Northern Ireland update
January/February 2012 edition
Funding programme deadlines
Reaching Out: Connecting Older People
If you are applying to the Reaching Out: Connecting Older People programme, the deadline to submit an outline proposal form is 29 February 2012, and if you are invited to submit an application form the deadline will be detailed on your notification letter. You can download the programme guidance notes, outline proposal form and factsheets from the website.
Reaching Out: Empowering Young People
For any groups applying to the Reaching Out: Empowering Young People programme, please note that the deadline to submit an outline proposal form is 27 January 2012, and if you are invited to submit an application form the deadline will be detailed on your notification letter. The guidance notes and outline proposal form are available on the website page for this programme.
Heroes Return 2
It will be possible for applications to the Heroes Return 2 programme to be submitted after the deadline of 31 January 2012 if the commemorative visits will be taking place during 2012. Through this programme veterans and their spouse or carer can apply for travel costs to make trips back to where they served during WW2. For more details visit the Heroes Return programme page now.
Energy Efficient Venues
The closing date for applications to the Energy Efficient Venues programme is 12 noon on Friday 1 June 2012. Grants of £2,000 - £10,000 and grants of £15,000 - £50,000 are available for groups to make their community venues more energy efficient. If you are applying for a £15,000 - £50,000 grant you will need to have carried out an energy audit. If planning permission or building control is needed, it must be obtained before sending us your application. For more information see the programme guidance notes and application form on our website.
Application tips!
If you are using a Big Lottery Fund application form in pdf format, you will need to download the form and save it to your computer before you begin typing into it.
We recommend using the most recent version of Adobe Reader. Updates are free and if you do encounter problems, you may find this troubleshooting guide to be useful.
Get The Big Lunch on your 2012 menu
The Big Lunch 2012 will kick off with regional launches across Northern Ireland helping local people recognise that The Big Lunch is a campaign for everyone. You could represent your organisation at a launch event near you and find out how the campaign can help you and your local community to collaborate and be even more inclusive.
Grainne Mc Closkey who represents The Big Lunch campaign in Northern Ireland (NI) said: “It’s a simple idea from the Eden Project encouraging people to sit down and share food, friendship and fun with their neighbours and local communities. In 2011 we had 375 known Big Lunches in streets, community buildings and green spaces across NI, a massive increase on the previous year, and our research provides real evidence that it is a very well received, low cost way to connect and collaborate. Join in simply as neighbours or as an organisation seeking information, ideas or funds. The Big Lottery funds this campaign, because it encourages integration and more sustainable communities, reducing loneliness and Isolation.”
This year the main Big Lunch date will be Sunday 3 June during the long weekend when the Olympic Torch will be traveling through NI, we’d love you to join in with an event of your own.
If you are interested in attending The Big Lunch regional launches and running your own Big Lunch on the day or on a date that suits or if you simply want to be kept informed of our competitions and news, contact Grainne.mccloskey@thebiglunch.com
Project profile: Voice of Young People in Care
Voice of Young People In Care (VOYPIC) is one of the projects that has been awarded funding from Reaching out: Empowering Young People programme which supports young people most at risk in Northern Ireland.
VOYPIC will use £499,688 to help improve the lives and opportunities of over 1,500 young, isolated and vulnerable young people in care in Northern Ireland. VOYPIC’s project will provide each young person with a participation worker who will work closely with them to find out what their needs are and to help them achieve their goals in life.
They will then provide a range of support services and activities including job skills, education, cooking, driving theory and teen parenting courses. “There are approximately 2,500 children living in care today in Northern Ireland,” said Maelisa Kennedy, participation service manager.
“They may have moved away from family and friends to live in new circumstances and surroundings, all the time dealing with what happened to them. This can have an effect on their health, confidence and self esteem; and may lead to challenging or risky behaviour.
“Living in care can have a negative effect on education and job opportunities. Some young people lose ambition and feel that no one cares. Sometimes school attendance is disrupted and they fall behind. Only 11 per cent of Northern Ireland’s care leavers achieved five or more GCSE grades A*- C compared to 67 per cent of the general population. In 2009 almost half of care leavers left with no formal qualifications.”
“This project will help improve the education and self-esteem of these young people, giving them the skills and opportunities to make something of their lives.”
Useful resource for community and voluntary sector
The Online Knowledge Portal is a new site with an online catalogue that you can use to search for links and download reports from voluntary and community sector organisations, academics, and government studies. The site has been developed by Third Sector Research Centre, in partnership with the British Library and Big Lottery Fund. Contact Third Sector Research Centre (TSRC) if you have relevant research to add to the site. Email knowledgeportal@tsrc.ac.uk or keep in touch on Twitter @3rdSectorPortal
Congratulations to Award winners!
Congratulations to the young people who were winners in the Pride of Northern Ireland Awards 2011.Visit the facebook site www.facebook.com/PrideofNorthernIrelandAwards
- Young Carer was Ross Stanforth from the 174 Trust Young Carers project.
- Young Mentor was Daniel Maguire from Springvale Learning.
- Young Campaigner was Chelsea Hoey from Ambassadors for Peace.
- Young Environmentalist was Robyn McCalmont from GLYNI.
- And the easyJet Special Recognition award went to Hollie George from 16+ Pathway at the Western Trust.
We also want to congratulate the Hands that Talk project from Derry who were one of four Big Lottery Fund winners in the National Lottery Awards 2011. See their video on You Tube
Contact details
If you would like any further information on any of the articles in this update you can contact a member of the Information Team in the Belfast office by emailing enquiries.ni@biglotteryfund.org.uk
Tel: 028 9055 1455
Fax: 028 9055 1444
Textphone: 028 9055 1431
www.biglotteryfund.org.uk
Big Lottery Fund
1 Cromac Quay
Cromac Wood
Ormeau Road
Belfast
BT7 2JD
Llinell Gynghori Fawr 028 9055 1455
