The Association of Chairs has been awarded £463,000 of National Lottery funding - three times its annual income - as part of £50m being distributed in a latest round.
Some 1,903 projects across England have been awarded funding this week through the Big Lottery Fund, which is responsible for giving out 40 per cent of the money raised by National Lottery players for good causes.
The Association of Chairs - the largest umbrella body for charity trustees - said its grant, distributed over three years, will enable it to work with charity chairs to build their skills, knowledge and confidence; reduce their sense of isolation and to help them be more effective.
As part of this programme the Association of Chairs, which currently has an income of under £150,000, plans to reach 6,000 chairs and vice chairs and will:
- Consult chairs and vice chairs of charities with under £1m income about the support they need
- Run a series of workshops throughout England
- Offer webinars and online surgeries and an online discussion forum
- Develop resources specifically for chairs and vice chairs of small charities
Ruth Lesirge, chair of the Association of Chairs, said: “This grant will help us to build a community of chairs – who in turn support the communities they work with. What better way for us to say thank you to those who play the National Lottery - than supporting the many different communities they are involved in.”
Ros Oakley, executive director at Association of Chairs, said: “We are delighted that the Big Lottery Fund has not only recognised the key role of the chair and the need to support chairs to undertake the role effectively, but is making a real investment in making it happen.
“From what we have learned in our three and half years working with chairs, we know we can make a difference to their confidence and approach to governance. This is a real endorsement of our progress to date.”
The biggest grant in the latest round was the £1m awarded to Health For All’s Beeston Village Community Centre project in Leeds.
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Large grants were also awarded to Williton War Memorial Recreation Ground’s Williton Community Building project in West Somerset and St John's Waterloo’s The Bridge at Waterloo project in Lambeth.
James Harcourt, England grant making director at the Big Lottery Fund, said: “It is great to think that National Lottery players have now raised £36bn for good causes and it’s when you hear about projects like these that you realise the incredible impact that funding has had on communities across England.
“Whether the grant is for £500, or £500,000, our funding is used to run amazing projects led by local people. It really is life changing.”
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