7 March 2001

Old-style Charities Board makes its last grants

The National Lottery Charities Board today announced the last grants under its old name. These are also the final grants awarded under the Community involvement programme. From 9 April 2001 the Charities Board is changing its name to Community Fund and introducing two new improved grants programmes that will make it easier for charities, voluntary and community groups to get access to Lottery money.

Please note that the deadline for applications under the Community involvement and Poverty and disadvantage programme is 27 June 2001. The current application forms are valid until this time.

Six awards were announced today, totalling £2.9 million.

The biggest grant awarded today is the British Trust of Conservation Volunteers - one of the UK's largest charities for protecting and enhancing the environment through practical action. They receive an award of £1,369,107. This is the second biggest grant ever made by the Charities Board. The project will work with groups who are under-represented in conservation and environmental activities. The grant, over three years, will pay for 14 new development posts.

Contact a Family works with people who have with rare diseases and disabilities and gives them the opportunity to network with each other. It receives a grant of £600,000 to buy a building which will become the UK service centre for the organisation and allow more local projects to be supported.

The Media Trust receives a two year grant of £299,411. The project will pay for media professionals to advise voluntary groups through a series of seminars, workshops and surgeries, which will give an introduction to the full range of media and communication disciplines.

The British Deaf Association receives a grant of £244,840 over three years. The project is to develop the existing specialist Deaf Dial telephone system used by deaf people. The project will provide video Internet connections which will deliver British Sign Language communications visually.

Action for ME receives £175,425. The project will train and support volunteers to increase the numbers of volunteers and new self-help support groups for people with ME. The grant over three years will pay for the recruitment and salary of a full-time volunteers co-ordinator.

The British Allergy Foundation receives £172,627 to extend the operating hours of their telephone helpline to include evenings and weekends and to translate information leaflets into community languages. The grant is over three years.

Diana Brittan, Chair, National Lottery Charities Board, said: 'Though the Charities Board is changing its name and making it easier for groups to apply for Lottery money, its aim will remain the same: to help those in great need and to improve the quality of life of communities throughout the UK. These last grants show that the old-style Charities Board had a lot to be proud of. I hope that our new identity and application processes will encourage more people than ever to apply to us for help.'

Media enquiries: Robert Blow, 020 7747 5227

Notes to editors

1. The National Lottery Charities Board distributes money from the National Lottery to voluntary and community groups. It receives 4.7 pence of every £1 spent on the Lottery. Since 1995 the Charities Board has awarded more than £1.8 billion to more than 37,000 groups.
2. Further details about the grants awarded today can be found on the Charities Board website at: www.nlcb.org.uk