29 November 2010

This item first appeared in Funding News December 2010/January 2011...

The Big Lottery Fund's Awards for All programme can fund not-for-profit and community groups, schools, health organisations and parish and town councils. The project must meet at least one of the following four aims:

•  People have 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 enjoy

•  Healthier and more active people and communities.

You can apply at any time, for between £300 and £10,000. Examples of what you can apply for include:

•  Equipment hire or purchase

•  Information technology equipment

•  Building and refurbishment work

•  Sessional workers

•  Updating equipment and premises for health and safety reasons

•  Volunteer expenses

•  Venue hire.

All projects need to be completed within 12 months.

In South Yorkshire, 200 projects have been successful in receiving Awards for All grants since April 2009 totalling £1.3 million. Successful projects include:

Sheffield Now! has received £10,000 to create a recycled playground. Play structures will be made out of recycled materials after creative discussion with young people across the city. They will then be placed in a huge playful space in the City Centre, with each structure having a different function.

Hope House Church in Barnsley received £9,752 to set up a much needed community cafe. The facility aims to bring members of the community together to access various activities and events such as youth drop ins, cinema clubs, English lessons, counselling and coaching services.

Note: The other lottery good cause distributors (Sport England, Arts Council England and Heritage Lottery Fund) also run their own small grants programmes. Details of their programmes and the Big Lottery Fund Awards for All can be found on the Awards for All website here.

SYFAB is planning some Meet the Funder events with Awards for All in early 2011. More news on these later.