£100 million a year to be invested by BIG

At least £100 million a year is to be invested across England by the BIG Lottery Fund in a new improved version of its flagship Reaching Communities programme for each of the next five years.

The new funding which will be introduced this spring comes with two distinct improvements.

First, applicants seeking smaller sums of money will enjoy a simpler application and assessment process.

Second, a two-stage decision making process for larger bids will ensure that all applicants will learn sooner whether their project is in with a chance of receiving funding. For those invited to the second stage, the likelihood of success will be much higher, making work on completing a full application more worthwhile.

Also in the pipeline for later in the year is a third element, a dedicated capital stream offering funding within the familiar Reaching Communities application process to respond to the high, unmet demand for funding for community buildings.

The changes are a response to the Fund's major public BIG Thinking consultation last year.

In addition, the Big Lottery Fund is promising more informative feedback on all unsuccessful applications.

Over 75 percent of BIG Thinking's respondents said that it was better to give early decisions on applications, including rejecting those likely to be unsuccessful, based on a few key questions at the enquiry stage.

Sanjay Dighe, chair of Big Lottery Fund England committee, said: "Reaching Communities is the centrepiece of our funding for 2010 and beyond and the enhancements we are making are a response to popular demand.

"Voluntary and Community Sector groups have welcomed the chance to access as much as £500,000 for up to five years but many have also told us that in the current, uncertain times, they would value a version of the programme that is easier to access. That's why we are introducing a lighter touch Reaching Communities programme for people seeking sums of up to £40,000 a year.

"It is business as usual, so projects should continue to get their applications in and we can support many more grassroots organisations to develop ideas that will flourish and benefit the wider community."

The dedicated capital element which will be available in the Autumn is likely to fund medium sized refurbishments, new builds or extensions to community centres, village halls or other community use buildings meeting local community needs and aspirations.

The main aim of Reaching Communities is to help bring real improvements to communities and to the lives of people most in need. Over 1,400 awards have been made which translates into £336 million Lottery good cause money for communities across England since the first award was announced in 2006.

You can find out more about the programme, as well as how these changes will effect you, on the Reaching Communities programme page: http://www2.biglotteryfund.org.uk/prog_reaching_communities.htm?regioncode=-uk&status=theProg