The Department for Culture Media and Sports (DCMS) are currently carrying out a consultation into the proportion of money going to each of the lottery distributors.

Their proposal is to reduce the proportion of money going to the Big Lottery from 50% to 40% and increase the proportion going to arts, heritage and sports from 18% each to 20% each. This would be spread over two years.

They are interested in:

• What impact would the changes have on member organisations’ ability to deliver previously identified priorities or projects?
• In your view will the change have any adverse or positive impact on particular groups, taking into account race, gender, disability, age, faith/belief, sexual orientation, gender identity and socioeconomic equality? How could impacts be avoided or mitigated. Please provide evidence if possible.
• I will arrange for an initial draft Impact Assessment to be placed on the DCMS website (link below) and would be grateful for any evidence to inform that.
• Do you have any other observations?

Big-thinking

The BIG Lottery commissioned some research into the public’s perceptions of their work over the summer. The findings of this research have been instrumental in leading to the current consultation which will influence their strategic framework from 2009 onwards.