Born in 1946 and brought up in Cupar, Fife, I was educated at the local school - 
Banff and Buchan MSP Stewart Stevenson has welcomed an announcement by the Big Lottery Fund (BLF) who undertook a major UK wide consultation asking for people’s views about the kind of funder they wanted the BLF to be and how they wanted it to work.
Commenting on the Big Lottery Fund’s proposals, Mr Stevenson said:
“I am delighted by the news that the BLF received over 2,900 responses to their consultation, which goes to prove that the Lottery is highly regarded as a main funding body by many groups and voluntary organisations. I am equally pleased that the BLF have taken account of these and have used them to inform future direction.
“It is good news that the BLF have decided to adopt a mixed approach to funding, with no less than a third of their portfolio being delivered via demand-led, lightly prescribed, accessible programmes which will include an expanded Awards for All scheme.
“I welcome the plan to introduce more flexibility in the length of funding and the fact the the BLF will adopt the principle of full cost recovery by allowing legitimate overhead costs to be recovered by voluntary and community organisations.
“I very much look forward to learning the results of the second phase when they are announced next month and when they will make available their new portfolio of programmes. Maximising lottery funds for Banff & Buchan remains one of my top priorities and these changes should help make funding more accessable.”
Karen Adam is now the MSP for Banffshire and Buchan Coast
