Create Your Space Programme Launched by Big Lottery Fund Wales

The Create Your Space programme is administered and provided by the Big Lottery Fund Wales, and involves the joint investment of £8.8 million between the Big Lottery Fund (£6.4 million) and Dormant Accounts money (£2.4 million). The initiative is a seven year programme designed to help communities make positive and sustainable transformations to their local natural environment.
Formally constituted voluntary and community sector organisations, including charities, community groups, cooperatives and social enterprises are eligible to apply. All organisations must be working with the local community and local organisations either as formal or informal partners.
Applications will be accepted from organisations based anywhere in Wales, but projects must benefit communities in the following, existing local authority areas:

• Caerphilly.
• Conwy.
• Flintshire.
• Isle of Anglesey.
• Monmouthshire.
• Newport.
• Rhondda Cynon Taff
• Vale of Glamorgan.
• Wrexham.

Grants of between £50,000 and £2 million are available over a seven year period. Initially, the 16 projects taken forward to stage two will be awarded development funding of up to £20,000 to help cover the costs of developing the project further. Full awards of between £500,000 and £2,000,000 will later be awarded for up to eight projects.
The Big Lottery Fund wishes to fund projects that make a real difference to people and communities so that:

• People are fully involved in shaping the transformation of their local outdoor spaces.
• Strong and genuine partnerships are formed between local people and organisations.
• People are enabled to transform the way they view and use outdoor spaces in order to:
• have the confidence and ability to influence and get involved in decisions about their communities with more control over their local environment; and
• have a greater understanding and appreciation of the value of outdoor spaces, in particular their contribution to health and well-being, and the potential for creating sustainable business, jobs and leisure opportunities.

Funding should be used to bring about positive change, and grants can cover the costs of:

• Staff.
• Training.
• Volunteer expenses.
• Equipment.
• Premises costs.
• Evaluation.
• Overheads.

Interested applicants must initially contact BIG to discuss their project ideas. If considered suitable, a stage one application form will be sent out.
The deadline for applications to Stage One is 31 March 2016.
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