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Big Lottery Fund: Building Better Opportunities (ESF Opt-In)
Programme Development Phase
VCSE Sector Workshop
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2. Programme Development Phase: Purpose
Ensure widespread awareness of Building Better Opportunities
Inform VCSE orgs of requirements, risks & responsibilities
Provide opportunity to discuss LEP priorities and local need
Develop positive working relationships between organisations (lead to good quality applications)
Named contacts:
VOLA: Stuart McGrory
LCVS: Colin Heaney
NFE: Andy Churchill

3. We will… Raise awareness
Provide regular updates: e-networks, newsletters, websites
Workshops
Consult on competing priorities for BBO funding
Undertake research (time/ budget limitations)
Capacity building activities
Workshops Feb/March-15 TBC
Possible topics = monitoring & admin, impact measurement, QI, ESF cross-cutting themes (E&D, Sustainable Development) – all key considerations for ESF delivery.
Identify and encourage/ support potential partnerships
Liaise with/ influence LEP and BIG Lottery Fund
Building Better Opportunities & wider ESIF programme

4. Next Steps Decide if this is for you Go away and think!
Research, gather evidence to support your ideas (not speculative)
Where poss, think macro, not micro!
Submit proposals
Deadline end-November
Template in pack – also on websites (VOLA, Sefton CVS, LCVS, NFE)
Project partners (Steering Group) to:
Collate responses
Undertake further research
Consult with sector experts (reference group?), LEP and BIG Lottery
Identify/ confirm priorities for BBO funding
Other priorities to influence wider LEP ESIF plans

5. Building Better Opportunities: Main Programme
Broad timescales & process
BBO funding priorities agreed by end March15
Procurement to begin summer (June?) 15
Two stage process
OCT for potential leads (satisfy European competition rules)
Potentially several applicants?
Appropriate lead(s) influenced by funding priorities/ themes
Advocate/ support coordinated approach rather than masses of competing bids
One lead org. short-listed (possibly more - but very few!)
Further BIG Lottery funding support to work up stage 1 bids into full applications.
Project delivery from April 16 (hopefully earlier)