Big Lottery Fund Power to Change scheme

The Big Lottery Fund has announced the Power to Change scheme, a new £150million fund, which aims to help community enterprises, including charities, to provide sustainable solutions to social and economic issues.

The fund will be delivered through an independent grant-making trust, which will aim to work with and complement similar organisations in the marketplace without duplicating what they have to offer.

BIG will begin recruiting for directors of the trust by January 2014 and community enterprises will be able to apply for grants from next autumn, following the establishment of a Power to Change Trust.

To qualify for funding, organisations should be locally-based and inclusive of all of its community. They must also have a sustainable business plan and aim to become viable without grants or public money.

For further information visit www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/global-content/programmes/england/power-to-change.