North's lottery to aid voluntary sector

A multi-million pound injection of funds into the North’s community and voluntary sector was announced today by the Big Lottery Fund.

Its newly established Building Change Trust will invest £10m (€12.3m) over the next 10 years to help develop and shape the future of the sector by helping community groups and larger voluntary organisations adapt and develop new ways of working.

The Trust marks a pioneering way of investing lottery funding in the North and the money being made available is in addition to that channelled to the sector through normal routes.

The Trust will not make grants in the traditional way, but look at what resources already exist in communities and identify ways to support those communities to develop and change.

It says it will identify detailed programmes that promote volunteering, develop the local community infrastructure and leadership skills in rural and urban areas.

Part of the Trusts funds will be invested to offer loans and advice to community and voluntary organisations.

Big Lottery Fund NI chair, Breidge Gadd, said: “The Building Change Trust marks a radical departure in the way National Lottery Good Cause funding is distributed in Northern Ireland.

“Through the Trust we are moving away from traditional grant making which the community and voluntary sector is familiar with and are investing Lottery funding into bringing about a real change in the sector.

“I believe that the Trust will create a dynamic process of thinking and visioning to ensure that the community and voluntary sector will be fit for purpose in the future.”

Tony McCusker, chairman of the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland, welcomed the development as offering an opportunity for a sustained strategic investment in the sector.

“The plan approved by the Big Lottery Fund is innovative and ambitious and will involve identifying and building on community assets, ensuring that the necessary capacity, structures and relationships are developed to ensure continued effectiveness and impact.”

Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie said the announcement was good news for the sector.

“This investment will assist the voluntary and community sector in adapting to changing circumstances and continuing to be a positive and progressive influence for the community throughout Northern Ireland.”