WIREDGOV

The Big Lottery Fund yesterday announced it will make available up to £5 million through its International Communities programme to support charities working to help communities in the Philippines rebuild their lives following the devastating impact of Typhoon Haiyan.

The Big Lottery Fund cannot make general donations to emergency appeals. Nor does it believe its funds are best used for immediate disaster relief.

Instead, it will make up to £5 million available to UK based charities, working with communities in the Philippines, to help the long term process of rebuilding lives and livelihoods. 

The Big Lottery Fund will now undertake urgent consultations with UK NGOs working in the disaster area to pinpoint where our funding can best be deployed, as well as with bodies such as the Disasters Emergency Committee and BOND, the UK membership body for organisations working in international development.

Big Lottery Fund Chair, Peter Ainsworth said: “Like millions across the country I was shocked by the scenes of devastation and despair broadcast on our screens in the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan. The Big Lottery Fund’s mission is to support people and communities most in need and it is therefore important that we are able to respond in this way, complementing and adding value to others already working to support the rebuilding of communities and infrastructure in the Philippines.

"I want us to work with those UK bodies on the ground in the Philippines to establish how best we enable them to help communities to rebuild their lives. Once we are clear what is needed, we will make sure that our funds flow to those projects which will have the most impact."

Big Lottery Fund Press Office: 020 7211 1888
Out of hours media contact: 07867 500 572
Textphone: 0845 6021 659

Full details of the Big Lottery Fund programmes and grant awards are available on the website: www.biglotteryfund.org.uk

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Notes to editors

• The Big Lottery Fund’s International Communities programme considers applications from UK charitable organisations looking to deliver projects working in partnership with civil society organisations overseas, aiding beneficiaries in developing countries.
• The Big Lottery Fund, the largest distributor of National Lottery good cause funding, is responsible for giving out 40% of the money raised for good causes by the National Lottery.
• The Fund is committed to bringing real improvements to communities and the lives of people most in need and has been rolling out grants to health, education, environment and charitable causes across the UK. Since its inception in June 2004, the Fund has made awards close to £6bn in total.
• The Fund was formally established by Parliament on 1 December 2006.
• Since the National Lottery began in 1994, 28p from every pound spent by the public has gone to good causes. As a result, over £30 billion has now been raised and more than 400,000 grants awarded across arts, sport, heritage, charities, health, education and the environment.