WIREDGOV

A new multi-million pound international Lottery programme opens yesterday to channel funding into the poorest and most marginalised communities around the world through UK-based charities working overseas.

The Big Lottery Fund’s 5-year International Communities programme will make grants to projects tackling some of the causes of poverty and deprivation among impoverished communities overseas. It will fund schemes that improve access to primary education, health care and natural resources, build sustainable livelihoods and support disadvantaged people to exercise their basic human rights.

Sir Clive Booth, Big Lottery Fund Chair, said: “Despite financial pressures we see all around us, international aid and supporting the poorest and most vulnerable communities remains a priority for the UK public.

“As Britain reinforces its commitment to achieving the Millennium Development Goals, BIG is glad that through its International Communities programme, vital projects will continue to thrive. We aim to help people in their efforts to improve chances in life for their families and to look forward to a more sustainable future.”

The International Communities programme will have a budget of £25 million between now and 2012 and will make grants of between £50,000 and £500,000 for projects lasting from two to five years. The funding budget from 2012-2015 is to be decided at a later date.

Sir Clive added: “BIG’s new international scheme builds on the success of the Fund’s previous International Programmes, which enabled UK charities to support poor communities overseas through more than £70 million in good cause funding.”

One previously funded group, child rights organisation Afrikids*, was awarded £302,605 in 2007 for its scheme tackling child trafficking, homelessness and child labour in northern Ghana. The group’s hugely successful work has supported children to return to their families and get an education as well as raising awareness amongst communities about the realities and dangers of child trafficking.

The project has also allowed families to increase their incomes to allow children to go back to school and reduce the need for them to seek work.

Further Information

Big Lottery Fund Press Office: 020 7211 1888
Out of hours contact: 07867 500 572
Public Enquiries Line: 08454 102030
Textphone:  0845 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

• *Pictures of the case study featured in this press release are available upon request
• The Big Lottery Fund (BIG), the largest distributor of National Lottery good cause funding, is responsible for giving out half the money raised for good causes by the National Lottery.
• BIG is committed to bringing real improvements to communities and the lives of people most in need and has been rolling out grants to health, education, environment and charitable causes across the UK since June 2004. The Fund was formally 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 £24 billion has now been raised and more than 330,000 grants awarded across arts, sport, heritage, charities, health, education and the environment.