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

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

Overview of Big Lottery Fund

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”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Preparing to write your application

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?

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?

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!

Making a strong case for funding

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What BIG is looking for in applications

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

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’

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’

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!

Reaching Communities grants in Islington

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

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

Support and Guidance Available

Support and Guidance Available Big Lottery Fund website: http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk 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: 0845 4 10 20 30 Email enquiries: general.enquiries@biglotteryfund.org.uk

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

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

Questions and Comments?