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The Rt. Hon. Tessa Jowell MP, Chair of the Millennium Commission, will today (5 March 2003) announce the establishment of the Millennium Awards Trust, a £100 million permanent endowment fund that will ensure people across the UK will continue to benefit from Lottery money, through the Millennium Awards Scheme, for generations to come. The new £100m fund will enable people across the UK to apply for grants to undertake projects to benefit themselves and their community. The new scheme will build upon the success of the Millennium Awards Scheme which was set up by the Millennium Commission in 1996 and has already distributed grants, each of around £2,500 to nearly 27,000 individuals across the UK. These grants are mobilising enormous reserves of community energy and interest, plugging gaps in service provision and tackling important issues which are at the heart of every community. The new £100m Millennium Awards Trust will be administered by UnLtd - The Foundation for Social Entrepreneurs, a new charity set up by seven leading UK organisations. Rt. Hon. Tessa Jowell MP, Chair of the Millennium Commission and Secretary of State for Culture, said, 'The Millennium Awards Scheme has already provided Lottery grants to thousands of individuals to strengthen their communities and its future has now been secured with the new £100 million endowment. 'This announcement marks a major milestone in the Commission's life but is also a significant development for the Lottery. For the first time, control over a significant amount of Lottery money will be handed over to a charity which will oversee the awarding of small grants to individuals. Using income from the endowment, UnLtd will build on the success of the Millennium Awards and will continue to enable people to develop their skills and give something back to their community. The unique 'staircase' funding approach will allow the sustained development of these innovative ideas to unleash the potential in our communities and create a powerful network of people committed to building a stronger society.' Award winners who have already received a grant under the Commission's Millennium Awards Scheme, which will finish in 2004, are working on a range of innovative projects including: organising workshops highlighting the dangers of drug use; producing leaflets aimed at challenging the stigma relating to mental illness and disability, establishing food cooperatives so that people on a low income can buy good quality fruit and vegetables and making science more accessible to school children. A recent independent survey has shown that over 70% of these projects would not have gone ahead without the funding from the Millennium Awards Scheme.
UnLtd will use the endowment to introduce innovative elements including 'staircase' funding. This will provide two main levels of support: - Level one is designed to give as many people as possible the chance to do something for their community in the form of cash, training, advice and mentoring; Awards range between £500 and £5000.
- Level two will provide funding for projects or ideas that require a considerable time commitment from the individual. These include project ideas capable of further development from level one or which have been funded under one of the Commission's existing Awards schemes, as well as new ideas. These Awards range between £5000 and £15,000.
Jeremy Oppenheim, Chairman of the Board, UnLtd said, ' UnLtd is delighted to be responsible for this substantial endowment. It is being invested wisely and we will ensure that the income is used to fund applications for awards from people who have the ideas, enthusiasm and commitment to make a real difference in their local communities. All of our Awards come not just with cash but also high levels of support and training so that the individual award holder grows in experience and skills. We are embarking on a long journey and we aim to make a sustained impact through the individuals we support.' UnLtd are now inviting applications from interested people. For further details on how to apply visitwww.UnLtd.org.uk or call 0845 850 1122. -ends- Notes to Editors 1 UnLtd was chosen to administer the £100m Millennium Awards endowment following a grant competition. UnLtd was formed in 2000 by seven leading charities working with social entrepreneurs across the UK and internationally. The partner organisations are: Ashoka (UK) Trust, Changemakers, Comic Relief, Community Action Network (CAN), Scarman Trust, School for Social Entrepreneurs and Social Entrepreneurs Network Scotland. They will use the interest generated by this endowment to fund Awards in perpetuity. 2 The Millennium Commission is one of the good causes which distributes funds from the National Lottery. Its income from the Lottery ceased in August 2001. The Commission's work will be complete in 2005/6. 3 The Millennium Commission has supported: - Around 200 new buildings, environmental projects and visitor attractions on over 3,000 sites across the UK.
- Over 100 Awards Schemes which distribute Millennium Awards to individuals for community based projects. Nearly 27,000 people have already received a Millennium Award and there are still Awards available. Further information is available on 0800 06801 2000;
- A UK-wide programme of community festivals which began on New Year's Eve 1999 and culminated on New Year's Eve 2000 with celebrations in 32 towns and cities across the UK.;
- The Millennium Encore Scheme which is enabling at least 50,000 young people across the UK to experience performing arts productions;
- The Millennium Experience at Greenwich and the National Programme.
For further information please contact the Millennium Commission Press Office on 020 7880 2092 out of hours 07775 812 820.
The Millennium Commission web sites can be accessed at www.millennium.gov.uk and www.starpeople.org.uk back to top Copyright © 2003 The Millennium Commission
Millennium Commission 5th-March-2003
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