Big Lottery Fund

Funding programmes open to your constituents

You can use our Funding finder to search for funding programmes that are available for your constituents, while our grants search will allow you to find projects that have been funded in your constituency.

See a list of funding programmes open to your constituents

BIG Lottery funding in London

In 2011 the Big Lottery Fund (BIG) made more than 1,300 grants in London, totalling over £42.3m.

This includes over 1,100 grants through our small grants programme, Awards for All, supporting community groups with over £10m.

We are also proud to have supported 36 veterans of World War Two to return to sites in which they saw action, with total grants of just under £50,000 through our Heroes Return funding programme.

Big Lottery projects begin 2012 celebrations

As Big Ben struck midnight on 1 January 2012, Londoners across the city began their celebrations welcoming this most exciting year. And some of the Big Lottery Fund’s grant holders have all the more reason to celebrate, as their Jubilee People’s Millions projects come to fruition.

The Jubilee People’s Millions competition closed last year, with four lucky London projects winning a public vote on ITV London Tonight to take home a grant of up to £60,000. Run with the approval of Buckingham Palace, these grants will help communities celebrate 2012 and improve local places or the lives of local people.

One winner in London was the Shape Diamonds project, run by local disability organisation Shape. Shape Diamonds will enable disabled Londoners to participate fully in the exciting arts and cultural events which will be taking place in 2012 to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee and Cultural Olympiad. They are using their Big Lottery Fund grant to train 100 volunteers, who will go on to support over 1,000 disabled people.

The project will transform people's lives; as one disabled benefactor said "Going to the theatre, being able to laugh and relax is better than any medicine".

Another Jubilee People’s Millions winner looking forward to the year ahead is Living Under One Sun in Haringey. They are in the process of recruiting volunteers for their Blooming Beds and Bees project, which is supporting local people to grow their own healthy and affordable food, as well as giving them training in beekeeping and community leadership.

There are many more projects across the capital marking this year of celebration in their own way, and we look forward to sharing some of their stories later in the year.

HIV and Me

When Peter was diagnosed with HIV at the age of just 13, he thought he was going to die. Ten years on, Peter is living life to the full and giving hope to hundreds of young people like him as a mentor for lottery funded charity, Body & Soul.

“It was terrifying” says Peter describing the moment he found out he was HIV positive, “I just burst into tears. The only knowledge I had of HIV was the Mark Fowler storyline in EastEnders and he was only given ten years to live. I couldn’t see the point in going to college or University, I just wanted to give up.”

Isabella was born with HIV but didn’t find out she had the virus until she was 16. “I was so scared because I had seen members of my family die from HIV so I was convinced I was dying too.”

Peter and Isabella are not alone. Around 3,000 people in the UK under the age of 25 are living with HIV. Learning you are infected can have a devastating impact and feelings of shame and rejection leave many young people facing their fears alone and isolated.

“I didn’t want to build relationships with people” says Peter, “I thought it would make them too sad when I died.”

Lack of education and awareness about HIV means many young people also face abuse and bullying on a daily basis.

“There are still so many stereotypes associated with HIV” says Isabella. “It’s not like cancer where people are kind and sympathetic, you’re made to feel dirty. When I was at school, I knew people who wouldn’t let someone with HIV into their house or let them drink from their cup. It’s still the same for young people today, in the playground, on the streets because not enough has been done to educate people about HIV.”

Life in my shoes

That’s where the Life in my Shoes campaign comes in. Designed by and for young people, the campaign, run by London based charity, Body & Soul, is tackling the fear and misunderstanding that surrounds HIV.

Part of the campaign is a hard hitting film Undefeated which shows the stigma and discrimination faced by young people living with HIV.

The film uses actors who were selected by audition to tell the real life experiences of Peter, Isabella and their friends. Both been involved in the film from the start, using their knowledge, experience and considerable talent to make sure it shows the reality of their lives.

“We wanted it to make the campaign relevant to young people today.” says Campaign Manager, Emily Kerr-Muir Life. “We want to change attitudes and behaviours towards HIV and show the reality and normality of young people who are HIV positive.”

The campaign will be rolled out in schools and youth settings across London to raise awareness and enhance the support HIV positive young people receive.

One thing you can’t miss about the Life in my Shoes campaign is the colour yellow. “It’s bright, sunny and reflects how we feel about our lives” says Isabella. “We’ve had enough of scary statistics, we want to spread a positive message, this campaign is about living, not dying.”

Body & Soul’s Life in my Shoes campaign is being funded with a grant of £487,305 from BIG’s Young People’s Fund.

How can we help you?

The regional team can arrange bespoke events for you and your constituents, from funding advice surgeries to constituency tours of lottery funded projects.

Also, every month we email all MPs with the details of awards that have been made in their constituencies.

To arrange a constituency tour or to find out how we can help support your constituents please contact us.

Further Information