1. Big Lottery Fund
How to make a good application
This is an edited version of a real workshop provided by Big Lottery
Tim Curtis
How to make a good application

2. What we’ll cover today
Overview of Big Lottery Fund in Scotland
Brief look at funding available
How to make a good application
How to make a good application

3. Big Lottery Fund Overview
BIG distributes 14p
of every £ spent
on Lottery
£257million for
UK wide but
Scotland has own Scotland between
programmes
2006 and 2009
Bringing about
Commitment to
social change to voluntary and
communities most community
sector
in need
How to make a good application

4. Funding Programmes
Small grants programme (up to £10k) for one-off costs run
in partnership with other Lottery distributors
Programme run in conjunction with BBC Scotland £3m for projects
aimed at encouraging the over 50s to have a healthy body and mind
Young
£25m put into projects aimed at encouraging 11-25 year olds to
People’s take part in activities that make them feel good about themselves
Fund
UK wide small grants programme promoting improvement of
green spaces and biodiversity amongst community groups
People’s Millions gives the public the opportunity to decide
where lottery money in spent by funding local community-based projects
How to make a good application

5. Investing in Communities
One to five years funding
Up to £1,000,000 but average grant c£300k
Capital and/or revenue
Up to 100%
How to make a good application

6. Process
Outline Proposal Quick process for
(10-15 days) early feedback
Application form You’re in control, most
(6 months to complete) take around 4 months
Assessment Grants officer allocated
(4-6 months) Writes report for Committee
How to make a good application

7. What this session will cover
Assessment Criteria
Key elements of an application
Supporting Documents
Points to remember
How to make a good application

8. Introduction
The key elements of writing an application:
Feedback Project
Criteria
letter Activities
Evidence
Sustainability Outcomes
of Need
Measuring
Planning Budgeting
Progress
How to make a good application

9. Criteria
Make sure your read our criteria and judgement
points, as these is what your application will be
scored against (in guidance notes).
criterion one criterion two
Your project outcomes meet an Your organisation
identified need and help to achieve can deliver the
the changes we want to make project well and
through the area of investment achieve the proposed
relevant to your project. project outcomes.
How to make a good application

10. Feedback
Your Grants Officer will check to see that
you have responded to feedback.
Read your feedback letter and requirements
Check you have addressed every point
Respond to any feedback we’ve given in other
correspondence or meetings
How to make a good application

11. Activities
It should be clear what your activities will be and
how people will engage with the project
Focus on what you’re asking us to fund
– don’t give us too much organisational history
Be consistent – avoid confusing the application
with details of other projects
Use short (a paragraph) case studies
Avoid broad terms – you must tell us what you’re
actually doing
How to make a good application

12. Activities
Example
What they say…
‘Facilitate a wide range of environmental engagement
opportunities for disengaged young people experiencing
ongoing confrontational lifestyle issues.’
What they mean…
‘Take 35 young people on a 2 week outward bound trip.
They will take part in 5 different team-based activities,
such as canoeing, rock climbing and orienteering. The
young people all have a history of being involved in
territorial gangs and have been excluded from school.’
How to make a good application

13. Evidence of need
You must be able to demonstrate that there is
a need for your project and this must be backed
up with evidence.
Our assessments can only be based on what is
contained in the application form, and we are unlikely
to fund projects which appear to be based on
assumption or hearsay.
How to make a good application

14. Evidence of need
Your evidence should:
be relevant to the project you are applying to us for
and specific to your client group
be in proportion to the size and scale of your project
show why your project is the most appropriate way to
meet the identified need
show user involvement in project development
How to make a good application

15. Evidence of need
Evidence could include:
• good quality recent inclusive consultation internally (with
participants, staff board members etc) and externally (with
stakeholders, partners, wider community etc)
• recent relevant research undertaken in-house or using results
from research already undertaken by other organisations
•beneficiary engagement in the development of the project
•the experience & knowledge of people in your group (e.g.
highlighting a case study)
• relevant, recent statistics (e.g. census, SIMD figures)
• evaluation of a successful pilot project or previous similar work
How to make a good application

16. Outcomes
What are outcomes?
Outcomes are the changes that will come
about as a direct result of your work.
Why are outcomes important?
Our assessment of your application is based around
your outcomes – how well your outcomes are meeting
an identified need, how likely you are to achieve them
and how well they fit with the aims of our funding.
How to make a good application

17. Outcomes – Who, how, what
Who –
organisations How – should relate to What –
or people who change or difference what is changing?
will benefit
•Young people •Improve •Knowledge
•Lone parent •Decrease •Skills
•People with •Reduce •Environment
learning disabilities •Expand •Ability
•Older people who •Develop •Relationships
are experiencing •Sustain •Opportunities
loss of mobility
25 young carers improved support better coordination
experience through of services
How to make a good application

18. Outcomes
Tracking and Measuring outcomes
Your Milestones tell us how your project will progress.
You can also use Outcome Indicators to tell us how you will measure
progress.
Milestones - Milestones -
Outcome Progress of Activities Outcome Indicator
•40 people with •40 service users •40 people able to take
ongoing mental attended discussion part in discussion.
health difficulties meetings by month 6.
have increased •20 people report
confidence by the •20 people take part in feeling less nervous
end of the project. shopping trips with about going out in
befriender by month 8. public.
How to make a good application

19. Sustainability
Tell us how your projects will provide benefits beyond
the life of the grants
Demonstrate how the project complements or fits with national and local
objectives
Tell us how you will create and develop good working partnerships
Show clear systems for evaluation and learning as the project
progresses, and how this learning will be able to inform the future
development of the project
Show how your project adds to existing services or fills a gap in
services
Show a clear exit strategy – who are you going to approach for funding?
If your project can generate an income, tell us how this will work
How to make a good application

20. Budgeting
Check that your totals add up
Poor budgeting, calculation of costs or inconsistencies in totals do not
demonstrate good financial management, and could not only delay your
assessment, but could affect your grading.
Full Cost Recovery
We can provide a proportionate contribution towards overheads that are indirectly
incurred as a result of the project. You must show how you have worked this out –
we have spreadsheets that can help you.
Size of Grant
• Find out what our average grant size is – we have a very high demand for funding
• Match funding - it’s important to build relationships with other funders
• Focus what you’re asking for on what fits best with our aims
• Ask for fewer years of funding
• Think about tapered funding to show a commitment to sustainability
How to make a good application

21. Tracking and measuring
progress
Evidence that plans are in place for monitoring progress on this
particular project
What systems you will use to effectively measure progress on
your milestones and outcomes
How you will involve beneficiaries in measuring and tracking
progress
Evidence of ongoing self-evaluation and how you will recognise
internal issues and build on successes
How to make a good application

22. Business Plans
Your Business Plan (if required) is a useful tool.
It should:
Should show exactly how the project will work, down to the
last detail.
Show that you are aware of the risks involved in the project
Tell us who will be responsible for delivering the project
Tell us how the project fits into your organisation's wider
work (if relevant)
How to make a good application

23. Skills and experience
Tell us what you can bring to the project.
Learning and evaluation from previous work or a pilot
Individual skills and experience
Existing partnerships
Learning from other organisations or similar projects
Plans for recognising training needs and building capacity as
project progresses
How to make a good application

24. Points to remember
1 Be simple, clear and specific and consistent;
2 Don’t assume that we know anything about your area of work;
3 Remember to budget for everything i.e. inflation, auditors,
evaluation costs;
4 Act on any feedback we have given; read the guidance notes
5 Don’t rush – plan carefully. It might take longer than you think to
set up your project;
6
Proofread your form or ask someone else to read it; talk through
what you’ve written.
How to make a good application