After a fairly major consultation process (see previous article), the Big Lottery Fund has unveiled its funding strategy for the next six years.
Included in the strategy is a pledge to give approximately 80% of their funds to voluntary and community groups. It also sets out future priorities and specifies that future funding will be focused on projects which reduce isolation, empower communities and help people through transitions such as redundancy. For Scotland, they plan to continue with some elements of the Investing in Communities programme, but only after 'improving and re-focusing it where necessary'. That means the programme won't be open for applications until June 2010. In the meantime, Awards for All and Investing in Ideas will continue to take applications in Scotland for grants of up to £10,000.
You can find a full copy of the strategy here and the Scotland specific details can be found on page 17.
