Big Lottery Fund

To contact the East Midlands office, call 0115 872 2950 and ask for a member of the East Midlands regional team. Alternatively, email enquiries.em@biglotteryfund.org.uk

For enquiries about our funding programmes please call the Big Lottery Fund help line on 0845 4 10 20 30.

Mick McGrath - Head of Region

As Head of Region Mick is responsible for the East Midlands team. He leads on a range of policy areas such as Breath of Fresh Air partnership, meeting and working with regional stakeholders and partners including other funders and VCS groups, as well as leading on national BIG policy work such as funding advisers, capacity building and programme teams.

In addition, he is involved with regional public affairs work, MP meetings and tours as well as fronting the numerous media requests from newspapers, radio and television.

When Mick is not at work he is a board member of a charity, helps coach his son’s football team and does all the things fathers have to do, including singing High School Musical duets with his daughter.

Mick.mcgrath@biglotteryfund.org.uk

0115 8722960

Kelly Hart - Regional Manager - Development

Kelly leads on the Family Learning, Breathing Places and Young People’s Fund programmes and is the national regional lead on Family Learning. She also leads on Lincolnshire, young people, helper agencies and the 2012 Olympics for the team. Kelly organises the Lottery officers’ group for the East Midlands distributors.

The majority of Kelly’s weekends are spent watching football as an avid follower of Nottingham Forest. Kelly also volunteers for a number of organisations including a Mencap branch where she helps run a twice weekly social club for adults with learning and physical difficulties.

Kelly.hart@biglotteryfund.org.uk

0115 8722966

Sean Tizzard - Regional Manager - Development

Sean leads on the team’s policy and partnership work in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. This involves representing BIG on a number of panels including the Leicestershire Funding Advice Network, the Rutland Infrastructure Consortium and the ESF Community grant panel for Leicestershire. Sean also takes a thematic lead on BME related activities, equalities and social enterprise across the East Midlands. Sean takes a programme lead on our BASIS, Research, NOPES and Advice Plus programmes. For Community Libraries, he represents the regions on the nationwide programme forum. Sean also sits on the East Midlands Funding Forum Steering group.

Outside of work, Sean is a committed music lover and can often be seen in the summer months in muddy festival fields.

Sean.tizzard@biglotteryfund.org.uk

0115 8722952

Louise Ashby - Regional Officer - Development (Weds-Fri)

Louise works with local infrastructure organisations across Nottinghamshire and Nottingham City to raise awareness of BIG as well as offering support and advice that can be passed onto groups about how to access funding.

Louise also leads on the themes of later life, rural issues, the environment, isolation and public sector working. She is the regional programme lead for Silver Dreams, Changing Spaces and Well–Being as well as the non–lottery funded programme myplace.

Outside work Louise pursues literary, culinary and creative endeavours.

Louise.ashby@biglotteryfund.org.uk

0115 872264

Paula Torres-Silva – Regional Offier – Development (Mon-Weds)

Paula is the lead for Chesterfield, Bolsover and NE Derbyshire and works with local groups and CVS organisations to provide information on our funding and processes. She is also the regional lead on substance misuse and carers.

Paula.torres-silva@biglotteryfund.org.uk

0115 8722962

Matt Rowe - Regional Officer - Development (Tues-Fri)

Matt is the lead for Derbyshire and works with local authorities, CVS organisations to provide information to community groups on our funding and processes. Matt also leads on Reaching Communities Buildings and Forces in Mind and has also been involved with the Heroes Return 2 programme. Matt is also the regional theme lead for equalities, BME, disability, mental health, LGBT, homelessness, offenders and faith.

Matthew.rowe@biglotteryfund.org.uk

0115 8722968

The development team all contribute widely to the delivery and development of the Big Local Trust programme.

Andrew Regan - Regional Manager - Outreach

Andrew leads on regional communications in the East Midlands in order to implement national strategy, working with stakeholders in the region to promote BIG's programmes and celebrate success. This involves planning events, writing case studies, media liaison and delivering post award workshops and support.

Andrew is a Chartered Marketer with the CIM and his past experience includes working for the RNIB and the Australian Red Cross.

Away from the office Andrew supports the mighty Tottenham Hotspur, loves to travel and has been all over the world in search of the perfect beach (and is still looking!).

andrew.regan@biglotteryfund.org.uk

0115 8722961

Sue Barsby - Regional Officer - Outreach

Sue leads on public affairs work in the region, ensuring that MPs and other stakeholders are informed of BIG’s awards and campaigns. She also arranges the region’s events, contributes to our bank of case studies and maintains the webpage and ebulletin. Sue provides post-award PR support to grant holders, leads on communications strategies for Heroes Return and Millennium Now as well as being the region's new media "expert".

Outside of work she can be found listening to melancholy music, shouting support for Northampton Saints rugby team and making all sorts of craft items.

Sue.barsby@biglotteryfund.org.uk

0115 8722963

Shylet Mudzamiri - Regional Administrator

Shylet ensures that the office runs smoothly and supports the rest of the team. She provides valuable assistance with mailouts, tours, event preparation, merchandise and branding and general administration, as well as being the office’s Green Champion.

Away from work, Shylet makes a range of accessories including jewellery and fascinators. She enjoys singing and will soon be working on a solo album.

Shylet.mudzamiri@biglotteryfund.org.uk

0115 8722950

What we do

• Gathering policy and contextual information to assist BIG’s committees in making decisions about funding applications
• Links with external organisations and key individuals in the region
• Outreach to ensure potential applicants are aware of our grant programmes and funding policies
• Communicating with stakeholders (including MPs) and raising the profile of Lottery funding
• Providing post award communications and PR support to grant recipients
• Organising events and participating in networks to share best practice and disseminate research and evaluation
• Monitoring of application success rates and targeted work to try to ensure distribution of awards reflects needs in the region.