Big Lottery Fund paves the way for social and medical research
The Big Lottery Fund’s Research programme opens for applications today, making up to £25 million available for high quality social and medical research projects across the UK.
Third sector organisations are able to apply for grants for up to five years from the programme, which will be administered by Momenta and supported by Third Sector First.
Grants of between £10,000 and £ 500,000 are available, with up to £1 million for exceptional projects. Applicants who need extra support will be able to apply for development grants of up to £10,000 to help develop their research proposal.
Big Lottery Fund Chief Executive, Stephen Dunmore, said: “The Research programme is a demand-led programme that will award grants to charities and voluntary sector organisations undertaking high quality research in the areas of health and social wellbeing. The dissemination of findings from this research will ultimately lead to the development of better services and interventions for people, improving lives across the UK.”
Voluntary and community sector organisations are encouraged to link up with universities and the wider research community, however universities themselves are ineligible to apply for funding. A key element of the programme is that beneficiaries and users are involved in setting the agenda, conducting, managing and disseminating the research.
Funded projects must deliver the following two outcomes:
- Improved understanding of issues relating to the Big Lottery Fund’s UK themes and country outcomes
- Improved third sector participation and knowledge in developing, doing and using research
And at least one of the following outcomes: - Improved dissemination of third sector led research
- Increased participation of beneficiaries and users in a range of research roles
- Improved partnerships between the third sector and the research community
Momenta have developed an online application process which can be accessed at: www.bigresearchprogramme.org.uk. Registered applicants will be able to access advice and support on the conception, design and management of research from Third Sector First. For further information call 08450 711 068 or email researchprogramme@aeat.co.uk.
The Big Lottery Fund has recently appointed SHM to evaluate the impact of the legacy research grants programmes across the UK. Findings from the evaluation will be used to inform the delivery of the new Research programme and will be shared with grant holders and other research funders. The final report will be published in February 2008.
Big Lottery Fund Press Office: 020 7211 1888
Out of hours contact: 07867 500 572
Public Enquiries Line: 08454 102030
Textphone: 845 6021 659
Full details of the Big Lottery Fund programmes and grant awards are available on the website: www.biglotteryfund.org.uk
Notes to Editors:
- The Big Lottery Fund rolls out close to £2 million in Lottery good cause money every 24 hours which together with other Lottery distributors means that across the UK most people are within a few miles of a Lottery-funded project.
- The Big Lottery Fund, the largest of the National Lottery good cause distributors, has been rolling out grants to health, education, environment and charitable causes across the UK since its inception in June 2004. It was established by Parliament on 1 December 2006.
- Since the National Lottery began in 1994, 28p from every pound spent by the public has gone to Good Causes. As a result, over £20 billion has now been raised and more than 280,000 grants given out across the arts, sport, heritage, charities, health, education and the environment
- The aim of the Research programme is to fund high quality medical and social research that supports the themes and outcomes of the Big Lottery Fund.
- The Research programme will make grants directly to charities and voluntary sector organisations. Because many of these organisations may not have the capacity to carry out research by themselves, the Big Lottery Fund wants to promote partnerships between the voluntary sector and the research community.
- This programme is being delivered by Momenta on behalf of the Big Lottery Fund. Momenta works for the Public sector to turn policy into practice by offering a range of programme management services. Its programmes reach businesses, public sector organisations, Third Sector stakeholders and the general public. Momenta are running pre-application seminars. To reserve a place email: researchprogramme@aeat.co.uk.
- Third Sector First is a collaboration of specialists in research and social policy, working primarily in the public and third sectors. Third Sector First has assembled a Research programme guidance booklet, ‘Designing and managing research’, which can be downloaded from the programme website: www.bigresearchprogramme.org.uk. A series of research advice and support workshops will begin in January 2008.
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