BIG announces BASIS shortlist

Area:

England

Programme:

BASIS

Release date:

21 2 2007

The shortlisted organisations now have up to six months to develop their applications further and present them to BIG for a non competitive assessment.

BASIS is the first Big Lottery Fund programme to focus solely on developing voluntary and community sector infrastructure. The scheme aims to build a more expert, consistently available and sustainable set of support services for front line voluntary and community organisations across England.

Across the round one portfolio, there is a strong focus on maintaining, expanding and improving locally based face-to-face support and networking opportunities available to organisations.

The projects, working across England, include schemes to establish new infrastructure networks in poorly served areas such as Cornwall, Greenwich and rural Norfolk; co-ordinated support packages in urban locations such as Merseyside, Greater Manchester and Birmingham; and partnership work to re-organise and improve currently available services in areas like Lincolnshire, Derbyshire, and Cumbria. The shortlisted projects also represent a significant investment in BME focused infrastructure in every English region.

To support the local and regional work, BIG has in addition invited to stage two a small number of England wide programmes. These will significantly boost knowledge, skills and information in local infrastructure, support sectors not yet fully integrated into infrastructure planning, and pilot innovative approaches for organisations not attracted to traditional methods of training.

Stephen Dunmore, Chief Executive of the Big Lottery Fund, said: “The projects we have invited to stage two represent a backbone of sustainable and strategically integrated support for the voluntary and community sector across England.  They take forward and complement Change Up plans, pilots and partnership working, and will improve the quality, reach and scope of infrastructure in every region. “

BASIS has been devised following extensive public consultation and discussions with the voluntary and community sector. As a result, it will be offering longer-term support for up to five years and substantial capital investment. The programme aims to develop the provision of expert, consistent and sustainable services across the range of voluntary and community sector organisations, as well as established charities and voluntary groups.

A full list of organisations invited to submit second stage applications is available at www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/BASIS-applicants-shortlist

Further Information

Big Lottery Fund Press Office: 020 7211 1888
Out of hours contact: 07867 500 572
Public Enquiries Line: 08454 102030
Textphone:  08456 021 659
Full details of the Big Lottery Fund programmes and grant awards are available on the website: www.biglotteryfund.org.uk

Notes to editors:

• The Big Lottery Funds rolls out close to £2 million in lottery good cause money every 24 hours which together with other Lottery distributors means that across the UK most people are within a few miles of a Lottery-funded project.
• The Big Lottery Fund, the largest of the National Lottery good cause distributors, has been rolling out grants to health, education, environment and charitable causes across the UK since its inception in June 2004.
• On 1 December 2006 the Big Lottery Fund was officially established by Parliament and at the same time assumed the residual responsibilities of the dissolved National Lottery Charities Board (Community Fund) the New Opportunities Fund, and the Millennium Commission. The Fund is building on the experience and best practice of the merged bodies to simplify funding in those areas where they overlap and to ensure Lottery funding provides the best possible value for money.

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