Big Lottery Fund Reaching Out Programmes Launched

28 June 2010

The Big Lottery Fund has launched its Reaching Out programmes - Empowering Young People and Connecting Older People - which will aim to invest up to £40 million to support older people and young people at risk.

Big Lottery Fund marked the launch of the new programmes with the Big Debate, an event to discuss the main issues facing older and young people most at risk in NI communities.

Empowering Young People is a £20 million programme that will award grants of £100,000 - £500,000 to projects that could support young people who are in care, who are involved in crime, or have been removed from education. Young people must be involved in designing, developing and running projects.

Guidance notes and an outline proposal form for this programme are available on the Big Lottery Fund website.

Connecting Older People is a £20 million programme that will award grants of £50,000 - £200,000 and £250,000 - £500,000 to projects that could support older people in residential care or sheltered housing, or who have been affected by issues such as, bereavement, disability and long term illness and isolation. Older people must be involved in designing, developing and running projects.

Guidance notes and an outline proposal form for this programme are available on the Big Lottery Fund website.

Big Lottery Fund will be holding information sessions in September for potential applicants. Information on the dates and venues are on the news and events section of the website.

For further information on these programmes please contact the Information Team in the Big Lottery Fund's Belfast Office.

Email: enquiries.ni@biglotteryfund.org.uk
Phone: 028 90551455
Textphone: 028 90551431 (for people with a hearing impairment)

ENDS