BIG and our predecessor the Community Fund have a long history of funding projects that support disadvantaged communities around the world.
In line with our commitment to understanding and maximising impact, we wanted to find out more about the range of benefits that our International Communities and International Strategic Grants programmes have brought, as well as how we might make our funding achieve even more in future. So in 2012 we appointed Ann Sanders, Janice Needham and Catherine Sexton to look into this.
This is a document produced for BIG staff who want to learn more about measuring impact .
This document presents five case studies that accompany the investment readiness report.
This document includes full survey data from the investment readiness report.
This is our summary of a report into different perspectives of what VCS groups need to be ready for social investment.
This report outlines different perspectives about what VCS groups need to be suitable for social investment.
Thisi is our summary of main findings and progress from the evaluation of our Well-being programme
This document includes 15 detailed case studies linked to the third (year 4) report.
This report presents findings and progress from the fourth year of the Well-being programme in England.
This report considers BIG's experience of contracting or endowing others to run aspects of our grant-making and makes recommendations about doing this more effectively.
This is our summary of findings from the first report from phase 3 of the evaluation. It reports on progress towards outcomes and factors for success.
This 2012 scoping study surveys provision for young people in England and Scotland, identifying gaps where BIG and others might intervene.
This study provides an overview of information and policy on violence against women, notably domestic violence linked to sporting events, gang-related violence involving wormen and girls, and violence during pregnancy.
This report considers progress toward's GCA's outcomes and factors for successful community ownership of assets.
This report reviews evidence and activity in the topical area of prevention and early intervention and suggests some areas where BIG might consider further involvement.
This summary provides an overview of policy and practice in this area in 2012. It includes a framework to help funders decide whether to develop interventions.
This report reviews reasons why fewer men than women engage with our social projects and oultines strategies to ovrcome this.
This brief guide introduces some strategies to encourage more men to take part in your project.
This report highlights beneficiaries' views and presents case studies that show how the programme is achieving its outcomes.
This is a quick summary of learning from the 17 well-being portfolios' own evaluations, highlighting achievements and how they got there.
This report reviews use and perceptions of different quality assurance systems and considers how groups and funders might use them more effectively.
This report considers how Village SOS has benefited local communities and residents, as well as the implications of running a programme in partnership with a broadcaster.
This report reviews evidence gathered by the 17 well-being portfolios about how far they have improved mental health, physical activity and healthy eating.
This document gives an overview of the 17 portfolios' achievements.
This summary outlines the main findings from the second full report of our Well-being evaluation.
This document highlights a range of the projects that the project funded, how they worked, and the results that the studies had.
This document outlines the findings from the evaluation of various rounds of our Research Grants programme.
This report considers how communities are responding to climate change and considers how policy-makers and funders might best support them to do this.
This report considers the effect BIG has had on the voluntary and community sector and highlights areas for further discussion and consideration.
This early report sets out some of the issues about our impact on the voluntary and community sector. Those themes are developed in the later full report.
This early report sets out some of the issues about our impact on the voluntary and community sector. Those themes are developed in the later full report.
This early report sets out some of the issues about our impact on the voluntary and community sector. Those themes are developed in the later full report.
Learning from the Young People's Fund about reducing the level of NEETs.
Learning from the Young People's Fund about effective ways of engaging with and supporting young people who have left care.
Learning from the Young People's Fund about working with young carers
Learning from the Young People's Fund about promoting positive behavour at and engagement with school.
Learning from the Young People's Fund about actively involving young people, which was a focus of the programme.
Case studies from across the UK, illustrating findings from the final report of the Young People's Fund evaluation
This reviews the achievements of and learning from the programme as a whole.
Learning from the Young People's Fund about ways of encouraging active citizenship.
Learning from the Young People's Fund, including working with young people who have offended or are at risk of doing so.
This two-page document outlines key tips for communities and groups, as well as funders and policy-makers
This short document highlights some statistical findings about application and award rates for projects relevant to gender-based need.
This report considers key factors for success in establishing and sustaining community ownership, as well as progress towards outcomes.
This document summarises the key findings from the third year of the People and Places programme evaluation. It is our interpretation of the main findings from the evaluation report.
This is the 2010 Annual Report for the evaluation of the Big Lottery Fund’s (BIG) People and Places programme which is being undertaken over a five year period in parallel to the implementation of the projects funded by the programme.
This report considers factors that contribute to rural isolation and how BIG’s funding in England and Scotland has helped to overcome this type of isolation.
This study investigates the longer-term benefits of BIG’s capital funding and identifies key factors that promote sustainable change.
This study investigates the longer-term benefits of BIG’s capital funding and identifies key factors that promote sustainable change.
This study investigates the longer-term benefits of BIG’s capital funding and identifies key factors that promote sustainable change.
In this essay Diana Leat considers how funders and the sector think about their role and that of capacity-building, before going on to present some radical new ways of thinking about and responding to need.
This study considers how we might best support groups to set up and run partnerships and other collaborative working arrangements.
Sustainable Communities factsheet
Managing and owning assets factsheet
Promoting community involvement factsheet.
This study explores the social and economic impacts of business development and enterprise projects funded by BIG in developing countries.
The aim of The Character Inquiry is to investigate the potential of focusing on character, and character development, to help achieve greater levels of wellbeing in society and among individuals or, to put it in rather classical terms, to investigate how building character helps people to live the good life.
Case studies from Reaching Communities & Reaching Communities Northern Ireland
Well-being evaluation report February 2011
This report explores applicants’ experience of applying to BIG using its SMART outcomes approach and makes recommendations based on the findings.
The Building Change Trust will invest £10 million over 10 years to help community groups and larger voluntary organisations adapt and develop new ways of working. There is a single grant of £10m given as an endowment, expendable over ten years between 2008 and 2018. This means that the grant must be reinvested to produce an income and all the capital and income must be committed by 2018. Big Lottery Funds aim for the Building Change Trust, and for the work it supports, is to build the capacity of the Voluntary and Community Sector by equipping it to meet the changing needs of Northern Ireland communities. The Trust will not make grants in a traditional way, but will look at what resources already exist in communities and identify ways to support communities to develop and change.
Capacity building through the Developing Communities Scotland programme – evaluation summary
This report sets out findings and observations from interviews with front-line groups and specialist and generic support providers. It includes conclusions and recommendations for all interested in this area to consider.
This document is BIG’s summary of the final report from our “Equal support” research study.
Literature Review: Summary of key findings
Meeting the organisational development needs of groups that serve communities of interest: Focus on ethnicity and sexual orientation
This is a summary of the findings and considerations of a study into the support needs of small groups that apply to BIG.
This is the full report from a study that considered the support needs of small groups that applied to a range of BIG programmes in 2008.
Transition to adulthood can be a major challenge for young people with neurodevelopmental difficulties. This document summarises the key findings from the Big Lottery Fund’s research to identify the main issues experienced by young people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or with autism and makes recommendations about how support services could be improved.
This guide provides practical tips on how to get young people involved in your project, and the benefits and challenges of involvement.
This document summarises the key findings from the Big Lottery Fund’s first year evaluation of the Growing Community Assets investment area.
This document outlines early findings from our evaluation of the Well-being programme.
This report sets out plans for and early findings from the evaluation.
Volunteering plays an important role in today’s society in changing people’s lives for the better – by giving a sense of belonging and well-being; by offering the opportunity to give something back to society.
A BIG guide to using an outcomes approach
This research was commissioned by the LankellyChase Foundation as part of the Young Foundation’s Mapping Unmet and Emerging Needs programme of work.
This research was commissioned by The Bedford Charity (The Harpur Trust) as part of the Young Foundation’s Mapping Unmet and Emerging Needs programme of work.
This document draws out some of the findings, learning and key themes from the evaluation of the Fair Share Trust – for people running or designing similar programmes.
BIG has been one of the main funders of a major research study, ‘Mapping Britain’s unmet needs’, which was published on 7 December 2009. The research offers a fascinating picture of unmet need. It brings together facts and figures about large-scale trends while exploring the reality of individuals’ lives.
This handy document summarises relevant research reports from across a range of social policy and Third Sector areas of interest, which have been published in the last six months.
IG has been one of the main funders of a major research study, ‘Mapping Britain’s unmet needs’, which was published on 7 December 2009. The research offers a fascinating picture of unmet need. It brings together facts and figures about large-scale trends while exploring the reality of individuals’ lives.s
A survey of Fair Share Agents was done (autumn 2008) as part of the evaluation of the Fair Share Trust (FST) programme for the Big Lottery Fund (BIG). It explored progress with the FST at the neighbourhood level, and aspirations for the future.
This is the third and final report from the evaluation of the first six years of the initiative. It focuses on progress and learning to date from the Fair Share Trust.
This document includes detailed annexes that support the findings and discussion in the final evaluation report.
The Big Lottery Fund in Scotland requires all Investing in Communities (IiC) grant holders to carry out self-evaluation of their project
Investing in Communities Third annual review
Small Grants Thematic Evaluation In May 2008, the Big Lottery Fund (BIG) commissioned the Policy Studies Institute to conduct a multi-methods evaluation of their small grants programme of funding.
Small Grants evaluation summary
Breakheart Community Project Limited
The aim of this study, initiated by the Intelligent Funding Forum, was to examine joint working between funders from different sectors.
This is a summary of the key findings from the YPF year two evaluation report
he Big Lottery Fund (BIG) has commissioned Hall Aitken to evaluate the Community Sport Initiative between 2005 and 2010. This document summarises the key findings from the third year evaluation of the Community Sport Initiative.
This is the final report from the evaluation of the New Opportunities for PE and Sport programme. The evaluation explored the impact of the programme on partnership, participation and wider social change.
This is a summary of the key findings from the evaluation of the New Opportunities for PE and Sport programme. The evaluation explored the impact of the programme on partnership, participation and wider social change.
Executive summary of the final evaluation report. This report is about the Fair Share Trust (FST) programme, which goes beyond the task of grant making by working to build strength and capacity in local communities.
The aim of this report is to explore the effectiveness of BIG’s international small grants programme in equipping applicants to make successful applications to larger grant programmes, in particular the International Communities & Tsunami (IC&T) programme.
This document explains BIG's Research and Learning Strategy for the period 2009 - 2015.
Community Sport Initiative: Year Three Report
This was the largest consultation ever carried out by a Lottery distributor, reflecting our position as a body that delivers around half of all Lottery funding to communities across the UK.
BIG’s Strategic Framework takes us from where we are today to where we want to be in 2015. It charts the journey we will make during this period.
Standard terms and conditions for development grants
This evaluation assesses the effectiveness of projects within the demand-led Reaching Communities programmes in identifying, defining and meeting the needs of the people they aim to benefit (including the role of beneficiaries in doing so).
This is the final report from the three year evaluation of our cardiac rehabilitation programme. The programme was managed by our award partner, the British Heart Foundation. The report summarises the findings from the evaluation in relation to the programme objectives of increasing uptake and improving the quality of cardiac rehabilitation services.
Findings and recommendations from a year-long project sponsored by the Big Lottery Fund and aimed at promoting sustainability within Healthy Living Centres through social enterprise.
This document summarises the key evaluation findings from two of the Big Lottery Fund's environmental programmes: Green Spaces and Sustainable Communities and Transforming Waste. The first section of this document highlights the key findings emerging from both evaluations. It then goes on to discuss the key findings from each evaluation separately and finally draws together good practice and lessons learned from both studies.
This document summaries the findings from The People's Millions evaluation report. The evaluation has found that the benefits of applying for funding from The People's Millions included free publicity to raise the public profile of the project, attracting new volunteers or funding, and a more positive impact on community engagement.
This document summaries the key findings from the Building Quality Childcare evaluation. The evaluation has found that the programme has contributed to the enhancement of buildings, facilities and services for the enjoyment and development of young children.
This document gives a final overview of findings from the three-year evaluation of Transforming Your Space. It highlights some themes of interest to people and groups undertaking community projects.
This report presents the findings from the evaluation of The People's Millions programme. The aim of the evaluation was to assess the impacts of public involvement in The People's Millions on grant decisions and the prospects, operation and effectiveness of participating projects. The main focus of the evaluation was on the influence and outcomes of public involvement, both on the programme as a whole and on the operation and impact of individual projects.
Family learning
This document summarises the year two key findings from the Community Sport evaluation. The Community Sport programme is supporting projects in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales that aim to increase uptake of physical activity among disadvantaged groups of people or groups who are currently inactive.
This is the final summary of the findings that emerged from the Big Lottery Fund evaluation of the Do it 4 Real (formerly Get Real) programme.
The good practice guides are based on evaluation findings from the evaluation of the legacy Research Grants programme. The guides cover good practice in relation to user involvement, partnership working and dissemination.
The good practice guides are based on evaluation findings from the evaluation of the legacy Research Grants programme. The guides cover good practice in relation to user involvement, partnership working and dissemination.
This is the final report of the evaluation of a range of programmes that aimed to reduce the burden of coronary heart disease, stroke and cancer in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The evaluation consists of a three year tracking study and focused case-studies for each country.
This is the final report for the research grants evaluation. The evaluation explored the impact and outcomes of the Research Grants programme across the UK.
This document is the appendices section from the New Opportunities for PE and Sport evaluation for Scotland. The evaluation is exploring the impact of the programme on partnership, participation and wider social change.
This document is the appendices section from the New Opportunities for PE and Sport evaluation for the UK. The evaluation is exploring the impact of the programme on partnership, participation and wider social change.
This document is the appendices section from the New Opportunities for PE and Sport evaluation for Northern Ireland. The evaluation is exploring the impact of the programme on partnership, participation and wider social change
This is a summary of the fifth evaluation report for the New Opportunities for PE and sport programme. The evaluation is exploring the impact of the programme on partnership, participation and wider social change.
This is the fifth evaluation report for the New Opportunities for PE and sport programme. The evaluation is exploring the impact of the programme on partnership, participation and wider social change. A summary of the report is also available on the website.
This document is the appendices section from the New Opportunities for PE and Sport evaluation for CDELL study. The evaluation is exploring the impact of the programme on partnership, participation and wider social change.
This document is the appendices section from the New Opportunities for PE and Sport evaluation for England. The evaluation is exploring the impact of the programme on partnership, participation and wider social change.
This document is the appendices section from the New Opportunities for PE and Sport evaluation for fastrack projects. The evaluation is exploring the impact of the programme on partnership, participation and wider social change.
This document is the appendices section from the New Opportunities for PE and Sport evaluation for Football Foundation projects. The evaluation is exploring the impact of the programme on partnership, participation and wider social change.
This is the Final Report of the Evaluation of the Transforming Waste Programme (the Programme). The Report assesses the delivery of the Programme and its impact in terms of social, economic and environmental outcomes. It also provides recommendations to inform future funding programmes for Big Lottery Fund (BIG).
This is the final report from the four and a half year evaluation of our palliative care programme. The report summarises the findings from the evaluation, looking at schemes as they complete their grants, the impacts that services had and the sustainability of schemes post-BIG funding.
This summary details the final key findings from the evaluation of our palliative care programme. The evaluation ended in autumn 2007. The evaluation looks at the new services that were being delivered, how they were delivered and the impact on the quality of life of those who used them.
This summary sets out and discusses the main findings from the second report from the evaluators of the Fair Share initiative. The summary focuses on the Fair Share Trust, which has established funding programmes for up to ten years in defined local areas, and actively engages the community in decisions about how best to sp
This report presents the findings from the evaluation of the Building Quality Childcare Programme in Northern Ireland. The aim of the evaluation was to examine how the programme has met the needs of parents and children in disadvantaged areas, how different types of projects have met these needs, and whether the childcare provision or associated services are likely to be sustainable.
This document summarises the final findings from the evaluation of the Green Spaces and Sustainable Communities Programme (GSSC), funded by the Big Lottery Fund.
This report presents the final findings from the evaluation of the Green Spaces and Sustainable Communities Programme (GSSC) in Northern Ireland, funded by the Big Lottery Fund and delivered by the Creating Common Ground consortium. The evaluation, which was undertaken by Sally Downs Associates, documents the environmental, social and economic successes of the programme.
This report presents the final findings from the evaluation of the Green Spaces and Sustainable Communities Programme (GSSC), funded by the Big Lottery Fund. The evaluation, which was undertaken by Sally Downs Associates, documents the environmental, social and economic successes of the programme.
Second year evaluation report about the Active Futures programme in Scotland, the Active Lifestyles and Community Sport programmes in Northern Ireland and the Mentro Allan programme in Wales.
This document is a summary of the research that we commissioned about older people. The aim of the research was to assess the relevance and impact of our funding programmes on older people, explore opportunities for older people in our current funding programmes and identify areas of need where we could potentially make an effective contribution for older people in the future.
In Spring 2007 ORC International, an independent research company, helped us gather information on how well we are doing in meeting the expectations of our key stakeholders in England, their levels of confidence in us as a good funder, and how we are adding value to the work of other agencies and partners.
The evaluation will assess the impact of each of the four country programmes in meeting their aims and outcomes, and will examine the impact of involving young people in all areas of the projects and programmes (from development to evaluation) on young people themselves, communities and projects.
This report covers the second phase of the evaluation of Fair Share, which aims to increase the amount of Lottery funding to some areas that had previously received less than average.
This summarises findings from the final report of the Healthy Living Centres evaluation. More detail is given in the full final report.
This policy commentary discusses the changing policy context over the lifetime of the Healthy Living Centres programme.
Document from the 2007 conference.
Examples of projects and their outcomes,
Examples of projects and their outcomes,
Examples of projects and their outcomes,
Examples of projects and their outcomes,
Examples of projects and their outcomes,
Examples of projects and their outcomes.
This is the final report from the evaluation of the Transforming Your Space initiative across the UK. It considers the impact of TYS as a whole and some of the main lessons learned. It is best read in conjunction with the second full report and the final case-study report.
This annex to the final report from the evaluation of Transforming your Space gives full details of all the case studies that took part in the evaluation. There is a wealth of evidence for each, including outcomes and impacts to date, and prospects for the future. This is an annex to the final evaluation report.
This is the second annual report from the evaluation of the Cardiac Rehabilitation programme, providing a progress report on the evaluation up to July 2007. The evaluation is based on a rolling survey of projects and case study visits and the report gives an update on interim findings to date.
The purpose of this paper is to explore the impact of the NOPES programme on Outcome 5 (the promotion of social inclusion through access to, and use of, sports and outdoor adventure facilities by all groups in society) using existing evaluation data.
This document is our response to and comments on recommendations in the dissemination report
In 2005 we commissioned William Solesbury & Associates to review our approach to sharing learning and reports from our evaluation and research work, and to identify ways that we could improve our performance. We have set out our thinking and early progress on the recommendations in a separate response document
This document is the appendix to the main year four PE and sport report and includes details of survey findings from across the UK, Football Foundation case study projects and the findings from the study examining the impact of the programme on disaffected and marginalised youth groups.
The PE and sport year four report highlighted several recommendations for BIG. The document outlines our responses to the recommendations from the evaluators.
This document is the appendix to the main year four PE and sport report and includes details of case study visits and survey findings in Northern Ireland.
The fourth annual report details findings from the PE and sport evaluation across the UK up to February 2007 and includes results from baseline and annual surveys, case study visits and Football Foundation projects. A summary of the report is also available on this site.
This document is a summary of the full PE and sport evaluation report. The summary details key findings from across the UK, including data from surveys and case study visits. It also highlights the main findings from the Scotland activities programme.
This working paper examines Impact of the PE and sport programme on the Quality and Quantity of PE and Sport.
This working paper examines Impact of the PE and sport programme on community use.
This report details findings from the first year of the Community Sport evaluation.The evaluation is examining the impact of the Active Futures programme in Scotland, the Mentro Allan programme in Wales and the Community Sport and Active Lifestyles programme in Northern Ireland
The working paper examines the key lessons from the NOPES Activities programme for the sustainability of time-limited programmes. It is intended that this learning will be useful for a variety of stakeholders in developing future policy and practice in similar time-limited funding programmes.
This is the second annual report from the evaluation and covers the second round of case study visits and a survey of all projects.
Involving local communities in our work and making sure the public know and care about our work’ is one of BIG's core values. We recently commissioned SHM, to provide a more sophisticated understanding of what really motivates people to become involved. The piece of work also seeks to provide a greater understanding of how, when and where people wish to be involved.
The report details findings from the evaluation of the cross-distributor lottery funding service. The evaluation aimed to assess the impact of the Lottery Funding service in enabling funding to be more accessible to applicants who are inexperienced in applying for lottery grants.
This summary presents findings from the second year of the evaluation findings from Transforming Your Space, a programme that has successfully involved communities across the UK in preserving and improving natural and urban environments. .
This is a short version of the Sustainability research report produced by GHK Consulting. It provides a summary of the factors that appear to influence the early indications of sustainability and approaches to supporting sustainability followed by the Big Lottery Fund and other funders.
This document sets out the main findings from the evaluations that we commissioned for both the the School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme (SFVS) and the 5 A Day community initiatives and is based on the content of the final evaluation reports.
This report details the final findings from the HLC evaluation. It covers the challenges encountered in implementing the programme, and the impact of the programme on the health and wellbeing of individuals and communities, on community change, on service development and on the legacies left by projects as grants come to an end.
This is the final report from the evaluation of the pilot Regional Health and Physical Activity Coordinator (RHPAC) post in the North West of England. The report assesses the state of physical activity policy and joint working in the NW region after three years of RHPAC operation. It offers recommendations for continuing the post in the NW region, and for others considering similar posts in other regions. A summary report is also available here .
This is the summary report from the evaluation of the pilot Regional Health and Physical Activity Coordinator (RHPAC) post in the North West of England. The report summarises the findings from the full report . The RHPAC post was funded by the Big Lottery Fund. The evaluation was commissioned by Wirral Primary Care Trust and was carried out by a team from Cavill Associates, University of Salford and Loughborough University.
This summary details key findings from the evaluation of two of our heart programmes: cardiac rehabilitation and heart failure support networks. Both programmes are run by our award partner, the British Heart Foundation.
This report contains the findings from the final year of the Do it 4 Real programme evaluation. The programme delivered by YHA has provided residential places for over 21,000 11-17 year olds during 2005 and 2006.
This summary details key findings from the evaluation of our palliative care programme up to July 2006. The evaluation looks at the new services that are being delivered, new ways of delivering services, extending services to reach new groups and the new partnerships that are being developed.
This document gives a brief overview of the findings from what we have learned from our evaluations of programmes for young people, as well as signposting further resources that we have produced for people working in this area.
This research aims to help the Big Lottery Fund, and other grantmakers, understand the nature, benefit, cost and outcome of adding value to grant programmes, beyond standard good practice in grantmaking. It investigates different rationales and methods of doing so, and provides practical recommendations.
Recipients of Big Lottery Fund Breathing Places grants - October 2006
After the UK-wide evaluation ended, we commissioned SQW to review the programme in Northern Ireland and to consider the prospect for sustaining its achievements. This review considers the programme in the light of changing contexts and sets out examples of good practice that have emerged.
This report examines the steps taken by four funders to show their support for full cost recovery where they are providing restricted funding, and to ensure that the organisations they fund understand and adopt it.
The Big Lottery Fund, in partnership with the Imperial War Museum and the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council commissioned an evaluation of the Veterans Reunited programme. The final evaluation report details findings from the three strands of the programme: Heroes Return, Their Past Your Future and Home Front Recall. A summary of the report is also available on this website.
This reports details the findings of a short study into approaches taken by BIG (and earlier by the New Opportunities Fund and Community Fund) to promote the sustainability of the activities and benefits resulting from our funding.
This report summarises findings from the fourth year of the HLC evaluation. It focuses on how HLCs work with their communities, improve the health of their communities, and work towards sustainability beyond their current Lottery grant. More detail is given in the Year Four annual report.
This report describes the work undertaken during the first year of a three year evaluation of the Big Lottery Fund's Cardiac Rehabilitation Programme. It is intended as a progress report, for administrative purposes.
This is the third annual report.
This document includes reports for the second year from all the case-study projects.
This document reports of progress across various case-study projects in each country of the UK, and focuses on benefits for communities and various specific stakeholder groups. It also includes a summary of outcomes and progress towards them.
The Living with Cancer programme in Northern Ireland provided £6.75 million of funding to projects designed to improve cancer prevention, treatment and care.
This summary details key findings from the evaluation up until February 2006. The summary states that that the programme is on target to improve physical education and sport in schools and enhance community use. The full report can also be downloaded from the website.
The Big Lottery Funds Fair Share initiative aims to address disparities in Lottery funding across the UK. The joint initiative was launched by the then Community Fund and the New Opportunities Fund in 2001. Since 2003, an independent evaluation has been tracking and assessing the success of two of the programmes making up Fair Share, and this summary outlines findings and progress to date.
This factsheet provides further guidance to that in Explaining the difference your project makes, available on our website.
This report covers findings from the follow-up mailing of the five a day consumption and evaluation tool (FACET) questionnaire, which took place two years after the first mailing. The report also brings together the other elements of the evaluation.
In 2003 we undertook a study that explored applicants' views of the application process used at the time.
The 5 A DAY local community initiative aims to encourage people in 66 programme areas to eat at least five portions of fruit or vegetables a day. The Big Lottery Fund made available £150,000 over two years to 66 Primary Care Trusts (PCTs).
The 5 A DAY local community initiative aims to encourage people in 66 programme areas to eat at least five portions of fruit or vegetables a day. The Big Lottery Fund made available £150,000 over two years to 66 Primary Care Trusts (PCTs).
This report details the final findings from the evaluation of the Digitisation of learning materials and Community grids for learning programmes. The issues explored include the impact of the programme on organisations, the partnership process, target user groups and lifelong learning and attracting hard-to-reach users.
Reducing the burden of coronary heart disease, stroke and cancer year one evaluation report
This report sets out the findings of a four-year evaluation of the Big Lottery Fund Living with Cancer initiative and discusses the implications for policy makers; funders; academics, health and social care professionals; voluntary sector providers; patients and carers. Case study vignettes are provided in full at Appendix 4, to illustrate the evaluation findings.
This document provides information about the first year of the national evaluation of the Big Lottery Fund’s palliative care initiative.
This document is the appendix to the main year three report and includes details of case study visits and survey findings.
The third annual report details findings from the evaluation up to February 2006 and includes results from baseline and annual surveys, case study visits and Football Foundation projects.
The New Opportunities for PE and Sport initiative (NOPES) is a £751 million sports investment across the UK with intended key outcomes
This report covers the findings from the fourth year of the Healthy living centres evaluation. It includes information about HLC models, approaches and organisation, how HLCs have improved the health and well-being of their users, how HLCs have engaged with and contributed to their communities, and sustainability issues for HLCs.
Highlights the findings from the from the five-year evaluation and considers what lessons can be taken forward and what examples of good practice can be derived.
This evaluation report commences with a description of the various methods and tools used as the methodology to generate information to complete the evaluation. It then provides a review of the policy rationale and aims for the programme to provide context for the evaluation.
Digitisation of Learning evaluation findings for the 1st year
This document is the Annex to the main transforming waste evaluation report 2005.
This report includes the final findings from the three-year evaluation of the CALL ICT learning centres programme.
This document summarises the findings from the first year of the evaluation of Transforming Your Space and explains the methods that the researchers are using to carry out the evaluation.
This report summarises findings from the third year of the Healthy living centres evaluation. More detail is given in the year three report.
This discussion paper looks at the concept of risk. It considers how risk needs to handled in order to maximise its benefits, and how it applies to the Big Lottery Fund with its many stakeholder expectations.
Evaluation of the fair share initiative Report on phase 1 of evaluation, August 2005
This summary covers the main findings from the second year of the evaluation. More detail is given in the full report.
This evaluation report assesses the achievement of projects in each country of the UK at the end of the third year of the evaluation. It includes a discussion of some cross-cutting issues.
This evaluation report assesses the achievement of projects in each country of the UK at the end of the third year of the evaluation. It includes a discussion of some cross-cutting issues.
This is the second annual report from the evaluators, looking at schemes as they start to deliver services and issues around referrals and terminology.
A summary of the Big Lottery Funds evaluation, research and learning strategy for the period 2005-09.
This report covers the main findings from the final phase the children and dietary evaluation tool (CADET) food diaries, the pupil questionnaire and the case study visits as well as focusing on an exploration of what, if any, change over time has occurred.
The second annual report details findings from the evaluation up to February 2005 and includes results from baseline surveys and case study visits.
In 2004 SQW Ltd was appointed to undertake an evaluation of the Big Lottery Fund's Transforming Your Space Programme. The evaluation is a three-year rolling research programme (2004-2007).
Palliative care is the active holistic care of patients with advanced, progressive illness. Management of pain and other symptoms and provision of psychological, social and spiritual support is paramount. The goal of palliative care is achievement of the best quality of life for patients and their families.
This report covers the first year of the evaluation of the Digitisation of learning materials and Community grids for learning programmes. The issues explored include the impact of the programme on organisations, the partnership process, target user groups and lifelong learning and attracting hard-to-reach users.
Designed as a checklist or series of prompts for policy-makers and others involved in developing activities projects for young people, this booklet should help promote useful discussion and a more explicit consensus about the logic underlying programmes in this field.
This publication outlines various aspects of the question of how to engage people in planning and running projects.
This summary covers the main findings from the survey of centre managers and users that was conducted during the second year of fieldwork.
This report covers the findings from the third year of the Healthy living centres evaluation, including how the programme has addressed health inequalities, created and enhanced community capacity, and developed links with health policy and the wider health economy.
The summary details the evaluation findings for the first 18 months of the programme covering the progress made by fast track projects. It also details the findings from baseline surveys received from activities projects in Scotland.
This update details key findings from the evaluation up to February 2006.
This evaluation report assesses the added value of using Award Partners to determine the impact of this delivery model on the green spaces and sustainable communities programme.
A summary of the extensive report that discusses the key findings in relation to OHSL policy and sustainability; activities and projects delivered; and implications for future growth of OHSL.
Out of school hours learning building the future of learning: part 1
OHSL in Action - this section looks at the range of activities and their educational benefits in addition to strategies for encouraging sustainability.
This report details grant recipients’ perspectives of the Community Fund’s large and medium grants programme and our outcome funding framework.
This report was intended to inform the future development of the initiative and contains recommendations on methods and indicators for the main evaluation of the impact of initiative, to be carried out at a later date.
This report covers the initial and follow-up surveys of users across the UK that was conducted during the second year of fieldwork.
In 2004 we commissioned an evaluation of grant-holders' perspectives on our medium and large grants programme, and particularly what they thought about our outcomes framework.
This summary covers the main findings from the second year of fieldwork. It looks at users of HLCs, how HLCs are addressing health inequalities and Black and minority ethnic issues, and experiences of case study HLCs.
This summary covers the first evaluation of the achievements in programme delivery based on using Award Partners and the achievements of a sample of a wide range of the projects.
This research reports examines the role that social enterprises can play in bridging the gap between provision and demand for childcare services. It outlines a number of areas that should be considered when starting or managing a childcare social enterprise and sets out some of the organisational models that have provided childcare.
'This is the 2004 evaluation report and highlights findings from the evaluation.
This summary outlines the key findings from the research and covers particular areas such as the characteristics of specialist and non-specialist providers, support needs, staffing and training and sustainability.
This summary report sets out the findings and recommendations arising out of an evaluation of the application process that Charities experienced when making bids for funds from the Strategic Grants programme.
This briefing paper written by DfES summarises some of the emerging issues arising from the evaluation in the first year.
This report covers the full and final findings from the evaluation of the people's network and ICT training for public library staff programmes.
Last year, we reported on findings from the first year of the programme in England. In this year’s summary, we report on the second year of the programme in England and the first year of the programmes in Wales and Northern Ireland.
This document is the annex to the main out of school hours childcare evaluation report 2004.
This summary outlines the evaluator’s conclusive assessment of the programme and identifies factors that contribute to the successful development of out of school hours childcare.
This literature review sets out the wider context for the “Community participation in service delivery” project, posing some questions that have underpinned later stages of that work.
This evaluation report focuses on the work of the projects in addressing the programme’s aims of achieving social inclusion and sustainable development.
In the summer of 2003, the New Opportunities Fund (the Fund) supported the first phase of Get REAL (Residential Exciting Active Leisure time), a pilot programme designed to structure the holiday time of young people aged 11 to 17.
An evaluation of 39 schemes in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland designed to complement the on-going NFER evaluation.
This report reviews the literature on each of our priority beneficiary groups.
This is the second annual report of the evaluators, and covers in detail the second year of fieldwork, expanding on the information given in the year two summary.
Activities for young people in Northern Ireland: first full report
This summary covers the main findings from initial year of fieldwork, and gives a flavour of how the HLC programme and its evaluation are developing, including some early experiences from projects.
This report covers emerging findings from the first year of the evaluation and is based on the survey of centre managers and users.
This report summarises the findings from the childcare clubs visited across 24 areas in the UK. It includes findings from the telephone follow-up interviews with clubs visited in 2001 and 2002, and a survey of unsuccessful applicants for funding to investigate additionality.
In 2003, we investigated what had happened to the voluntary sector in Barnsley since the end of the earlier Brass for Barnsley initiative, and compared findings with more recent developments in Rotherham.
This summary is based on research examining the effectiveness of grants to a selection of voluntary sector infrastructure organisations. The findings provide a series of recommendations for future good practice in supporting infrastructure bodies.
This annex includes an updated literature review and provides more detailed information on the range of methods used for this evaluation such as interviews with childcare providers, childcare partnership survey and parental survey.
This report is based on research assessing whether a project’s impact on natural resources and the environment would lead to barriers helping the most disadvantaged.
A report on thirty summer school projects in depth, designed to complement the ongoing evaluation of NFER on the OSHL programme.
This sourcebook was developed to encourage organisations and groups to work in partnership and to help them to do so effectively.
Slideshow demonstrating the application process.
This report covers findings from interviews with specialist and non-specialist childcare clubs to understand the impact of the out of school hours childcare programme on children and young people, to explore the range of children and young people supported through the programme, and to inform the Fund’s thinking on disability issues.
The summary details the key findings from the research into applicants’ views of the application process for the Community Fund’s strategic grants programme.
This summary outlines the major findings from the full report, including how grants affected the lives of local people and barriers to increasing the benefits of community buildings.
Copies of all the national school fruit and vegetable scheme evaluation documents.
This report details applicants’ views of the application process for the Community Fund’s strategic grants programme.
A report exploring the views of nine New Opportunities Fund operations staff grant managing the out of school hours learning programme to identify further good practice and lessons learned.
This report is based on a random sample of 20 Community Fund grants from 1996 to 2001. The research was concerned with the effectiveness of the grants programme as a whole and contains a discussion of issues such as measuring the added value of infrastructure organisations and tailoring expectations.
This summary details the key points from the full research report which examined grant making for black and minority ethnic communities.
This report describes the results of an assessment into the extent to which Community Fund grants to general use community buildings has led to a positive difference in the lives of local people.
The research in this report examined a random sample of 20 Community Fund grants selected from grants awarded under the grant programmes for voluntary sector infrastructure and development of volunterring. The projects in the sample covered the period 1996 to 2001.
This evaluation aims to assess the extent to which Community Fund grants to general use community buildings has led to a positive difference in the lives of local people.
A report investigating how young people can most effectively be engaged in evaluation and consultation.
This is the first annual report of the evaluators, and covers in more detail the first year of fieldwork, expanding on the information given in the year one summary.
A summary focusing on strategic findings and recommendations from an equality audit of our grant making practices.
This summary reflects on the themes which emerged last year and draws out the key difference with this year’s findings. In addition it further explores issues of particular interest such as the impact on parents and the practical factors that influence sustainability.
This report identifies the key success factors for sustainable projects and to examine practical ways that we could support these factors in our future funding programmes.
This map shows the location of funded projects in relation to deprivation levels across the UK.
This map shows the location of funded projects in relation to deaths from cancer across the UK.
This map shows the location of funded projects in relation to death rates across the UK.
This report maps the flow of funding from diverse statutory and non-statutory sources to voluntary and community groups addressing poverty and deprivation in England at regional and local levels.
We have always been willing to make comparatively large grants to small organisations. Some funders are reluctant to do this because of the risks involved. So we followed the experiences of some groups that had received large grants from us, to gain valuable information about their perceptions and reactions. This document summarises the main findings from each stage of the study, and discusses the main issues raised and how we intended to respond to them.
We have always been willing to make comparatively large grants to small organisations. Some funders are reluctant to do this because of the risks involved. So we followed the experiences of some groups that had received large grants from us, to gain valuable information about their perceptions and reactions. This document includes the full reports from each stage of the study.
This report covers findings from the first year of the evaluation. It is based on the findings from the first twelve case study areas and self-completion survey of parents within those areas.
This report summarises current thinking on the nature of social exclusion and deprivation, how these are measured, and the places where problems are concentrated.
This summary covers the main findings from the first year of the evaluation and outlines a range of factors that can help the long-term viability of childcare clubs.
This report examines the impact of our grants on refugee and asylum seeker communities in London.
A report looking at how social exclusion, and related terms such as disadvantage and deprivation, are used by the former New Opportunities Fund’s applicants, with the intention of informing future publications, in particular by highlighting areas of potential misunderstanding.
The organisations researched are usually responding to needs linked to national as much as to local context. Consequently, despite operating in diverse locations, organisations’ ethos and approach were often similar.
This summary outlines the major findings from phase one of the research.
This summary outlines the major findings from phase two of the research.
This summary outlines the major findings from phase three of research.