme
Larger grants scheme awarding grants over £10,000
Main programme:
Revenue projects funding from £10,000 (average £300,000)
Smaller capital projects funding from £10,000-£100,000
Buildings programme:
Larger capital projects funding from £100,000
Geographically targeted at most deprived areas

11. Reaching Communities Programme
Very competitive programme – success rate one in ten
Applications from community & voluntary groups, charities, statutory bodies, social enterprises, not-for-profit companies
Two-stage application process to identify fundable projects
BIG gives decision typically within 8-9 months of application
Project can take up to 5 years to complete

12. Reaching Communities Stage 1
Stage One 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
We will then decide if your project is one we could fund, and if so we will send you a stage 2 application form
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

13. Reaching Communities Stage 2
Stage Two asks you to explain your project in more detail
Opportunity for a telephone interview with a Funding officer to give advice on completing your application
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 then about 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 twice a month

14. Preparing to write your application

15. Read the Guidelines..... Is your organisation eligible?
Do you have required governance in place?
Are you asking for funding for a project?
Are your project activities suitable for the programme?
Would the programme fund your project costs?
Can you start / complete your project in the required timescale?

16. Research services in your area
Is other work being done to support your beneficiaries?
Will your project fill a gap in service?
Does it support local priorities?
Are there any similar projects in your area?
What has BIG funded in your area already?

17. Gather information to support your case
Consult with project beneficiaries – include all groups who will benefit from your project
Involve stakeholders – e.g. schools, doctors, parents, community representatives, local Council
Build your evidence – e.g. surveys, focus groups, results of pilot projects
You will need to show that your project is needed, supported and will make a difference!

18. Making a strong case for funding

19. Now you are ready to start writing your application.....

20. Start by defining Need
Go back to basics – assume the Grant Officers assessing your application know nothing about the needs of the people you are trying to help
Quote your sources - make sure all sources of evidence are listed and dated, and all the information is up to date and relevant to your project
Make a strong case – use a broad range of information and if in doubt add more rather than less

21. Why is providing evidence of need so important?
High demand for limited resources
Prove that you understand the community and their needs
Prove that you haven’t made assumptions
Prove the scale of the need your project will address
Prove why your project is the best way of meeting the need you have identified

22. How much evidence do you need to provide?
Depends on:
The scale of the problem
What capacity you have
How much funding you are
applying for
the important thing is to make a strong case

23. Sources of evidence ‘Soft’ Information ‘Hard’ Information
Local statistics
Focus groups
Questionnaires
Interviews
Consultations
Local statistics
Focus groups
Census
Strategies and policies
Questionnaires
Letters of support
Local & national priorities
Interviews
Research reports
‘Before and after’ data
Deprivation Index
Waiting lists
Office for National Statistics

24. Defining Project Aim, Outcomes and Activities
Project aim – be clear about the purpose of your project – does it closely reflect the need identified?
Outcomes – strong and clear points to explain the change you want to make for the project beneficiaries
Project activities - together should add up to show how the outcomes and aim will be met

25. Developing a strong application
Project Outcome
Project Aim
The overall point of your project
Project Need
Project Need
Project Outcomes
The difference you want to make or the change you want to bring about for your beneficiaries
Project Activities
The services and activities you will carry out
to meet the outcomes and achieve the project aim

26. What BIG is looking for in applications

27. What BIG is looking for in applications
Project is appropriate for the programme
A good fit with BIG outcomes
Strong evidence that your project is needed
Proof that your project will make a difference
Beneficiaries consulted and involved in all stages of the project

28. Real Unsuccessful Applications
‘The outcomes need to focus on the difference that the project will make to the lives of the beneficiaries’
‘It is unclear from the activities as to what services they will provide to achieve the outcomes’
‘Evidence of need could be much stronger and is not dated so it is hard to establish how current it is’
‘The applicant lists the organisations and people they have consulted but does not provide any dates or findings’

29. Real Successful Applications
‘Beneficiaries and their needs are clearly identified’
‘A full range of activities has been provided that will clearly deliver the project outcomes’
‘Varied and relevant external evidence confirms the issues identified and shows support for the project and gaps in current service’
‘Beneficiaries involved in management committee, user group, consultation, project planning and design, volunteering, recruitment and evaluation’

30. Tips for Success Read the guidelines and use all other help available
Start by defining need – make it the core of your application
Focus on your beneficiaries and the difference that your project will make to them
Get a ‘critical friend’ to review your application before submission
If not successful first time, ask for feedback and try again!

31. Reaching Communities grants in Islington

32. Reaching Communities awards in Islington
165 Stage 1 applications
79 invited to Stage 2
18 Reaching Communities Grants
Success rate 11.5%
Total value £4,382,298
Average grant £243,461
Also 82 Multi borough awards

33. Reaching Communities projects in Islington examples
Project to assist adults with learning difficulties to manage their own health by providing health advocacy, training, support and one to one health facilitators
Project to improve the health and wellbeing of vulnerable older people including those with dementia by providing support to help them to address their own problems
Project to reduce social isolation and improve life skills of people with mental health problems to enable them to become more active and included in their community
Project to improve life chances for disabled people by providing information service, drop-in advice sessions, case work and home visits

34. Support and Guidance Available

35. Support and Guidance Available
Big Lottery Fund website:
Programme Guidance Notes
Getting Funding & Planning Successful Projects
Good Practice Guides e.g. equalities, involving young people
Case studies of successful projects
BIG Advice Line:
enquiries:

36. Reaching Communities website http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk

37. Reaching Communities website http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk

38. Questions and Comments?