Karon Phillips Senior Consultant Tel: 07762 302 307 How to increase your chances of making a successful Big Lottery Reaching Communities Application Karon Phillips Senior Consultant Tel: 07762 302 307 Email: karon@citrusconsultancy.co.uk INTRODUCE MYSELF CHAIR EAST MIDS IOF VOL SECTOR MANAGEMENT EXPEREINCE BIG LOTTERY EXPEREINCE - SUCCESS

Common reasons why bids fail Issues the project will address Covering Today Big Lottery outcomes Common reasons why bids fail Issues the project will address Evidence of need Activities Community involvement Support provided by the Big Lottery GOING TO COVER IN THE SESSION --- PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ASK QUESTIONS AS WE GO ALONG

Current Reaching Communities Outcomes People have better chances in life, with better access to training and development to improve their life skills Stronger communities, with more active citizens, working together to tackle their problems Improved rural and urban environments, which communities are better able to access and enjoy Healthier and more active people and communities THESE ARE THE CURRENT BIG LOTTERY OUTCOMES. ANY BID YOU WRITE NEEDS TO MEET AT LEAST ONE OF THESE.

Future Big Lottery outcomes Healthier, happier people in communities Early action and prevention Sustainable communities, places and spaces GOING FORWARD THESE WILL BE THE NEW OUTCOMES IF POSSIBLE WHILST DEVELOPING YOUR APPLICATION TRY AND ENSURE THAT YOU CAN DEMONSTRATE HOW YOU ACHIEVE AT LEAST ONE OF THESE OUTCOMES.

Common Reasons Bids Fail Lack of consultations and evidence of need/impact Not clear about what the project will deliver No local context None or limited service user and volunteer involvement No strategic linkages Talk about the organisation Weak evaluation Budget CONSULTATIONS NEED TO SHOW THE NEED FOR THE PROJECT AND THE DIFFERENCE THIS TYPE OF WORK HAS DELIVERED PREVIOUSLY OR ASK QUESTIONS THAT ENABLE YOU TO DEMONSTRATE HOW THE PROJECT COULD HAVE BENEFITTED SERVICE USERS. GIVE EXMAPLE OF TREETOPS STATE WHAT YOUR PROJECT WILL DELIER – HOW OFTEN ACTIVITIES WILL TAKE PLACE, WHAT TIMES, WHICH AGE GROUP, HOW YOU WILL WORK IN PARTNERSHIP – REFERRALS VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES VOLUNTEER RECONGNITION EVENTS YOU NEED TO FIND LOCAL AND NATIONAL STRATEGIES LOCAL FIGURES – E.G. CANCER – NUMBER OF OLDER PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY – 1 in 10 affected by loneliness – estimate x number in the community PROJECT STEERING GROUP - VOLUNTEERS SHAPING EVALUATIONS - HOW THEY HAVE BENEFITTED – WHAT ELSE VOLUNTEERS CAN DO – NEW ROLES – FOCUS GROUPS - CONSULTATIONS INSTEAD ABOUT TALKING ABOUT THE PROJECT IN WHAT WILL THE PROJECT DO--- PEOPLE TALK ABOU THE WORK OF THERE ORGANISATIONS. IF THE WORK IS BASED ON PREVIOUS ACTIVITEIS YOU NEED TO HAVE EVALUATED THE WORK AND BE ABLE TO SHOW HOW THE PROJECT WORKED WELL, WHAT DID NOT WORK WELL, WHAT LESSONS YOU HAVE LEARNT, WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO BE DOING DIFFERENTLY, CASE STUDIES AND QUOTES. IF YOUR PROJECT COSTS IN EXCESS OF 100K PER YEAR … QUESTIONS ABOUT VALUE FOR MONEY--- IF PROJECT IS GOING TO COST IN EXCESS OF 100K THEN ASK FOR THREE YEARS FUNDING..... IF LESS THEN IT MAY BE WORTH GOING FOR FOUR OR FIVE YEARS... GIVE EXAMPLE OF SHARP AND ARCHWAY YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND YOUR BUDGET --- MAKE LOTS OF NOTES – GET QUOTES IF REQUIRED--- MAKE SURE IT ADDS UP.

What Problems Will The Project Deal With? Lack of confidence Lack of self-esteem Poor health Loneliness, social and community isolation Poor education Lack of opportunities Poverty Life skills Access to services These are just some examples of the sorts of issues projects deal with. Your consultations need you to be able to evidence the issues your community faces. INDICIES OF DEPRIVATION YOUNG PEOPLE – LIVING IN A DEPRIVED COMMUNITY – SUFFER FROM DEPRIVATION OF OPPORUTNITY, ASPIRATION AND ACCESS TO SERVICES.

How Do You Evidence Need? Review case files Evaluation of current services Local and national policy Review of management reports Demands on current service delivery Consultations

Using Consultations to Evidence Need Questionnaires/surveys How many people responded Focus groups Stakeholder engagement events Project steering group Who did you speak to What statistically did the consultations tell you

Example Evidence Of Need In spring of 2015 we also consulted with our current service users. 75 young people responded, and the findings show that: (a) 88% were suffering from a range of mental health difficulties (stress, anxiety and depression), (b) there were no young people in employment, (c) only three young people were attending college or on a training course, (d) 51% had been victims of crime in the local community, (e) 25% of young people aged (15 -20) were worried about finding a job, (f) 12% felt that they were pressurised by friends to become involved in risky behaviour, and (g) 50% said that there was nothing to do locally.

Example Evidence Of Need The feedback from our pilot healthy living project (summer 2015, a girls only project) has demonstrated, (a) 100% wanted project activities to be developed specifically for girls, (b) 97% wanted activities to help them to understand the impact poor nutrition, drugs/alcohol and smoking have on their physical and mental well-being, and on their looks, (d) 100% wanted learn how to look and feel good, and (e) 97% wanted the opportunity to learn about fashion and beauty

Example of Questions Used To Evidence Need Would it have helped to have someone to talk to openly and honestly without worrying about upsetting them? helped talk about the impact that your diagnosis/prognosis has had on your life? enabled you to make plans for your care, and in doing so helped you to feel more in control over your life?

Impact Developed new friendships Improved confidence Gained qualifications Gained new skills Improved self-esteem Taken up new volunteering opportunities No longer involved in risky behaviours Involved in other community activities Improved mental health and well-being Taken up new learning opportunities Remained in education Gained employment

Examples of Outcomes Individuals will report an improvement in their ability to cope with their diagnosis, improved physical and mental well- being and ability to make Volunteers will have gained in confidence, and developed new social support networks, and opportunities that will improve and equalize their future life chances and health outcomes Service users will have improved their life skills, feelings of social connectedness, confidence and ability to successfully manage a tenancy. Service users physical and mental health will be improved and so reduce the risks of them dying prematurely or developing life long health problems Service users and volunteers will have gained new skills and knowledge which help to improve their employment opportunities Service users will report an improvement in their life skills, feelings of social connectedness and as a result have the confidence and ability to manage their illness

What will the project do When will those activities take place Project Activities What will the project do When will those activities take place Partnership working Volunteering Project Steering group

Example Activity Weekly creative arts activities (one for young people aged 10 -14, Monday - 4.00pm. - 6.00 pm. 10 young people attending; and young people aged 15 - 18, Monday 6.00pm. - 8.00pm. 12 young people attending). The workshops will allow young people to develop their interests or try something new. The sessions will also allow young people, using non-verbal means, to communicate their feelings and the issues affecting them.   WHO WHAT WHEN WHY

Example Activity Weekly creative arts activities (one for young people aged 10 -14, Monday - 4.00pm. - 6.00 pm. 10 young people attending; and young people aged 15 - 18, Monday 6.00pm. - 8.00pm. 12 young people attending). The workshops will allow young people to develop their interests or try something new. The sessions will also allow young people, using non-verbal means, to communicate their feelings and the issues affecting them.   WHO WHAT WHEN WHY

Leading sessions/activities Steering groups Peer mentoring Volunteers How Do You Involve Service Users And Build On Their Skills And Assets ? Leading sessions/activities Steering groups Peer mentoring Volunteers Board membership Evaluation

Example Activity and Service User Involvement Running the project - We will establish a project specific steering group .They will be involved in developing the project’s action plans, the development and implementation of the projects monitoring and evaluation activities. They will also play a key role in helping us to pull together the new information materials (including website).

Example of Volunteer Involvement There will be volunteer meetings every two months where volunteers will provide feedback on project activities and delivery and make suggestions for improvements. Volunteers will be supported to take on the role of chairing the meetings and taking minutes. A member will be elected to the project steering group. Volunteers will help to deliver the training for health care professionals. The Service User Involvement Group will be involved in management procedures (reviewing key performance indicators and recruitment).

Example Of Service User Involvement The project will provide a variety of volunteering roles, which enable current and future service users to engage at a level of their choosing and capability, including advocacy and peer mentoring roles where appropriate.

How The Big Lottery Help Website Guidance notes Examples of survey’s Evaluation guidelines Telephone advice line – 0345 4 10 20 30

Current and Future Big Lottery Outcomes Co-designed Remember Current and Future Big Lottery Outcomes Co-designed How the community is involved 8-9 months Average grant £300k https://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/about-big/strategic-framework

Thank you If you have any questions please feel free to drop me an email: karon@citrusconsultancy.co.uk. Or call 07762 302 307. Happy to give a bit of free advice.