1. Helen Clayton Funding Officer for Bolton & Bury
Big Lottery Fund
Helen Clayton
Funding Officer for Bolton & Bury

2. Who are we?
The Big Lottery Fund is the largest community funder in the UK
Last year we distributed £700m to 12,000 projects nationwide using money from National Lottery Players
Most of our grants go to local charities
We support amazing projects led by local people

3. Our new approach Flexible, simple, approachable and proportionate
Regional Hubs
Local funding officers

4. Our Funding priorities in England
Relationships - Bring people together and build strong relationships in and across communities.
Places and spaces - Improve the places and spaces that matter to communities
Early Action - Enable more people to fulfil their potential by working to address issues at the earliest possible stage
20% success rate.

5. Your voice – Our vision: People in the lead
People led - meaningfully involving the people you’re working with in the development and delivery of your activity
Strengths based - making the most of the skills that already exist in communities
Connected - understanding what other relevant organisations are doing and developing good working relationships

6. Our funding offer Awards for All Reaching Communities & Partnerships
Funding under £10,000:
Awards for All
Funding over £10,000:
Reaching Communities
&
Partnerships

7. Awards for All

8. Who can apply? Voluntary and community organisations
Registered charities
Constituted groups or clubs
Community interest companies
Social enterprises
Schools
Statutory bodies
Constituted group – min of 2 trustees who are not related.

9. We cannot accept applications from:
Individuals
Sole traders
Organisations that are aimed at generating profits primarily for private distribution
Applications made by one organisation on behalf of another
Organisations based outside of the UK

11. How to apply www.biglotteryfund.org.uk
Applications are always open, there is no deadline! You can apply via post or or online at:

12. Reaching Communities & Partnerships

13. Who can apply? Voluntary and community organisations
Registered charities
Constituted groups or clubs
A group of organisations (led by a voluntary and community organisation or social enterprise)
Community interest companies (CICs)
Social enterprises
Schools
Statutory bodies
CIC’s that are:
Asset Locked
Governance that sets out how they will reinvest their profits for social good
Two unconnected directors
Not limited by shares
However I would say that primarily we are interested in hearing from great groups, with great ideas who are very  connected to their communities.  If a group isn’t sure about whether they are eligible after reading our guidance they can always give us a call to chat.

14. We cannot accept applications from:
Individuals
Sole traders
Organisations that are aimed at generating profits primarily for private distribution
Applications made by one organisation on behalf of another
Organisations based outside of the UK
Applications made by one organisation on behalf of another. This is very important change. This means that a fundarising consultant can’t come in and apply on your behalf. The new approach means that actually you don’t need that expertise in fundraising to come to us. We want to fund the best ideas not the organisations who are best at filluing out forms and that’s why we now have a conversational approach,where you can always talk to someone,

15. Two types of partnerships:
Led by one partner Group of organisations
Examples include:
Local and national organisations working together around a particular theme
Cross-sector partnerships
Local place-based collaboration

16. What can we fund? Staff salaries Project activities Running costs
Small-scale refurbishment
Equipment and materials
Organisational development
Small scale refurbishments.

17. We CANNOT fund: Activities that generate profits for private gain
Religious activity
Activities that replace government funding
Activities that benefit individuals, rather than the wider community
Retrospective costs

18. How to apply

19. Timelines
From initially contacting us about your idea to receiving a response from us
15 working days – i.e. 3 weeks
From finalising your idea with us to receiving a decision about progressing your idea to a funding request
40 working days – i.e. 8 weeks
From finalising your funding request with us to receiving a final decision
Max of 40 working days – i.e. 8 weeks

20. Tips for success
You developed your idea with the people who will benefit
You’ll support what’s already working well
You can test new approaches
You understand the existing activities and services that do similar work
You’re committed to equalities and the environment
And you’re people led, strengths based and connected

21. What we’re keen to see Grassroots organisations Sustainability plans
Smaller grants
Sustainability – not relying on BLF indefinately

22. Contact us (Bolton)
Greater Manchester Office: me

23. Thank you!