The programme will provide funding of £100 million in its first year, with up to £500,000 available for individual projects.
The new Reaching Communities programme was developed following extensive public consultation which recognised a strong demand for a lightly prescribed, demand-led funding programme that allowed communities to bring real improvements to the lives of those most in need. The programme is largely aimed at benefiting the work of voluntary and community organisations.
Under Reaching Communities, the Big Lottery Fund will give out grants of up to £500,000 over five years for projects that:
- offer people better chances in life, including being able to get better access to training and development to improve their life skills;
- build strong communities, with more active citizens, working together to tackle their problems;
- develop improved rural and urban environments, which communities are better able to access and enjoy; and
- create healthier and more active people and communities.
The maximum length of funding under this programme will be five years to allow projects more time to develop and become sustainable.
The Fund is also streamlining the application process so that organisations will be able to complete an outline proposal, providing brief information on the project, and will receive initial feedback within 15 working days. After this they will either be asked to submit a full application form or signposted to another BIG programme which might be more appropriate for their proposals.
Sir Clive Booth, Chair of the Big Lottery Fund said: "The Big Lottery Fund is about to launch a raft of programmes which will benefit communities across the UK. Reaching Communities is among the first to open for business. And in its first year, £100m will be available to support community-led projects and help those most in need. We want people to bring their ideas to us so they can use Lottery funding to bring real improvements to their communities."
Big Lottery Fund Head of Yorkshire and The Humber Region Vanessa White added: "The launch of the Big Lottery Fund's Reaching Communities programme is a great opportunity for all organisations and groups in the Yorkshire and Humber region who have ideas about how they can benefit from Lottery funding. It is about communities finding their own solutions to local issues."
Reaching Communities is part of the Big Lottery Fund's portfolio of new programmes. Following an intense and comprehensive process of consultation with stakeholders and the general public over the last year, the Fund has undertaken to distribute 60-70% of its funding to the third sector. At least one-third of our funding will be demand-led and lightly prescribed In England, this will amount to at least £600 million over the period 2005-2009. This commitment will be met from a variety of funding streams, including, for example, Reaching Communities, Awards for All, part of the Young People's Fund, Community Buildings, Advice Services and the People's Millions.
UK-wide, the Big Lottery Fund will distribute through its new programmes and allocations funding worth over £2.6bn between now and April 2009. Regularly updated information on the Big Lottery Fund's new programmes is available at http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/publications.htm
Big Lottery Fund
Public Enquiries Line: 08454 102030
Textphone: 08456 021 659
Full details of the Big Lottery Fund programmes and grant awards are available on the website: http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk
