England. Making a BIG difference to schools

Transcription

1 England Making a BIG difference to schools

2 Making a BIG difference to schools Stock code BIG-SCHOOLS1 Print Burlington Press Photography Brian Morrison, Steve Forrest, Shot in the Dark, Betina Skovbro, Kevin Clifford, Ged Murray Further copies available from: general.enquiries@biglotteryfund.org.uk Phone Textphone Our website Accessibility Also available upon request in other formats including large print. Our equality principles, mission and values We are committed to bringing real improvements to communities and the lives of people most in need. To find out more about our equality principles, mission and values, visit our website. We care about the environment The Big Lottery Fund seeks to minimise its negative environmental impact and only uses proper sustainable resources. Big Lottery Fund is the joint operating name of the New Opportunities Fund and the National Lottery Charities Board (which made grants under the name of Community Fund). Big Lottery Fund, July 2006

3 Introduction The Big Lottery Fund distributes half of the money the National Lottery raises for good causes. We want to use Lottery money to bring about BIG changes to communities, by funding people, projects and programmes, with a particular emphasis on tackling need. Between , we will give out more than 2.3 billion. There are four outcomes we want to see our projects achieve: people having better chances in life, with better access to training and development to improve their life skills stronger communities, with more active citizens working together to tackle their problems improved rural and urban environments, which communities are better able to access and enjoy healthier and more active people and communities. Schools at the heart of communities Schools are much more than just centres for education; they are often at the heart of local communities, becoming the centre for neighbourhood activities. We want to support schools in their broader social aims: strengthening community cohesion, fostering youth engagement and securing pride in the local environment. Adding value All of our programmes must be additional to government so we will not fund projects that perform state functions. So, for example, we will not give money for teaching staff or classroom equipment. We will not fund activities which directly relate to the school curriculum. However, that does not mean that schools are disqualified from our funding. If a project helps deliver one or more of our outcomes, then schools can benefit from funding under a number of our programmes. 3

4 The school day Generally we do not expect to support activities that take place during the school day (apart from during lunch breaks). However, if a school has a new project that meets our programme aims, and there is a strong case for holding an activity during school hours, we will consider the application. A case study A rural school has grounds that include woodland and would like to develop a project with a local wildlife group. The project will include field trips to the woodland during school hours. Considerations about daylight hours and the need for teacher involvement make it necessary for the project to take place during the school day. The project is not part of the school curriculum and no state funding is involved, so it would be eligible for money from us. 4

5 Programmes Below is a summary of the programmes schools can apply for directly or in partnership with others up to Programmes that schools can apply to directly Reaching Communities Schools are eligible to apply either individually or in partnership with other public, private or voluntary sector organisations. In 2006/7 at least 100 million will be available under this programme for community projects. Reaching Communities aims to: bring real improvements to communities and to the lives of people most in need, including those who are hard to reach support projects that respond to the needs of communities and actively involve them. We have not set any restrictions on the kinds of activities we will fund as long as your project aims to meet a clear need in your community and also meets at least one of our key outcomes. We will make grants of between 10,001 and 500,000. And we will fund projects for up to five years. Key to this programme is that all projects are community driven we expect communities to be actively involved in shaping and delivering projects. 5

6 Awards for All Schools are eligible to apply either individually or in partnership with other public, private or voluntary sector organisations. Awards for All is a joint Lottery grants programme, supported by Heritage Lottery Fund, Arts Council of England, Sport England and the Big Lottery Fund. The programme is designed to support a range of projects and activities including art, sport, heritage, education, environment and health. Schools will have to show how they will genuinely work in partnership with other community based organisations. The three broad aims of Awards for All are as follows: extending access and participation increasing people s skills and creativity improving the quality of people s lives. Grants of 300 to 10,000 are available under Awards for All and projects have to be completed with a year of the award date. For more information go to or phone

7 Breathing Places (Phase 2) (We expect to launch this programme in Autumn 2006) Schools are eligible to apply either individually or in partnership with other public, private or voluntary sector organisations. The Breathing Places grants programme is a UK-wide small grants programme, developed in partnership with the BBC. It complements the BBC s Breathing Places campaign and is designed to provide funding for small groups who are inspired by this campaign. The two core aims of the programme are: increase participation and access to local breathing places by encouraging people to become actively involved in them, and by supporting activities that are open and accessible to everyone make a lasting improvement to the local environment by supporting activities that develop existing breathing places or help create and sustain new ones. Breathing Places is being run in two phases. Phase one closed for applications on 26 July Phase two will launch in Autumn 2006 and will be open to schools. As part of this programme schools will be encouraged to work together with local voluntary groups to help create sustainable breathing places for communities to enjoy. Schools will be able to apply for grants of between 300 and 10,000. We will only make one grant in each breathing place, and you must be able to spend your grant within one year. 7

8 8 Programmes that schools can apply to in partnership with another organisation Children s Play (Deadline for applications 10 September 2007) Schools can get involved as part of their local authority application. The Children s Play Programme has been set up to develop free, accessible children s play provision in areas of greatest need. Each local authority in England will be allocated a share of the 124 million total programme budget. Local authorities will take the lead in developing a children s play strategy having consulted with local stakeholders. They will then submit a portfolio of projects to us, which addresses the needs highlighted within the strategy. Schools will be involved in this process. Some projects will be delivered by the local authority itself but we expect some to be contracted out to schools. You can find details of who to contact at your local authority on our website.

9 Playful Ideas (Deadline for applications 31 December 2007) Schools can work in partnership with voluntary and community organisations, social enterprises and parish and town councils. The Playful Ideas programme will invest up to 16 million to promote new ways of thinking about planning, designing and delivering children s play. This programme will support activities that are creative and fun. Although schools cannot directly apply to this programme, they can work in partnership with an organisation that can. The programme can accept applications from voluntary and community organisations, social enterprises and parish and town councils. Family Learning (Opening in Autumn 2006) Individual schools cannot apply on their own, but they can be part of a bid by working in partnership with voluntary and community organisations or social enterprises. The Family Learning programme will increase opportunities for family learning, particularly for families most in need. We are looking for projects that will offer all family members the chance to get involved in learning in an informal and supportive atmosphere. There will be more information available on our website when the programme is launched. 9

10 10 Other programmes funding your community We have a range of other programmes that will be funding local communities. Although schools cannot apply directly to these programmes, there may be opportunities to get involved in the projects that they fund, such as improvements to community libraries and buildings; healthy eating projects and local environmental improvements. More information New programmes are being launched all the time. For example, watch out for phase two of the Young People s Fund. Please check our website for the latest information on current and new programmes: or call the BIG advice line on Lottery Funding search The Lottery Funding website provides information on all the Lottery distributors and their funding programmes. You can search the site for programmes that schools can apply to.

11 Examples of schools projects The most successful projects are delivered in partnership, working closely with community based organisations. Here are some examples of project applications we have funded under the Awards for All programme. We would welcome similar applications. u A school wants to work in partnership with other community organisations to reduce exclusion and promote healthy lifestyles. The project will run a series of after school activities including dance, exercise and cookery classes. The aim is to promote the value of healthy lifestyles and bring the community together. u A school wants to set up a radio station for internal broadcasting, run by the pupils during lunch time and featuring music and interviews on topics of interest to the children. They will use the expertise of a community radio station, which will run workshops in the relevant skills. This will also give pupils who are interested in volunteering with community radio a chance to boost their job prospects. u A school would like to start an after school table tennis club to broaden the range of sports that pupils are able to take part in. The pupils will have the opportunity to take part in interschool competitions and the school will link up with a local club for those pupils who want to continue their interest outside school. u A school wants to put on a series of holiday workshops by professional artists in African drumming for pupils, parents and the general public. They will work with a local dance group to stage a performance which everyone can take part in. These are only examples. We will not be able to fund all applications so please read the programme application material carefully before sending us your application. 11

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