The Big Lottery Fund has simplified the Awards for All guidance notes, including fewer restrictions and new priorities.

The Big Lottery Fund offers grants of between £300 and £10,000 to voluntary and community organisations, schools and statutory bodies in order to help improve local communities and the lives of people most in need.

To be eligible for funding projects must now meet at least one of the following three priorities:

  • Bring people together and build strong relationships in and across communities.
  • Improve the places and spaces that matter to communities.
  • Enable more people to fulfil their potential by working to address issues at the earliest possible stage.

Communities should be involved in the design, development and delivery of projects. Examples of eligible costs include:

  • Training costs.
  • Volunteer expenses.
  • Staff costs.
  • Small capital projects.
  • Transport.
  • One-off events.
  • Equipment.
  • Utilities/running costs.

To be eligible for funding, applicants must have:

  • Two unconnected people on the board or committee.
  • A UK bank account in the name of their organisation.
  • Annual accounts (unless the organisation is less than 15 months old).

Priority may be given to applications from smaller organisations. The Big Lottery Fund will consider the income of the applicant organisation when making their funding decision.

Applications may be submitted at any time.

To find out more click here; https://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/global-content/programmes/england/awards-for-all-england