Proludic at the ACEVO Funding Roadshow

At Proludic we are proud of the ‘added value’ we offer, including our funding advice. Kat Collins, from our Marketing team is on hand to offer help and assistance to those searching for funds for play.

Keen to keep up to date with all the lastest news in the world of funding, Kat recently attended the 2009 ACEVO Funding Roadshow at the Birmingham Hippodrome.
18 Speakers were featured, including,
- Helen Stephenson, Deputy Director, Office of the Third Sector
- Mark McGann, Deputy Director, Policy, BIG Lottery Fund
- Peter Cunnison, Grants Manager, West Midlands, Lloyds TSB Foundation
The Roadshow focused on many facets of funding, dealing in particular with the funding options available to the third sector, and looking at how to fundraise during the economic downturn.

Below are notes, summarising some of the most relevant presentations …

Helen Stephenson, Deputy Director, Office of the Third Sector

• Throughout the economic downturn there is still support available
• Funding bodies are focusing their attention on areas most at risk of increased deprivation, possibly as a result of the recession.
• Funders are also keen to support activities and facilities that aim to tackle the immediate effects of the recession.
• The Office of the Third Sector has launched a new website, directly aimed at this sector. It has been live since 17th June 2009 and contains detailed funding information
  www.fundingcentral.org.uk

Derek Smith, Statutory Funding Consultant, Action Planning

• Due to the economic downturn there will be more funding applications submitted for fewer grants.
• As more charities are bidding for fewer funding pots, bids will be need to be completed to a very high standard.
• Derek’s 3 points to ‘Getting It (your funding bid) Right’ …
  - You must convince the funder that your bid demonstrates that you understand and can meet their (the funding body’s) aims, outputs and concerns.
  - Developing a project to fit a bid will make it much more likely to be funded than trying to fit a project into the funding.
  - Use an evidence approach, rely on your track record and evidence framework. Too many opinions masquerade as facts!

Mark McGann, Deputy Director, Policy, Big Lottery Fund

• BIG projected new awards to 2015
  - Around £2.8bn available between 2009-15
  - Around £240m in 2009/10
  - Rising to around £650m pa from 2012 onwards
• It is hoped that ‘Cash to Causes’ will remain at the same level despite the recession. Lottery tickets have in fact risen in recent months, though this has been offset by lower interest rates.
• BIG have recently completed a year-long consultation, in which 3,500 people took part.
• From the compiled data they have recently published a new ‘Public Framework Agreement’.
• The headlines from this Strategic Framework for 2009-2015 are …
  - From distributor to intelligent funder
  - Targeting need and making a difference
  - Achieving spread
  - Being inclusive and engaged
  - A more responsive funder
  - Operational excellence
  - Using our learning
• ‘Awards For All’ – a strong element over the next few years will be that funds will remain ‘open’ in nature. People can bid for pretty much anything that will benefit their community.
• A more ‘open’ programme will be the core of what BIG will be doing for the next few years.
• A new target, set as a direct response to the consultation findings is that 80% of BIG funding will go directly to the voluntary and community sector between 2009-2015.

Peter Cunnison, Grant Manager, West Midlands, Lloyds TSB Foundation

• ‘Helping Disadvantage people play a fuller role in communities’
• They are their own regulated charity, and are separate from the bank.
• Receive 1% of Lloyds Banking Group’s pre-tax profits. This equated to £20.9m in 2009.
• They are one of the UK’s leading grant makers, helping local, disadvantaged communities.
• When assessing bids for funds they ask – How does your work ‘move people forward’?
• They are an ‘outcome’ funder, and focus on lasting change.
• They also fund core costs to ensure charities can deliver core services.
• To enquiry about your organisations eligibility, complete the questionnaire at www.lloydstsbfoundations.org.uk

For further information of the funding service Proludic can offer, or for copies of the various presentations given at the ACEVO Funding Roadshow,email Proludic

Main Play News page