The Big Lottery Fund (BIG) will be required to fund initiatives which strengthen the social investment market, according to proposed new guidelines from the Cabinet Office.
This morning saw the launch of a consultation on the new policy directions for the funder, which come as a result of the decision to transfer responsibility for BIG from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to the Cabinet Office.
The section on funding priorities states that BIG should ensure that, over time, the funding provided either: encourages social involvement in communities; strengthens the capacity of voluntary and community sector organisations and social enterprises; or strengthens and increases “the capacity of the social investment market for supporting public benefit and social action”.
Elsewhere, the guidelines also state that BIG should “operate within the distinctive context of policy, government and civil society action”.
Launching the consultation, minister for the Cabinet Office Francis Maude said: “The Big Lottery Fund plays an important role in supporting our civil society and it is entirely fitting, therefore, that policy responsibility for the Big Lottery Fund transferred from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to the Cabinet Office.”
He added: “Too many long and unwieldy restrictions govern how the Big Lottery Fund hands out money, inhibiting their ability to do their job properly.
“Therefore, in line with the transfer of responsibilities for BIG, the Cabinet Office will open a 12-week consultation on proposed new policy directions for BIG to try to address this.”
Pressure on Lottery budgets
Peter Ainsworth, chair of the Big Lottery Fund, said: “Now more than ever BIG must be responsive to the evolving needs of the communities we serve.
“I anticipate that pressure on Lottery budgets will continue to increase and we want to ensure we intelligently address the needs of our communities and those most in need.
“We very much welcome today’s announcement by the Cabinet Office of its 12-week consultation on proposed new policy directions for the Fund and look forward to the outcome.”
The deadline for responses is 18 November.
