Reaching Communities ‘Ingredients for a successful application’

Big Lottery Fund OutcomesCommunity learning and

creating opportunity

Promoting community cohesion and safety

Promoting wellbeing

OutcomePeople having

better chances in life, with better

access to training and development to improve their

life skills

Outcome Stronger

communities, with more active

citizens, working together to tackle

their problems

OutcomeImproved rural

and urban environments,

which communities are

better able to access and enjoy

OutcomeHealthier and

more active people and communities

A ‘demand-led’ programme Ongoing 2010/2011

£10,000 to £500,000 available (Max project size £750,000)

Max capital grant £50,000 (Max capital project size £200,000)

New and existing projects Funding for up to 5 years Full cost recovery

Reaching Communities

Helping deliver our mission to bring realimprovements to communities* and to the lives ofthose most in need.

To support the best projects that are responding to locally identified needs

Those most in need including hard to reach groups To ensure that communities are involved in helping to

deliver projects

*Communities of interest as well as geography

Reaching Communities

Mothers for Mothers - £139,809

Programme overview

• Up to £100m each year up to 2013• Same criteria:

– Broad range of project/applicant types – £10,001-£500,000– Up to five years’ funding– Capital contribution up to £50k– Mainly funding voluntary and community

sector

Improvements

• Better chance of success at full application stage• Clearer feedback at outline proposal stage• Better support where needed• Proportionate approach to full application stage• Shorter time from initial approach to final

decision• Projects can reapply taking account of feedback

Outline proposal stage

• Information asked for is similar: focus is on the project idea

• Change to layout of form and phrasing of questions

• Will assess outcomes, need, user involvement and previous relevant BIG funding

We will look at:

• Extent to which desired outcomes will make a real difference

• Link between outcomes and activities• Evidence of need• Beneficiary involvement• Amount of previous funding to local area• Other relevant funded projects

Full application stage

• Projects will have 4 months to submit a full application

• Different application forms for projects depending on amount asked for

• Quicker decision time for smaller projects (9 instead of 16 weeks)

Full application stage: larger projects• Similar to current form• All applications involving changes to

buildings, even if small, go via this route

Full application stage: smaller projects• Same outline form as for larger projects• Quicker process, open to projects

needing up to £40,000 per year• Up to five years funding i.e. max £200k• Less asked for at full application stage

Questions?

Exercise – A good project summary should tell us:• The overall aim of your project• Where it is based• What activities will take place• What the funding will be spent on• Which of the programme outcomes the project

addresses

Read the example provided and underline the key points of information as described above

Evidencing need & understanding outcomes

BIG’s approach to need and outcomes for applicants

What BIG expects from applicants Identify the need Develop an aim Develop SMART outcomes Work up activities Measure progress Monitoring

Aim, Outcomes & Activities

Project aim: The overall purpose of the project, described in simple language

Project outcomes: What needs to change for the project to achieve its aim? What difference will the project make for the beneficiaries?

Project activities: What is going to be done to bring about the intended outcomes? What tasks, services, activities will you carry out?

Outcomes Big Lottery Fund will ask projects to identify 4-6

outcomes

Currently outcomes must be SMART: specific, measurable,achievable, realistic and time-based

Example: 300 young people will have increased their fitness levels and have enjoyed improved physical health by 31 December 2010

Outcomes quiz

1. Set up and advertise 10 training courses

2. 60 young people have reduced or eliminated their drug use by the end of the project

3. Deliver a befriending service for 150 disaffected young people4. Build village hall5. 25 older people report reduced isolation through

volunteering by the end of year two6. 15 low-income families eat more fruit and vegetables

Identifying the need

Identify the need and explain it

What difficulties do people in the community face?

Why do they face these difficulties?

What needs to change to address this issue?

What sources can you use to evidence need?

Consultation and community involvement Strategies - generic and specialist Statistics and area or community profile Research (reports, surveys etc)

Cont….What sources can you use to evidence need?

Other existing services/current provision (or lack of)

Evaluation of existing services Letters of support Anecdotal evidence

Questions that may be asked on the application form What is the need? – existing services and gaps How have you identified the need? – consultation

and research you have done What priorities have been identified as most

important in your area? – link to strategies How will your project address the need? Why is the project the best way of meeting the

need?

Some useful websites- facts, figures and strategies Census statistics:

www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk Community Health Profiles:

www.communityhealthprofiles.info Association of Public Health Observatories:

www.apho.org.uk Regional Observatories:

www.regionalobservatories.org.uk Government Offices: www.gos.gov.uk/national 10 Downing Street: www.number-10.gov.uk Government Directory: www.direct.gov.uk

Some useful websites- research and consultation Community Toolbox:

www.nps.gov/phso/rtcatoolbox Consultation toolkit:

http://worcestershire.whub.org.uk/home/wcc-con-toolkit (type ‘consultation toolkit’ into Google and you will find a number of other similar toolkits)

National Association for Voluntary and Community Action: www.navca.org.uk

N.B. The Big Lottery Fund is not responsible for the content of external websites

What grants officers are looking for…

Is the need for your project supported by robust evidence or research?

Have you consulted with all relevant stakeholders? Does the consultation support the identified need? Do you have a good understanding of similar work

already taking place? Do other stakeholders know about your project and

are they supportive of it? Are you aware of relevant local, regional and/or

national plans, and strategies? Can you explain how your project relates to them?

www.biglotteryfund.org.uk0845 4 10 20 30

olivia.gore@biglotteryfund.org.uklyndsay.peal@biglotteryfund.org.uk