Trust makes first awards

At an event in Belfast on 25 November, the Trust announced the first 23 awards from the Exploring and Deliver Change Award Programmes

Northern Ireland’s community and voluntary sector is experiencing an era of unprecedented change and with the onset of cuts to public funding, these grants will assist the sector in preparing for an uncertain future. Bill Osborne, Chair of the Building Change Trust, explains; “These awards are being made under the Exploring Change and Deliver Change award programmes, designed to assist organisations planning to change how they operate. “Grants of up to £50,000 will enable participants to complete a project exploring options for change and sustainability. “We plan to make 80 awards over the lifetime of the programmes and the closing date for the next round of applications is Monday 17 January 2011" Established in 2008 with a £10 million investment by the Big Lottery Fund, the Trust is helping the community and voluntary sector cope with unprecedented change in their operating environment. Frank Hewitt, the Big Lottery Fund’s NI Chair said: “The Building Change Trust marks a new way in which National Lottery Good Cause funding is being distributed in Northern Ireland. “Today’s announcement of grants will support community and voluntary organisations across Northern to bring about real change in the area that they work.” Details of all awards made in Exploring Change  Phase 1 can be found here and Deliver Change Phase 1  here.