Lottery wants your BIG thoughts

The consultation is now open and information available from www.big-thinking.org.uk.

An information event with the Big Lottery Fund will take place at NICVA on 22 January 2009. In anticipation of this event NICVA would ask organisations to access the big-thinking website or download the consultation guidance notes in advance. NICVA is also keen to hear your responses to the issues raised by the consultation. You can send us your early thoughts by email to neil.irwin@nicva.org. We will seek to reflect these comments in our own response to BIG.

The Big Lottery Fund has identified 'BIG Questions' which it would like you to answer. The responses will frame its strategy for 2009 to 2015.

These are the questions asked by BIG in this consultation.

UK-wide Questions

Question 1.1: Do you agree that the theme of transitions provides a useful starting point for our funding?

Question 1.2: Do you agree that the theme of isolation provides a useful starting point for our funding?

Question 1.3: Are there other themes you would suggest?

Question 2.1: Do you agree we should have a greater focus in our funding to benefit those most in need?

Question 2.2: Tell us if you think BIG should have a different focus.

Question 3.1: How can BIG best help build lasting partnerships and networks that support communities and people most in need?

Question 3.2: How can we get better at engaging with the private sector?

Question 3.3: Are there opportunities for joint funding that BIG should take up?

Question 4: After 2012, when our 60-70 per cent undertaking ends, should we continue to guarantee that a percentage of our funding goes to the voluntary and community sector?

Question 5: Over and above giving out grants, what would make BIG a better funder in the way we work?

Question 6: Should we aim to fund fewer projects, but fund for a longer period? Or have we got the balance about right?

Question 7: Do you think BIG should take more risks with our funding to promote innovative solutions?

Question 8: Are there areas beyond those described in Big thinking, where you think it is important to operate at a UK level, rather than at a country level?

Question 9: Which ways of increasing public involvement do you think would work best for BIG?

Question 10: BIG is not restricted to distributing Lottery money alone. Are there other sources of funding that BIG would be the right organisation to manage, either on our own or in partnership?

Northern Ireland Specific Questions

Question 1: Under the themes of isolation and transition, what are the emerging issues and areas of need in Northern Ireland? What are the gaps in what BIG or others have funded?

Question 2: In the future, we assume that demand will continue to exceed the funding we have. How can we better manage demand for our programmes?

Question 3: In future programmes should we focus more resources in Northern Ireland on development and support activities?

Question 4: What role should BIG play in supporting the development of skills for the voluntary and community sector?

Question 5: How can BIG funding best support Community Planning?

How to Respond

Big Lottery Fund are very much encouraging responses via their website www.big-thinking.org.uk and you can register online to do so.

Postal responses should be send to Patrick Carroll, Big Lottery Fund, 5th Floor, 1 Plough Place, London, EC4A 1DE.

BIG Event at NICVA

To register for the Big Lottery Fund event at NICVA please contact the Big Lottery Fund's Information Team on 028 9055 1455 or email: enquiries.ni@biglotteryfund.org.uk.

The survey will close on 27 February 2009.