In most parts of England the Big Lottery Fund is a major funder
of the third sector (voluntary and community sector), with a
current commitment that 60-70% of its total funding goes to the
third sector each year.
BIG is now consulting about its future funding programmes and
about its commitment to our sector. The consultation runs until the
end of February 2009.
Question Four of the consultation, in the 'UK Questions'
section, asks as follows:
"After 2012, when our 60-70% undertaking ends, should we
continue to guarantee a percentage of our funding goes to the
voluntary and community sector?" The questionnaire only allows the
respondent to select one of the following three answers:
- Funding should go to the organisation in the best position to
deliver the project outcomes, whichever sector they are from
- BIG should extend its undertaking to the voluntary and
community sector beyond 2012
- No opinion.
If a majority of respondents answer 1) or 3), there is a risk of
substantial loss of funding to the sector.
Sir Clive Booth (UK Chair of the Big Lottery Fund), wrote to
Mike Martin (NAVCA Chair) on 9 February addressing NAVCA's
concerns, see
Big Thinking Consultation Survey (pdf, 788 KB).
There is just time to respond to the consultation, which closes on
27 February. Go to
www.big-thinking.org.uk
and select 'consultation survey'. It takes no more than 15 minutes
to register and to answer the 10
questions.