Scotland update

Big thinking - the results are in

BIG unveils its consultation results and new strategic framework.

It was billed as your chance to help shape the future of BIG’s funding over the next six years and here in Scotland you didn’t disappoint.

Over 440 of you answered the Scottish questions through our Big thinking consultation survey while 739 people took part in 32 consultation events across the country.  

After three months of consulting, Big thinking came to an end on 27 February 2009 - so what about the results? Well, these have now been analysed and published and have helped us to do two things.

First of all they helped us produce our strategic framework - Big thinking. This document takes us from where we are today to how we want to be in 2015. It charts the journey we will make during this period, from being primarily a distributor of funds to becoming an intelligent funder.  The strategic framework blends what we heard during our Big thinking consultation with what we've learned from our experience of funding so far.  

Secondly your consultation results helped the Scottish Government set BIG in Scotland its policy directions. These will enable us to align our resources with its purpose and objectives for the coming years, while also continuing to be an intelligent funder with the flexibility to remain additional to Government.

So a BIG thanks to everyone who took part in the consultation and we hope you can take the time to read our strategic framework and find out more about what you told us in Scotland.

Big thinking - our strategic framework

BIG’s Strategic Framework takes us from where we are today to where we want to be in 2015.

We already do more than simply distribute funds and Big thinking our new Strategic Framework will help us become a more effective and efficient funder, securing greater impact and influence from our work.  

One of the key points in Big thinking is our decision to increase the level of funding we'll commit to the voluntary and community sector (VCS) across the UK.  Currently we have pledged to commit 60-70 percent of BIG funding to third sector organisations, and in Scotland under Investing in Communities we have committed around 84 percent of our funding this way.

From now until 2015, BIG will demonstrate our ongoing commitment to the voluntary and community sector by pledging to spend at least 80 percent of our funding in the VCS.    

Read the new strategic framework in full

Policy Directions

BIG is a UK-wide public body that reports to the Department of Culture Media and Sport in Westminster.

In Scotland, policy directions set out by the Scottish Government guide our spending on devolved areas.

Following our consultation process and a series of discussions with the Scottish Government, BIG has received new directions to coincide with the launch of our Strategic Framework. While previously BIG conformed to a list of 24 Scottish priorities which were last updated in 2006, our new framework will take a different form, which we believe will allow us to align our objectives with the National Objectives for Scotland, while allowing us to be an intelligent funder and preserve our independence from government.

Following these new directions, our new programmes will seek to achieve one or more of the following strategic objectives:

• SMARTER: People having better chances in life.
• SAFER AND STRONGER: Communities work together to tackle·inequalities.
• GREENER: People have better and more sustainable services and·environments.
• HEALTHIER: People and communities are healthier.

At the same time, we now will take the following principles into account while developing new programmes and making awards:

• ENGAGEMENT - the development of programmes should be basedon the active engagement of public, private and third sector partners.
• SOLIDARITY and COHESION - ensuring that individuals and communities across Scotland have the opportunity to contribute to·participate in and benefit from a more successful Scotland.
• SUSTAINABILITY - to improve Scotland's environment today and for future generations while reducing Scotland's impact on the global environment.
• ADDITIONALITY and COMPLEMENTARITY - the development of programmes should complement and add value to the strategies and activities of partners and stakeholders..
• COLLABORATION - where possible, the outcomes of projects and programmes should benefit from effective collaboration between organisations and between public, private and third sector partners.

Responding to recession

As the impact of the current recession continues, BIG has been gathering a range of information on how it has impacted on our grantholders and their beneficiaries.  

In Scotland and across the UK we have seen examples of how grantholders have faced increased difficulties securing other funding, or where they now face increased demand for the services they provide.  We also know that some of our stakeholders are in some form of organisational difficulty due to the wider economic situation.

That’s why, across the UK, BIG has developed a strategy for alleviating the social consequences of the recession.  In Scotland we will commit at least £4 million on work that helps to foster, support and develop resilience. In particular we want to enable people, families and communities to cope, stabilise and recover from the impacts of the recession. This means:

• supporting families who are in hardship now and, as a consequence of the recession, are struggling to cope
• providing effective assistance to people and families who are already at ‘tipping point’, who are perhaps on low income or at risk of losing their job or home and require the support to become more stable
• supporting and promoting goodwill in communities by bringing people together to help counter the tensions and rifts that recessions can cause.

Details are being finalised, however, we are keen to provide this support quickly and efficiently and therefore will be working with existing grant holders and applications.

We will be looking to provide extra help to some projects we already fund to support them through these difficult times. This could involve offering one-to-one support, advice and time as part of our grant management process, or assisting projects we have identified as in difficulty, through grant variations.

Full details of our plans will be available soon.

If your organisation has been affected by the recession we'd like to hear from you. Email Alex.Johnston@biglotteryfund.org.uk with your recession-related experiences.

Awards for All

We re-launched Awards for All in April this year and have received some good feedback on the new form and application process.

We also hit the road in April and May to promote the new scheme with a series of workshops for applicants and helper agencies across Scotland. Don’t worry if you couldn’t make it to one of the workshops – we’ve put the training presentation on our website.

The budget for Awards for All in Scotland this year is £10.5 million, with £9 million from BIG, £1 million from sportscotland and £0.5 million from the Scottish Arts Council. This means there is money available in small grants for the voluntary and community sector in Scotland (remember that statutory bodies can also apply).

So if you have an idea for a standalone project that you can complete within a year and want to apply for up to £10,000 Awards for All could be for you. And remember, you don’t have to apply for the full amount – we can fund projects from £500 up, so your idea doesn’t have to be at the top of the scale for us to fund it.

Our website has all the details and now you can send the form in by email it’s even easier to apply!

Latest awards

Wheelchair basketball in the Lothians, rugby coaching for women in Edinbugh, an inter-school cricket event in Oban, and a Commonwealth Games themed summer holiday programme in Glasgow are amongst those projects to benefit from Lottery funding from 2014 Communities.

BIG is awarding £85,352 to 94 projects through 2014 Communities, the programme which aims to build a legacy from the 2014 Commonwealth Games across Scotland. 2014 Communities hopes to encourage more people to take part and volunteer in sport or physical activity as well as using sport as a way to bring people from different communties together.

Amongst those funded, aproject aiming to tackle territorialism amongst young people in Glasgow received an award of £925. The Garscube Community Foundation will provide a five week coaching course for young people in Maryhill, Firhill and North Possil to take part in a range of sports including athletics, gymnastics, judo and hockey. This will culminate in a Commonwealth Games themed festival which will take place between the 6th July and 4th August at three venues across Glasgow.

Scott McNair, Community Development Officer (Youth), said: “This grant is wonderful news for those young people who will be able to participate in a wide range of sports. This is about increasing participation and giving young people the chance to meet other young people whom they might never have considered playing sports with. Hopefully this funding will increase their frequency in sporting activities and who knows, there may be a future Commonwealth Champion amongst them.”

For the full list of awards, visit our website.

If your group has an idea for a project that could help achieve the aims of 2014 Communities and you need a grant of between £300 and £1,000 why not apply? The application form and guidance are available online

National lottery awards

Five Big Lottery Fund and Awards for All projects have reached the semi-finals of The National Lottery Awards 2009, the annual search to find the UK’s favourite Lottery-funded projects.

The public are now being urged to show their support by casting a vote and helping the organisations in the running make it through to the next stage of the Awards. Voting for the semi-finals starts at 9am on Monday 22 June and ends at midday on Friday 10 July. For further information, and to register a vote, go to the website.

The Big Lottery Fund and Awards for All-funded semi-finalists are:

able 2 sail, Renfrewshire: competing for Best Sports Project

With the help of Lottery funding, able 2 sail offersdisabled youngsters, and their families, the unique opportunity to sail on a specially adapted 46-foot yacht.  Once onboard,everyone is supported and encouraged inhelping with all aspects of the boat, from pulling up the sail and steering to plotting the route.  The charity, which received Lottery funding through the Big Lottery Fund, plan to take over 200 people sailing this season, ensuring each and every person onboard during one of its trips has the same opportunities to enjoythe open water.  To register your vote for able 2 sail call 0844 686 1850.

Angus Care and Repair, Forfar, Angus: competing for Best Voluntary/Charity Project

Supporting elderly and disabled people of all ages throughout the area, Angus Care and Repair helps with home repairs, improvements and adaptations, so people can enjoy the independence of living in their own homes.  Lottery funding, through Big Lottery Fund and Awards for All, helped the service to get off the ground when it reopened over 10 years ago, and the organisation has gone from strength to strength ever since, providing a vital service to vulnerable people throughout Angus and ensuring they can feel safe in their own homes.    To register your vote for Angus Care and Repair call 0844 686 7723.

The Bread Maker, Aberdeen: competing for Best Voluntary/Charity Project

Based at 50-52 Rosemount Viaduct in Aberdeen, The Bread Maker is an artisan bakery and coffee house, which provides meaningful work and training for adults with learning disabilities.  With the help of Lottery funding, from the Big Lottery Fund, the project takes on apprentices and trains them in baking and hospitality skills, which helps build their confidence and develop the practical and social skills they need to pursuefurther employment. To register your vote for The Bread Maker call 0844 686 2809.

The Haven, Blantyre, Lanarkshire: competing for Best Health Project

The Haven is a free drop-in centre that provides holistic support and information for people affected by life limiting illnesses, and their families. Lottery funding, from the Big Lottery Fund, has been used to employ a specialist nurse, counsellors and complementary therapists to offer advice, information and support, in a relaxed and welcoming environment and help people to cope with the emotional and physical impact of illness on their daily lives.  

To register your vote for The Haven call 0844 686 9839.

Moray Art Centre, Findhorn, Moray: competing for Best Arts Project

Moray Art Centre’s Young Person's Programme aims to inspire and motivate children and young people, including those experiencing hardships, difficulties and disadvantages. In 2005, a Lottery grant helped the Art Centre complete ‘phase two’ of its development, with the addition of a dedicated young people’s art studio. Twofurther Lottery grantshave helped fund activities for young people, as well as the creation of an ecological, biodiverse ‘Alice in Wonderland Garden’, which will officially open later this year.  The Centre’s Young Person’s Programme received Lottery funding from the Big Lottery Fund.  To register your vote for Moray Arts Centre call 0844 686 1057.

You can also vote for any of the projects by logging on to the website.

Other news

Here's some other BIG-related news for the coming months.

BBC Breathing Places have a couple of events coming up:

To coincide with National Tree Week, Tree O'Clock will be a double world record-breaking attempt: to plant the most trees in a single location and plant 1 million trees in multiple locations on Saturday 5 December 2009. Get involved and register.

Green Balloon Club Week will be a week of events for viewers of the CBeebies show (and their parents!). BBC Breathing Places is looking for any groups who can organise their own wildlife-themed events between 25 July and 2 August and register before 30 June 2009. The contact for further information in Scotland is Laura Simpson.  

Village SOS, another joint initiative with the BBC, launched on the One Show. The programme is searching for six UK villages with a great business idea and six enterprising individuals to act as Village Champions and help them achieve their ambitions

Together they will create a brand new venture that will bring new life and energy to the village with funding of between £100,000 and £400,000 from BIG.The journey of the six successful villages and their Village Champions will be filmed for a major prime time BBC One series in winter 2010. For more details visit the website.

The Information and Outreach Team has some good news to report – our new Outreach Development and Support Manager Evelyn Boyd started in June. Evelyn has joined us from the European Social Fund and has a wealth of experience of the voluntary sector in Scotland.

The UK-wide Research Programme was in high demand this year, with over 600 potential projects in the pipeline. Competition is therefore likely to be tough.