Moneywise -

Regeneration & Renewal, 27 June 2008

How much is it worth? The total amount of funding available for the programme is £4.6 million. The minimum grant is £500, the maximum is £10,000. The deadline for outline proposals is 1 August, while full applications must be received by 1 December.

What's it for? The programme aims to test and develop ideas that could eventually become fully-fledged projects. Its overarching aim is to improve the lives of people living in Scotland's most deprived communities. Specifically, the programme aims to: help communities to become stronger by helping them to invest in assets for their own use; support projects that help people deal with changes in their personal circumstances, such as redundancy; and invest in projects that enable people to cope with new patterns of life and the major changes that many communities are experiencing. Grants can be used for market research, feasibility studies, business planning, training, exchange visits in the UK to see how other projects work, community consultation, professional advice, technical reports and scheme design studies.

Who is eligible? A wide range of Scottish organisations can apply for funding from Investing in Ideas, including charities and other voluntary and community groups, local authorities, social enterprises and health boards.

Who runs it? The Big Lottery Fund.

- How to apply For more information, contact the Big Lottery Fund's funding line on 0870 240 2391 or visit the website at www.biglotteryfund.org.uk.