13 September 1996

National Lottery Charities Board opens for applications to the International Grants Programme

The application line for the National Lottery Charities Board's International Grants Programme opens on Monday 16 September. The local rate telephone number for an application form or an information leaflet is 0345 778878 (the application line for Welsh speakers is 0345 273273).

Introducing the programme, David Sieff, Chairman of the Board, said: `This is the first time that such a programme has been run by the Board and we are allocating £25 million to it. The Board aims to support development projects run by UK based agencies working abroad. We want to give grants to projects which address the causes of poverty and inequality and make a positive impact on disadvantaged communities.'

Application forms can be requested until 6 December and the deadline for returning completed forms is 10 January 1997. The Charities Board will announce the grant awards in Spring 1997.

For further information contact the press office on 0171 747 5200/227.

Note to editors:
1. The National Lottery Charities Board is the independent grant making body set up by Parliament to distribute one fifth of the money raised by the lottery for the good causes.
2. There are 22 Board members. The international grants will be awarded by the Board members serving on the UK committee.
3. The Board has already awarded £319 million to 4,707 charitable, philanthropic and benevolent organisations in the UK. In December, the Board will announce the grant awards for its health, disability and care round. So far, the lottery has raised over £2 billion for good causes.
4. The guide to the International Grants Programme is available on audio cassette in English. To receive copies telephone 0345 778878.
5. There is a Welsh/English bilingual version and it is also available in the following languages: Bengali, Chinese, Gujarati, Somali, Urdu, Punjabi, Swahili, French, Spanish and Arabic. These are available by calling 0345 778878 (Welsh language line 0345 273273).
6. There is a textphone number for requesting the guide and application form. It is 0345 556656.
7. The National Lottery Charities Board has a homepage on the Internet. The address is www.nlcb.org.uk.