THE BIG LOTTERY - NEWS

Investing in Ideas Deadline

The final deadline for applications to Investing in Ideas is Friday 30 January 2009. That might seem like a long way off but not for projects looking to develop their idea so they can apply to Investing in Communities.

So this means that if you think you might use Investing in Ideas to strengthen a future application to Investing in Communities, it’s crucial you plan ahead. You can’t wait until January 2009 as you need to take into account the final deadlines we set for Investing in Communities. These are:

Investing in Communities Deadlines

• Outline proposal form: Friday 1 August 2008
• Full application form Monday 1 December 2008

Our advice is don’t hang around but send us your Investing in Ideas application over the next few months. This is because:

• On average, it takes about one month to receive a decision and funding from when we receive your complete Investing in Ideas application form
• In our experience, Investing in Ideas projects take about three to four months to complete
• If you apply to Investing in Communities but have an Investing in Ideas grant, it is important you complete the development work and include this when you send us your Investing in Communities form

Using this guide and taking into account the Investing in Communities application form deadline it’s clear that to develop your project in time, you need to send us your Investing in Ideas application form in the next few months.

The final application deadline for Investing in Ideas is later than Investing in Communities because we are keen to continue funding the development of ideas. Since its launch in 2006, Investing in Ideas has been very popular awarding almost £3 million to 328 projects across Scotland.

For more information on Investing in Ideas go to our website www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/scotland or ring us on 0870 240 2391 if you have any queries.

Investing in Ideas - Frequently asked questions

When is the final deadline I can submit my Investing in Ideas application form?

The final date for Investing In Ideas applications is Friday 30th January 2009.

What if I want to develop my idea and apply to Investing in Communities which has a deadline before this?

You can’t wait till the January deadline to submit your Investing in Ideas application as the deadlines for Investing in Communities are:

Outline proposal form 1 August 2008
Full application form 1 December 2008

So if I am thinking about applying to Investing in Ideas to develop a project and then apply to Investing in Communities, when should I submit my Investing in Ideas application form?

We would advise that you apply to Investing in Ideas sooner rather than later. There are different timescales you should take into account once you send us your complete application.

• You must allow up to 8 weeks for us to assess your application.
• In our experience Investing in Ideas projects normally take three to four months to complete once a grant has been awarded. This may be longer depending on what work you plan to carry out.

It is important to ensure that your Investing in Ideas project is completed in time for it to inform your Investing in Communities application, and allow you time to complete that application. Our advice is that you apply to Investing in Ideas before May 2008.

How long will I wait for a decision once I send in my Investing in Ideas application form?

Applications usually take up to eight weeks to assess.

If I am successful when do I receive the grant?

You receive the grant within one week of returning the acceptance form contained in your offer letter.

Do I need to apply to Investing in Ideas and complete the work before I send in an outline proposal form?

It is not essential, but we would advise you apply sooner rather than later. This will allow the work funded under Investing in Ideas to inform and improve your Investing in Communities application.

If I apply to Investing in Ideas after the deadline for Investing in Communities has passed, does my project still need to fit with one of the four investment areas?

Yes.

What if I have an idea that doesn’t fit with Investing in Communities?

If your idea does not fit with Investing in Communities, you can consider Awards for All. This gives the same level of funding as Investing in Ideas, but your idea does not have to fit with Investing in Communities. Further information is available from www.awardsforall.org.uk

Why is the deadline for Investing in Ideas after the deadline for Investing in Communities?

The Scotland Committee is keen to continue funding the development of ideas throughout Scotland. We hope that a grant from Investing in Ideas helps you design a stronger project which increases your chance of funding from any source of funding.