Funding News August/September 2007

The Big Lottery Fund has announced which causes are to receive a share of £125million from its Well-Being programme. The Foyer Foundation, which provides accommodation to young homeless people, will receive £2.5million to introduce life coaching projects, and healthy eating and fitness workshops at its centres. The School Food Trust will receive £20million to set up cooking clubs in schools, and sustainable transport charity Sustrans will receive £19.9million to encourage people to walk and cycle. For more information see www.biglotteryfund.org.uk
Communities Minister John Healey has announced that people on low incomes or benefits who were affected by the recent floods will be able to access emergency funds administered by Jobcentre Plus. The Dept for Work and Pensions has made available £1million to cover community care grants and interest free crisis loans.
The European Commission has approved the UK’s National Strategic Reference Framework Document which sets out the Delivering Structural Funding programmes in the UK during the 2007-13 funding round. The strategy outlines an investment plan for £6.6billion of EU cash over the next seven years. Funding still might not be received until next march.
A £2million emergency fund has been set up to help support businesses affected by this summers floods. The scheme has been set up by the South West of England Regional Development Agency and is designed to help small and medium sized enterprises develop and implement recovery plans. For more details see www.southwestrda.org.uk
Margaret Hodge, Minister of Culture, Media and Sport has hinted that there may be more funding for the arts from the Regional Development Agencies. She said “I want to capture other resources for theatre and the arts. I’ve just come from being Minister for the Regional Development Agencies, so I've got a relationship with them”.