Live and Learn

We want our funding to make a difference to people and communities in need.

Through Live and Learn we will fund projects which will achieve both of the following outcomes:

• people have the opportunity to achieve their full potential, and
• improved physical and mental health for all people.

Projects must also meet one or both of our underlying principles:

• addressing disadvantage and promoting tolerance and social inclusion
• contributing to the reduction of poverty.

In addition projects must meet all of the six priorities of the Live and Learn programme:

• improve essential skills to meet social and economic needs
• increase opportunity for community based learning
• increase opportunity for volunteering and engagement with and between communities
• improve community facilities, access and services
• helping individuals and communities to develop skills to make healthier lifestyle choices
• promote mental health and emotional well-being at individual and community level.

The programme will benefit families and communities across Northern Ireland giving people a chance to develop a variety of skills. We will make sure that our funding has a good geographical spread across Northern Ireland and also support a number of communities of interest. By communities of interest we mean groups of people who share common interests, concerns, or shared identities.

The Live and Learn programme will fund partnerships within the voluntary and community sector or between the statutory, voluntary and community sectors in Northern Ireland over a five-year period.

We have £18 million available for the Live and Learn Programme in Northern Ireland between now and 2009. At stage one development grants of between £20,000 and £50,000 are available to develop stage two applications. Funding of between £600,000 and £1 million is available at stage two for five year grants.

Stage One Deadline is 29 March 2007

If you have any questions about this programme, please call the Information team in Northern Ireland on 028 9055 1455. They will also be able to send you the guidance notes for the programme.

Download Guidelines from Big Lottery Fund website

www.biglotteryfund.org.uk