Advice fund opens today

The Cabinet Office has advised LAG that the advice fund will be open for applications from 12 noon today. Applications can be made on the Big Lottery Fund website at: http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/prog_advice_services_fund

LAG understands that the application process should take no longer than one hour to complete. Detailed notes on how to apply and the eligibility criteria will be available on the website later today. Grants of between £40,000-70,000 will be made to frontline advice providers in England.

The previously announced criteria for the fund are that those applying:

• are from the not-for-profit sector;
• provide advice in at least one of the following areas: debt, welfare benefits, housing and employment;
• are able to evidence funding cuts of at least ten per cent for the eligible advice service areas from central and local government sources in 2011/12.

And that:

• priority will be given to organisations with high levels of cuts and those that have not received grants from the Transition Fund;
• account will also be taken of how applicants plan to use their grants, their plans for the future (including ways to improve efficiency) and how the quality of their advice services help meet local needs.