DSC chases first tranche of ‘Big Lottery Refund’
Howard Lake | 11 July 2014 | News
The Directory of Social Change is encouraging people to campaign to ensure that the Government delivers on its commitment to make a partial refund of up to £150 million to charities from the Big Lottery Fund.
The publishing and training charity is continuing its Big Lottery Refund campaign in which it is holding the Government to account for using £425 million of Big Lottery Fund cash to fund the 2012 Olympics.
Last year it secured a commitment for a partial refund of up to £150 million which would be paid in July 2014. It points out that “the deadline for repayment is fast approaching and yet the Government have gone quiet on the details”. It is therefore inviting more campaigning actions to ensure Ministers deliver what they promised.
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As well as publicising the issue and writing to newspapers, DSC invites supporters to write to their MP; the new Secretary of State for Culture, media and Sport; and to the Minister for Sport and Equalities.
Although it is focusing on the interim payment, it hasn’t given up on the £425 million total. With the General Election due for 2015, it is hopeful that concerted pressure will achieve the full refund.
- Big Lottery Refund campaign secures £148 million refund (1 August 2014)
- Spirit of 2012 makes £3.5 million investment following Glasgow Commonwealth Games (6 August 2014)
- Government sparks more criticism with further delays to £425 million Olympic repayment (12 May 2016)
About Howard Lake
Howard Lake is consultant editor of UK Fundraising. He founded the site in 1994 and successfully sold it in 2022. As director of Giving X Ltd he is exploring growing giving on a massive scale.
He is the founder of Fundraising Camp and co-founder of GoodJobs.