Awards for All newsflash
Organisations in the West Midlands region will have the opportunity to apply for funding for projects running repeat and on-going activities in a new 6 month pilot scheme. The pilot is helping to look at alternative ways of funding projects supporting those most in need.
This pilot will start on 1 June 2012 and we expect it to run for 6 months. Any applications received for repeat and ongoing activities over this time period, and meeting the criteria above, will be assessed in the normal way.
Find out more information and those all important finer details
Talent Match
BIG is announcing a major new £100 million investment to help match the talents of 18-24 year olds not in education, employment or training up better with local employer needs or to help them start their own enterprising business.
BIG has been working with Young People and a host of experts to shape the priorities for this investment, and using evidence have selected 21 geographic areas across England in which we hope to achieve significant and lasting change.
Get further information and a list of areas set to benefit, which includes a large proportion of the West Midlands
Jubilee Japes!
The Big Jubilee Lunch, an Eden Project Initiative supported by the Big Lottery Fund to support The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations, was held on Sunday 3rd June. Over 50,000 Big Lunch information packs containing invites, posters and recipe ideas were sent out to eager lunchers, far exceeding last year’s demand. We caught up with Pat McCartan from the Bromford and Firs Estate, who held their own Big jubilee party, and despite the rain, much fun was had by old and young alike. The day kicked off with some old fashioned street games and a bouncy castle. Children were given their own crowns, so they could be king or queen for the day and neighbours shared their lunches and got to know each other. A forties night was held on the evening with some fantastic forties outfits on show combined with authentic wartime singing and dancing. One resident on the estate was heard exclaiming “can we please have another party like this next year!” Pat enjoyed the day so much she is reluctant to take the bunting down as it reminds her so much of such a special day.
Silver Dreams come true
Enabling older people to remain in their own homes and to have personal support through cancer treatment are amongst 37 initiatives to benefit from the £6m Big Lottery Fund’s Silver Dreams programme, in association with the Daily Mail.
With an ageing population it is more important than ever to recognise the positive contribution older people make to society. Older people have a wealth of skills, knowledge and experience that can benefit others. We want to pioneer ways of working with older people that will allow them to play a much greater role in their communities. They should be able to influence the local services and facilities that will help them prepare for and manage major life-changes.
All projects receiving funding today will now test and develop their ideas over the next 12 to 18 months. Up to five projects will then be chosen to receive up to £1 million each to carry their ideas forward.
Read more on the grants awarded through The Silver Dream Fund
Is it Summer? I hadn’t noticed
Some good news to help brighten up a raining start to British Summertime; the second round of Village SOS Active has now well and truly launched!
Previously known as the Competition, Village SOS Active is a small grants programme that hopes to encourage people set up their own community enterprise in their village. We have launched a second round of this funding due to popular demand.
Village SOS is all about helping to kick start a rural revival using the power of sustainable community enterprise. We want support inspiring business ideas that will bring village communities together and support activities or enterprises that tackle the challenges they face. We’re particularly interested in giving money to enterprising ideas that will use the skills of local people or the area’s natural resources and buildings.
We have already funded a range of community enterprises. Go to www.villagesos.org.uk to see what other villages have done and find out more about this second round of funding.
Find out more about the history of Village SOS
BIG Person
This month’s BIG person in the spotlight is 20 year old Vicky Fowler. Vicki is part of BIGs Youth Investment Team given the task of helping to design a funding scheme that will focus on youth unemployment amongst 18-24 year olds. This scheme has now become BIG’s Talent Match programme. We asked Vicki a few questions on, amongst other things, what she thought were the big issues facing young people today.
How did you first get involved in the Youth Investment team?
I saw an advert explaining how you could be involved in the Youth Investment team and sent my application form in. I then had a phone call to go to London. It was like being in the Apprentice, there were some team building sessions and we had discussion around the current challenges facing young people. I got selected to be part of the design team and we found that unemployment was the biggest issue, that’s how Talent Match came about.
What do you think is the biggest challenge facing young people today?
Unemployment definitely. It has a knock on effect on everything around you. If you can tackle that, you can tackle a lot of other things.
What has been your highlight so far of being part of the design team?
My highlight has been speaking to so many people. Before I got involved, I wouldn’t have even spoken in front of 20 people. It’s made me think I can do something and given me more confidence. I have also met a lot of new people I would never have spoken to before.
If you could ask David Cameron and Nick Clegg one question, what would it be?
At the moment I would ask them why they are threatening to cut the housing benefit for under 25s. It will just cause more problems and I am quite worried about my own flat. I do five voluntary placements but I bet David Cameron hasn’t employed a NEET young person on his team. I think he should come and live with me for a week.
What would your dream job be?
I would just like to be able to help people. I would maybe like to be a support worker, I don’t care about the money side at all. I have overcome a lot of things in my life and I think I could use this to influence young people in a positive way.
Latest West Midlands awards
Reaching Communities and Awards for All are shining on through all the rain and awarding funding to some great projects. Through May and June a total of £4,152,850 was awarded to a variety of fantastic projects throughout the West Midlands.
B:RAP Ltd (Brap) receives an Awards for All grant of £9,462 for its Back on Track project in Ladywood, Birmingham. The group will use the funding to provide mentoring, coaching and sign-posting activities for young people involved in or at risk of gang crime. This will enable beneficiaries to learn about the impact of criminal activity on themselves and others, to help reduce anti-social behaviour as well as get involved in positive social activities.
Joy Warmington, Brap’s CEO, said: “Gun and gang culture can have a devastating effect on many people in cities like Birmingham. Often young people affected feel they have no other option and struggle to get out of the dangerous life they’re being dragged into. With funding cuts in public services, alternative options are even thinner on the ground. Our project is about helping young people to find alternatives and stay away from riskier activities that could be harmful to them and those around them.”
Also receiving funding is Scope, awarded £278,801 through Reaching Communities to develop a befriending project in Dudley to support parents with disabled children who are feeling overwhelmed and may be struggling to cope. Volunteers with personal experience of looking after disabled children will be trained as befrienders to support other parents through emotional and practical challenges they face.
To find out more about the Big Lottery Funds latest news please visit our newsroom