National Lottery Charities Board England

England News

Latest Charities Board initiatives

The National Lottery Charities Board say its first attempts to ensure a fairer distribution of its resources are unlikely to be the last.

A series of initiatives are underway to better understand social exclusion and deprivation across the country, says Director for England Janet Paraskeva.

These include Brass for Barnsley, which aims to double the amount of Charities Board grants going into the town over the next three years, and a project with Newcastle University to map all local charitable funding in England - the first time such an initiative has ever happened.

Ms Paraskeva said: "Waiting for people to apply obviously wasn't working, so we felt we needed to get right into the heart of disadvantaged communities.

"Brass for Barnsley came about because coalfield communities are failing to get their fair share of Lottery funding. Up to April 1999 only �1.5m - 26 grants - had gone to the town and only 19% of the applications we received had been successful.

"Coalfield towns are not too dissimilar from the inner cities, so this scheme will tell us much about how to reach out to communities suffering from multiple deprivation.

"We have so far been a reactive grant maker - that means many areas which may need help less than Barnsley have done very well out of us in the last few years.

"We are redressing a balance - by helping to strengthen and broaden local voluntary sectors now there should be benefits for many years to come, as areas like Barnsley begin to get their fair share."

In a related initiative the Charities Board has commissioned Newcastle University�s Centre for Urban and Regional Development Studies (CURDS) to identify ALL charitable and statutory organisations that are making grants to projects tackling poverty and disadvantage.

This is the most comprehensive survey of its kind ever undertaken in this country, says the Charities Board, and the first results are expected in the next few weeks.

Ms Paraskeva added: "The CURDS project will create a �geographic information system� showing where charitable funding goes in England.

"We hope this will build on the Government�s Index of Local Deprivation data to provide a clearer understanding of whether deprived areas are receiving appropriate funding and support.

"Deprived communities are suffering twice over. From a long term lack of resources, and then because the local voluntary sector may not be strong enough or experienced enough to develop projects and apply for funding."

To address these weaknesses the Charities is also revamping its Community involvement programme to prioritise voluntary sector development projects.

Ms Paraskeva added: "There are many organisations - like Urban Forum - which exist to help local groups fighting in the �front line� against poverty and disadvantage.

"These �umbrella� bodies can do a great deal - given the necessary resources and expertise - to strengthen the voluntary sector. A stronger sector means more help for those who need it most - and a better way to use Lottery money, because it will be spent on more effective projects."

For more information call the Charities Board�s England office on 0116 258 7000

Double boost for voluntary sector development

THE Voluntary sector has received a further boost this week - on top of a �6.5 million injection from the Government to promote it�s development and greater community involvement.

The National Lottery Charities Board has announced it will prioritise applications from �infrastructure organisations� - which aim to increase the voluntary sector�s effectiveness through a range of information, advice, training, networking and technical support.

Charities Board Director for England Janet Paraskeva said: "Voluntary groups are in the �front line� when it comes to tackling poverty and disadvantage in our communities - but they struggle to survive without the right support.

"The Government is being very positive by offering �6.5 million for voluntary sector development. The long term success of voluntary groups depends on them having the skills, the time and the money to identify needs and tackle them in their communities.

"The Charities Board is determined to strengthen the sector from the bottom up - by identifying where infrastructure is weak and where gaps exist. We want to hear from any local, regional or national organisation that wants to do the same."

Both moves have come as a result of a wide ranging consultation exercise by the Charities Board, which was co-sponsored by the Home Office and Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

The series of regional consultation seminars helped to define three ways in which the Charities Board money could be most effective:

1. Support for research initiatives that enable the voluntary and community sector to be effective at a regional level.

2. Capacity building for organisations in a region to engage in the regional agenda.

3. The reduction of barriers to participation by organisations wanting to engage in the regional agenda.

Ms Paraskeva added: "Applications will be invited for projects which fulfil any one, two or three of the areas outlined. All projects will of course need to compete against others and all applications will be assessed on their own merit.

"We are particularly keen to invite applications from the Black and Minority Ethnic voluntary and community sector - we strongly welcome the Government�s financial commitment here, because these groups need extra support to enable them to make their voices heard."

For further information contact Vandna Gohil, England Policy & Development Manager - 0116 258 7000

Media enquiries to Martin Valentine - 0116 258 7023