Big Lottery Fund Research Programme
Overview
The Big Lottery Fund will provide up to £25 million to fund social, medical or socio-medical research led by voluntary and community sector (VCS) organisations in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The Research programme aims to influence local and national policy and practice by funding VCS organisations to produce and disseminate evidence-based knowledge. In the longer term the programme, through producing sound evidence, aims to help develop better services and support for beneficiaries.
Grants of between £10,000 and £500,000 are available for research projects lasting up to five years. In addition, Development grants of up to £10,000 are available, where appropriate, to help applicants work up their research proposal.
The Research programme is open to VCS organisations in the UK only. VCS organisations can partner with the research community but these organisations may not apply for funding themselves.
The aim of the Research programme is to influence local and national policy and practice by funding the Third Sector to produce and disseminate evidence based knowledge. In the longer term the programme, through producing sound evidence, will aim to help develop better services and interventions for beneficiaries.
Integral to meeting the aim of the programme will be the following five 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
- 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.
The programme is demand-led. It will fund high quality social and medical research on issues identified, and considered important, by the charitable and voluntary and community sector; and support the use and dissemination of this research activity. Key is that beneficiaries and users are involved, in setting the agenda, conducting, managing and disseminating the research.
How to apply
If you intend to apply for a Research grant in the final round of the programme, they ask you to send them a brief outline of your project before you send a full application. They will use the Project Outline only to identify appropriate peer reviewers for your project and to help us plan the assessment process. They will not assess your Project Outline or use it to provide you with feedback about your application.
Please return your completed Project Outline form before 5pm, Tuesday 31 March 2009.
You should send them only your completed Project Outline form by 31 March 2009.
The deadline for them to receive your completed application form is 5pm Friday 29 May 2009 (5pm Friday 22 May if you want us to check whether your application is complete and give you the opportunity to provide any missing information)