By Claire Racine

The Big Lottery Fund plans to pump a multi-million pound package of funding into communities to help them cope with the effects of the recession and increase its funding commitment to the Voluntary and Community Sector following its Big thinking Consultation.

“I am very aware of the tough times communities are experiencing and the increased demand this is inevitably placing on the voluntary and charitable sector,” said Peter Wanless, Big Lottery Fund chief executive.

“While there are some reports that the recession may be easing, we know that the full impact on the UK’s communities is still working its way through, impacting on homes across the nation, bringing family breakdown, mental illness, unemployment and personal debt.”

To tackle the longer-term effects of the recession on the UK’s communities, BIG is investing an additional £43m across the UK.

Working closely with stakeholders, it is thought the support could include targeted funding for specific services such as debt advice and support to help train increasing numbers of volunteers.

“Right now, the last thing the Sector needs from us is another targeted fund with its own eligibility criteria, rules and procedures,” Wanless said.

“By channelling more money through our existing funding streams, we can respond immediately to the increasing demand from local groups and organisations coping with the crunch.”

BIG has also reprioritised and refocused its portfolio and increased the budgets of some of its most popular programmes this year, amounting to around £45m, to deal with the increased pressure facing the Third Sector.

All these adjustments have been made to help get funding fast to where VCS voices are saying it is needed most.