Big Lottery Fund

Funding programmes open to your constituents

You can use our Funding Finder to search for funding programmes that are available for your constituents, while our grants search will allow you to find projects that have been funded in your constituency.

See a list of funding programmes open to your constituents

Big Lottery funding in Yorkshire and the Humber

In 2011, Big Lottery Fund awarded £24 million in Yorkshire and the Humber, benefitting over 850 projects and communities across the region. This includes 718 small grants through our Awards for All programme. Funding ranged from £300 to add secure fencing to an allotment in Leeds to £996,000 to support young carers in York and North Yorkshire.

BIG’s team in Yorkshire and the Humber

At the beginning of the year we said a BIG welcome back to our Head of Region, Vanessa White, who spent 2011 on maternity leave. Paul Jones, who covered Vanessa’s maternity leave, will be keeping one finger in the ‘regional pie’ as we work more closely with the fabulous grant teams at Big Lottery Fund.

In the last year, we have had the pleasure of taking six MPs to visit 11 projects in the region:

Rosie Winterton, MP for Doncaster Central, joined in a game of bingo with the Westbourne and Mallard Tenants Association. Thanks to the newly installed ‘Scooter Shelter’, tenants can happily play bingo, knowing that their motor scooter will be safe and dry.

Meanwhile over the border in Barnsley, Dan Jarvis, MP for Barnsley Central, visited two projects in his constituency. The Royston and Carlton and Community Partnership shared how their project helps deliver social and healthy activities to people aged 50+, reducing loneliness for many isolated older people. The MP also visited Barnsley Domestic Violence Group and was visibly moved when hearing about the experiences of users of the project.

Cleethorpes MP, Martin Vickers also visited a project working to reduce isolation for older people. The MP met users of the Friendship at Home scheme who join in with the social activities and events including coffee mornings, social mornings with speakers, tai chi, curling, personal shopping and beauty sessions.

If you would be interested in visiting Big Lottery funded project in your constituency, please email alison.crawley@biglotteryfund.org.uk. Or if you have visited a Big Lottery funded project, let us know and we can tweet about it on our Twitter page @BIGYH.

We go back in time as vintage fashion hits York

Vintage - fashion – show: are words not often seen together in the same sentence as social care, butThe Avalon Groupis different.The Avalon Group is a Harrogate-based social care charity, with offices across the North, providing services such as support for everyday life, holidays and employment. The Group supports people, including those with disabilities, mental health needs and older adults, to live the lives they choose.

Thanks to an Awards for All grant of £6,861, they were able to hold a fashion show that certainly wouldn’t have been out of place at London Fashion Week!

Thanks to an Awards for All grant of £6,861, they were able to hold a fashion show that certainly wouldn’t have been out of place at London Fashion Week!

On the night of the fashion show, the Guildhall in York was buzzing in anticipation and excitement at the evening ahead. The stage was set and the big lights sparkled as the 15 models awaited their turn on the catwalk in front of a 200-strong audience at the sold-out show.

Guests were thrilled to see the vintage outfits really come alive on the catwalk, with models from The House of Avalon vintage shop and social enterprise. Established in 2010, The House of Avalon provides volunteering and employment opportunities for adults with disabilities and other support needs and is a part of The Avalon Group social care charity.

The outfits on show included a range of authentic vintage fashion from the 1920s to the 1960s, sourced from England and America.

Jessica was one of the models at the show and volunteers at The House of Avalon. She had been ill with ME for several years, and loved the shop and vintage clothes. When she saw an advert for volunteering she thought it was perfect for her, she said: “Everyone is very friendly and welcoming. I love it.”

Angelena Fixter, Chief Executive of The Avalon Group, said: “This is an important event for us. It is fantastic to feel the buzz and see so many people here. The show supports the aims of The Avalon Group, raises awareness of our work as well as showcasing a fabulous vintage collection. It brings social enterprise to the general public. So thanks to everyone involved and to the Big Lottery Fund for supporting us.”

How can we help you?

We can arrange constituency tours of projects we have funded and we encourage groups to invite their local MP to project openings. We can provide case studies from constituencies and leaflets or information for surgeries and your website. Where possible, we can organise or attend funding events in local areas and provide constituents with funding information. We will also send you a monthly mail out showing projects funded in your constituency.

Further information