Big Lottery Fund Grant Conditions
The Big Lottery Fund (BLF) may provide grants to clubs for projects which meet relevant criteria through their Awards for All and 2014 Programmes. The following information should be considered by clubs prior to making an application as any inability to meet the relevant conditions could result in the withdrawal of a grant offer.
Details of the programmes and application process may be found on the following websites:
http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/
http://www.awardsforall.org.uk/ and from the advice line 0300 123 7110
Governing documents:
If a club receives a conditional grant offer through either of these programmes, BLF will ask to see a copy of its constitution, otherwise known as its governing document. BLF use this document to make sure that a club is legally able to manage the grant, and that it operates in a way which means it meets both its constitutional and the programme requirements. BLF also need to make sure that the group operates within the spirit of its funding programmes. If the governing document shows that BLF are unable to fund a group, BLF have to withdraw the offer of a grant.
There are a number of reasons why a club's governing document may present a problem to securing lottery funding. BLF want clubs to be better informed about these potential problems so that they can address them before applying.
The most common reasons for a conditional grant offer being withdrawn are listed below. If your club is considering applying for lottery funding, it is very important that your governing document addresses them.
1) Open Membership
BLF expect membership of a club to be open to all unless there is a good reason why this is not the case. BLF expect there to be a right of appeal for anybody who is refused membership. Similarly, there should be a right of appeal for members who are suspended or expelled from a group.
sportscotland provide the following example of ‘approved wording’
"Membership is open to all and no application for membership will be refused on other than reasonable grounds. There will be no discrimination on grounds of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex; sexual orientation, political or other opinion."
2) Proposing and seconding of applicant members
BLF are unable to fund clubs which require a prospective member to be proposed and seconded by current members; BLF consider this to be contrary to their funding policy on open membership mentioned above.
3) Displaying the names and addresses of applicant members
Similarly, BLF are unable to fund clubs which display the names and addresses of applicant members for other members to view. This is also considered to be contradictory to an open membership.
4) Dissolution clause
For all applicants, the governing document must contain a dissolution clause which explains what will happen in the event of the club ceasing to exist. BLF expect the clause to state (to the effect that) 'once all obligations have been met, the remaining assets will not be distributed among members and such assets will be given to another similar not-for-profit organisation'.
sportscotland provide the following example of ‘approved wording’
"If, upon the winding up or dissolution of the Club there remains after the satisfaction of all the Club’s debts and liabilities any property whatsoever, the same shall be given or transferred to some other organisation or organisations having objects (that is, aims and activities) similar to the objects of the Club, such organisation or organisations to be determined by the members of the Club by Resolution passed at a General meeting at or before the time of the dissolution, and in so far as effect cannot be given to such provision then to some charitable objects."
5) Financial checks and requirements
In the majority of constitutional documents there will be a clause which outlines how a club should have its financial activities checked on an annual basis. It’s important that clubs actively take steps to ensure they meet the stated checks laid out. For example, if a club’s governing document states that the accounts must be audited then BLF will expect the accounts to be audited.
Any queries concerning BLF programmes and the application process should be made directly to the BLF advice line at 0300 123 7110 and not to the MCofS.
