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Big Lottery Fund - Welsh Affairs Committee Contents
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Supplementary written evidence from the
Big Lottery Fund
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Further to our session at the Wesh Affairs Select
Committee on 1 December 2009, please find attached a copy of the
Big Lottery Fund policy directions for Wales.
I was also asked about BIG's involvement with
training camps and the Cultural Olympiad in Wales. As Chair of
the Wales Lottery Forum (Arts Council of Wales, Sports Council
for Wales and Heritage Lottery Fund) we receive regular updates
on progress with both the securing and development of training
camps in Wales for the Olympic and the Cultural Olympiad. In due
course we may receive applications through our demand led programme
People & Places to support this activity.[1]
December 2009
INTRODUCTION
The National Assembly for Wales, in exercise
of the powers conferred on it by section 36E(4)(a) of the National
Lottery etc. Act 1993 and having consulted the Big Lottery Fund
("the Fund") and obtained the consent of the Secretary
of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to section 36E(8)
of that Act, hereby gives the following directions to the Fund:
1. In these Directions any reference to
a section is a reference to a section of the National Lottery
etc Act 1993.
GENERAL DIRECTIONS
2. In exercising any of its functions in
relation to Welsh devolved expenditure, the Fund shall take into
account the following matters in determining to whom the Fund
may make grants or loans, the purposes for which the Fund may
make grants or loans, the process used to determine what payments
to make and the terms and conditions on which the Fund makes grants
or loans:
- (A) The need to ensure that money is distributed
under section 25(1) for projects which promote the public good
and which are not intended primarily for private gain.
- (B) The need to ensure that money is distributed
under section 25(1) to projects which make real and sustainable
improvements to the quality of life of local communities.
- (C) The need to encourage innovation balanced
with the need to manage risk in a manner commensurate with type
of project and applicant.
- (D) The need to promote and support the Welsh
language and reflect the bilingual nature of Wales, including
giving effect to the principle of equality between the English
and Welsh languages. This should be achieved by including specific
conditions on language in grants and monitoring and overseeing
the performance of grant recipients with regard to those conditions.
- (E) The need to further the objectives of sustainable
development.
- (F) The need to set specific time limits on the
periods in respect of which grants are payable, whether for capital
or revenue expenditure.
- (G) The need:
| (i) | in all cases, for applicants to demonstrate the financial viability of the project for the period of the grant; | |
| (ii) | where capital funding is sought: | |
| (a) | for a clear business plan incorporating the need for resources to be available to meet any running and maintenance costs associated with each project for a reasonable period, having regard to the size and nature of the project; and | |
| (b) | to ensure that project evaluation and management process for major projects match those of the Office of Government Commerce's Gateway Reviews. | |
| (iii) | in other cases, for consideration to be given to the likely availability of other funding to meet any continuing costs for a reasonable period after completion of the Lottery award, taking into account the size and nature of the project, and for Lottery funding to be used to assist progress towards viability wherever possible. |
- (H) The desirability of working with other organisations,
including other distributors, where this is an effective means
of delivering elements of its strategy.
- (I) The need to ensure that it has such information as it
considers necessary to make decisions on each application, including
independent expert advice where required.
- (J) The need to require an element of partnership funding
and/or contributions in kind from other sources commensurate with
the reasonable ability of different kinds of applicants, or applicants
in particular areas to obtain such support.
- (K) The need to include a condition in all grants to acknowledge
Lottery funding using the common Lottery branding.
- (L) The need to involve the public in making policies, setting
priorities and making grants.
- (M) The need to ensure an outcome focussed approach, working
closely with appropriate partners to achieve the best pattern
of investment for the benefit of communities across Wales. Where
appropriate the experiences of other organisations should be utilised
to enhance development and delivery of funding mechanisms.
WELSH DEVOLVED EXPENDITURE
3. In exercising any of its functions in relation to
Welsh devolved expenditure, the Fund shall take into account the
following matters in determining to whom the Fund may make grants
or loans, the purposes for which the Fund may make grants or loans,
the process used to determine what payments to make and the terms
and conditions on which the Fund makes grants or loans:
- (A) The need to ensure that the Fund, taking into account
its assessment of needs and any priorities it has identified in
its strategy, achieves over time the distribution of money to
a reasonably wide spread of recipients, including small organisations,
those organisations operating at a purely local level, social
enterprises, and organisations with a base in Wales and working
overseas.
- (B) The need to ensure that the Fund achieves over time the
distribution of money reasonably equally between the expenditure
on or connected with:
| (i) | the promotion of community learning; |
| (ii) | the promotion of community safety and cohesion; and |
| (iii) | the promotion of physical and mental well being. |
- (C) The need to have regard to the interests of Wales as a
whole, the interests of different parts of Wales, the relative
population sizes and the scope for reducing economic and social
deprivation in the different parts of Wales, and the need to encourage
public service bodies, collaborating together, to deliver better
service outcomes to citizens.
4. In relation to Welsh devolved expenditure the Fund
shall distribute money under section 25(1) to projects which are
intended to achieve one or more of the following outcomes:
- (A) people of all ages equipped with the skills and learning
to meet the challenges of a modern society;
- (B) people working together for stronger communities, social
justice and better rural and urban environments; and
- (C) healthier and more physically active people and communities.
5. In relation to Welsh devolved expenditure the Fund,
in distributing money under section 25(1), shall take into account
the need to ensure one or more of the following priorities are
met:
- (A) tackling the barriers to community learning and effective
life skills;
- (B) enabling children and young people to achieve their full
potential;
- (C) empowering communities to develop and deliver local revitalisation
programmes;
- (D) developing constructive community responses to disaffection,
anti-social behaviour and crime;
- (E) enabling older people to live independent lives and to
contribute to their community;
- (F) enabling communities to manage and enhance their local
environment and amenities;
- (G) developing people's ability to take responsibility for
their own health and well-being in line with the principles underlying
Health Challenge Wales, encouraging individuals and organisations
to improve health in Wales;
- (H) promoting healthier eating and increasing physical activity
across all age, gender and social groups;
- (I) developing new approaches to promoting mental health and
well being.
1 www.biglotteryfund.org.uk Back
 
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| © Parliamentary copyright 2010 | Prepared 28 January 2010 |