[WiLT] More Big Lottery News

[WiL Admin]

Strong reactions to new Big Lottery Fund funding strategy

Navca, the NCVO and the Directory of Social Change say all its grants should go
to voluntary organisations

Voluntary sector leaders have criticised the Big Lottery Fund's announcement
that 80 per cent of its funding will go to  voluntary organisations, calling for
the funder to increase the figure to 100 per cent.

The BLF announced today that it would increase the figure from the current level
of between 60 and 70 per cent as it set out its funding strategy for the next
six years.

Kevin Curley, chief executive of local umbrella body Navca, said: "The local
third sector is being challenged by a reduction in local authority grants and a
difficult environment in which to fundraise, so I would have liked the Big
Lottery Fund to announce 100 per cent of its funding will go to the sector."

Stuart Etherington, chief executive of umbrella body the NCVO, said he welcomed
the extra funding but the NCVO would continue to campaign for all of the money
to go directly to the voluntary and community sector.

Ben Wittenberg, director of policy and research at sector training and
publishing organisation the Directory of Social Change, said: "Since money was
taken from the Big Lottery Fund for the 2012 Olympics, voluntary and community
groups will receive 80 per cent of a smaller pot. I would have liked to see 100
per cent, but this is better than no change at all.

"The Big Lottery Fund is looking to consolidate its position as a good funder.
It's already had its pocket picked by the Government, and the Tories have said
they would scrap it, so this is a reflection of the pressure the fund is under."

But Ralph Michell, head of policy at chief executives body Acevo, said the Big
Lottery Fund had got it right. "The sector is going through a difficult time and
it needs all the help it can get. We welcome the increase, and now is not the
time to be pernickety about the percentage."

>From http://ecm.hbpl.co.uk/re?l=ew155oI450l1k5It


Energy companies return money to the Big Lottery Fund

The Big Lottery Fund has received £43m from energy companies returning lottery
money in order to receive other government funds

The Big Lottery Fund has received a £43m windfall from energy companies, it
announced today.

The BLF said the cash came back to the organisation after energy companies were
promised further government funds if they returned previously granted lottery
money.

The windfall comes as the funder announced its strategy for the next six years.
Peter Wanless, chief executive of the BLF, said the money had not yet been
allocated and there was no timetable for distributing it, but he hoped it would
be spent on creating volunteering opportunities and supporting debt advice
charities.

>From http://ecm.hbpl.co.uk/re?l=ew155oI450l1k5Iw