Big Lottery Fund

One of the key aims of BIG’s funding has been to support communities to identify and promote what is important to them. In the UK, BIG has often supported participation and other activities that enable communities become sustainable and resilient.  BIG has also enabled communities to manage and own assets which have formed the basis for wider community development. Overseas, BIG has strengthened community structures and opportunities for people to move out of poverty and become self-sufficient.

• Meaningful and effective participation takes time, support and resources, rather than top-down direction and timetables. But it can be done! Funders and those planning and running projects can find out more about meaningful community involvement Promoting community involvement factsheet. - 119KB
• What is participation? How and why do people participate? We funded a qualitative research project led by the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO)  to find out. Pathways through Participation This report summarises the key findings from the Pathways through Participation research project and our recommendations for future policy and practice.
  - 812KB focuses on people's experience of participation over the course of their lives.
• Managing and owning assets has become a more important focus within government policy across the UK. See an overview of our experience for policy makers and practitioners Managing and owning assets factsheet - 142KB and a quick list of our main studies in the area of asset transfer.
• Many of our projects are working to build sustainable and resilient communities. Find out what we’ve learnt so far Sustainable Communities factsheet - 127KB

Our research and evaluation in this area has considered concepts such as community involvement and empowerment, cohesion and social capital.  The things we have learnt enable BIG to support projects that bring about lasting positive changes to communities. These include projects that aim to build the skills and confidence of communities in taking charge of their own destiny. The evaluation of Fair Share Trust (a £50 million UK programme) shows this in action. In another example, the Scottish Land Fund evaluation shows how community participation can bring people together to make informed and sustained changes that will benefit communities for generations to come.

Find out about all of our studies in this area.

Please contact us to find out more.