The Big Lottery Fund has yesterday launched a £30m scheme to improve the prospects of people currently living in crisis or are at risk of crisis as a result of hardship. The initiative will focus on supporting people to overcome barriers to access the services they need. 

Organisations across England can apply for grants of between £300,000 and £500,000 to provide immediate support such as food parcels and a bed for the night, and to then work with people to address the underlying cause of their situation through advocacy and advice on issues such as family breakdown, health problems, homelessness or debt.

Projects will be partnership based, rooted in the community and will focus on supporting people who find it difficult to access support; perhaps because they are disabled, have a mental health issue or live in an isolated rural community.

Projects will help people navigate and access the services they need to help them improve their lives. Projects could include but are not limited to; advocacy and advice services, training for ‘community champions’ to provide services in their local area, a service where GPs work with partner agencies to refer people for advocacy and advice, or specialist legal experts working with disabled people experiencing hardship.

Big Lottery Fund England Chair Nat Sloane said: “With this new funding, groups will be able to use their local knowledge to support those that need it most, helping people not only out of a crisis situation, but by addressing the underlying causes of their situation empowering them to improve their lives and their futures.”

Projects will need to have experience in providing hardship services so they can start helping people from day one. Projects are expected to be funded over five years and will need to show they are fully engaged with the people they are supporting and working with local partner organisations.

Visit www.biglotteryfund.org.uk for more information and to apply and join in the conversation on Twitter using #crisishelp #UKpoverty

Case Study:

Shaun, 30, was working at a print firm and living at home in Wakefield with his mum when she sadly passed away around 18 months ago. He continued to live in the three bedroom property on his own, but as the bedroom tax was introduced he quickly became unable to cope financially. Shaun approached the council to request an exchange for a smaller property which was more affordable. Shaun was told that he wouldn’t be able to move because he was already in rent arrears and, unable to pay rent, he was evicted. Shaun became homeless after the eviction and forced to sleep on the streets. He was also struggling with anxiety, depression and stress.

Shaun had heard about a local charity - Community Awareness Programme (known as CAP Care) - from a friend of his and decided to ask them for some help. CAP Care, which has had National Lottery funding, was able to offer Shaun advice and support and put him in touch with Turning Point, where he was able to receive help for mental health issues, and Bridge-It Housing who were able to immediately arrange for him to move into shared accommodation.

Shaun’s situation has greatly improved thanks to the help he has received. He now volunteers three days a week at CAP Care and helps others to create CV’s and apply for jobs. Shaun said: “It really felt like it was the end of the world, but now I am mentally and physically stable and have a really positive mentality. I would be in a much worse position if it wasn’t for these organisations – Bridge-It Housing put a roof over my head, CAP are awesome and still help me with clothing donations, support and food. They gave me a place to work and I really enjoy using my background in IT to help others. It has given me confidence.”

Website: www.biglotteryfund.org.uk
Twitter: @biglotteryfund #BigLottery
Facebook: www.facebook.com/BigLotteryFund

For funding and general enquiries call:
BIG Advice Line: 0345 4 10 20 30

For press enquiries call:
Press Office:  020 7211 1888
Out of hours media contact: 07867 500572

Notes to editors

• This new funding programme has been developed in collaboration with a wide-range of organisations. Stage One Applications need to be submitted by 26 August, with the best invited to complete a second stage application by 11 November. Applicants will be told if they have been successful in March 2016. Full details can be found on the Big Lottery Fund website at www.biglotteryfund.org.uk and follow the conversation on Twitter using #crisishelp, #UKpoverty.
• The Big Lottery Fund supports the aspirations of people who want to make life better for their communities across the UK. We are responsible for giving out 40% of the money raised by the National Lottery for good causes and invest over £650 million a year in projects big and small in health, education, environment and charitable purposes. 
• Since June 2004 we have awarded over £8 billion to projects that make a difference to people and communities in need, from early years intervention to commemorative travel funding for World War Two veterans.
• Since the National Lottery began in 1994, £33 billion has been raised and more than 450,000 grants awarded.