Welcome to this bumper edition of the Yorkshire and the Humber update from the Y&H regional team. For additional news, pictures and links please follow us through Facebook and Twitter
Programme News
Fulfilling Lives: A Better Start
Through our new £165m Fulfilling Lives: A Better Start initiative we will invest £30-£50 million in 3-5 areas. This funding will give the selected areas the opportunity to demonstrate a new way to design and deliver evidence-based preventative services for babies and young children. On 14th January Big Lottery Fund wrote to all upper tier local authorities asking them to express an interest in their area being long-listed by 22nd February. They have also been asked to identify a voluntary and community sector organisation (VCS) willing and able to be the lead applicant if the area is invited to submit a full application.
Awards for All pilot
The Awards for All pilot funding repeat and on-going activities has been extended. Organisations with an annual income of £30,000 or less (according to latest accounts) are eligible to apply, whether we have funded them previously or not.
Application forms and guidance notes will not be changed during this time period. All other criteria still apply, and your application will be assessed in the normal way. It is still important that your application can demonstrate a clear need for your project.
We do reserve the right to reduce the length of the pilot should demand be higher than predicted. To find out more and download an application form, please visit the Awards for All website
Big Lunch
The fifth Big Lunch is set to take place on Sunday 2nd June. The aim is to get as many people as possible across the whole of the UK to have lunch with their neighbours. For last year’s Big Jubilee Lunch an astonishing £8.5 million people took part in events across the UK. Not convinced? Then take 3 mins out of your day to watch this Big Lunch film to find out why you should register for your Big Lunch pack. www.thebiglunch.com If that doesn’t work then get inspired by other’s stories at The Big Lunch case study page.
Has your community taken part in a Big Lunch? Then check out the Big Lunch Community Awards which recognise Big Lunch community action across the UK. If you would like to make a nomination then download a form from the website. Hurry as nominations need to be in by midnight on Friday 22nd February.
Twitter Chat
Join Yorkshire and Humber representatives from Big Lottery Fund, Charity Bank and Key Fund as they host their first virtual funding chat on Wednesday 6th March on Twitter.
We are particluarly interested in questions from groups who have accessed both social finance and grants. All you need to have is access to a twitter account and follow #FundYhChat from 1.30 – 2.30 on 6th March and join in the conversation.
No need to book, just join in and follow the funders @BIGYH, @CharityBank and @KeyFund to find out all their up to date funding news.
Blue Monday
Monday the 21st January has traditionally been seen as the most depressing day of the year. Here at Big we decide to try and combat this with the launch of our Blue Monday initiative which promotes how volunteering can improve people’s health and wellbeing. If you are a Big Lottery Funded organisation looking for volunteers and would like to be on the map email us at enquiries.yh@biglotteryfund.org.uk
We have mapped organisations in the region that are looking for volunteers on our website. The map is still active and if you have not yet volunteered there is still time to do so.
Buy Yorkshire
The Yorkshire and Humber team will be hosting a stand along with other funders from the region at the Yorkshire National conference Buy Yorkshire on the 24th-25th April 2013 at The Royal Armouries. The event attracts over 3,500 delegates and has over 170 exhibition stands.
To book your place and come and meet the team at the event visit the Buy Yorkshire website