The Big Lottery Fund has released details of changes to its operational funding process, which will make way for a series of new programmes, such as the Young People’s Fund that is currently being implemented across England.

Further funding opportunities, including the new international and research grants programme, will be rolled out from early summer to late 2005 and will be based on the results from the current consultation.

The new programmes will replace the New Opportunities Fund and the Community Fund, which are currently being wound down. Deadlines have also been given for applications for the Medium and Large Grants Programmes in England and the UK-Wide Strategic Grants Programme, which should be submitted before the deadline of May 31. Awards for All will continue to operate across the UK through 2005 and 2006.

It is anticipated that there will be a high level of demand for funding prior to these deadlines and applicants have been recommended to wait until the opening of the new programmes later in the year. Timetables for the phasing out of initiatives in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are yet to be confirmed.

Sir Clive Booth, Chair of the Big Lottery Fund, said: "We want our new programmes to build on the achievements of the initiatives previously delivered by the Community Fund and New Opportunities
Fund, but also to be more than the sum of their parts. Inevitably there are some significant changes ahead and since we have a very strong commitment to customer care, we want to give our clients as
much notice as possible of these changes."

For further information, visit www.biglotteryfund.org.uk or call the advice line on 0845 4 10 20 30.