EXCLUSIVE Lottery Community Fund withdraws support from Wembley Central Big Local Partnership

The Wembley Central Big Local area

The  Trustees of the Local Trust that manages the Big Local programmes funded by the Lottery have dissolved their formal relationship with the Wembley Central Big Local Partnership LINK .

The public face of the Partership is Wembley Futures LINK  Among the partners listed on its website are Ark Elvin Academy, Elsley Primary School, Barham Community Library, Federation of Patidars, Wembley Crime Prevention, Daniels Den, SAAFI, Daniel Estate Agents and The Hub Group (developers of the 'Twin Towers' on the Chesterfield House site).

The Local Trust explains Big Local:

Big Local is an exciting opportunity for residents in 150 areas around England to use at least £1m to make a massive and lasting positive difference to their communities (over 10years).

It is about bringing together all the local talent, ambitions, skills and energy from individuals, groups and organisations who want to make their area an even better place to live.

The decision by the Local Trust follows complaints by members and previous members of the Partnership outlining a number of conflicts and concerns regarding the Wembley Central Big Local and formal concerns by the Trust itself over the Partnership not meeting minimum criteria and unacceptable standards of behaviour by Partnership members  witnessed by the Trust itself.

They conclude that the current Partnership is dysfunctional in its current form, there is mistrust amongst many of its members and no credible plan to move the Big Local programme forward to deliver the local priorities previously agreed.

The Local Trust suggest there is a high level of risk in terms of investing the Big Local funds appropriately and a reputational risk locally and more widely.

The Trust will now 'take ownership' by following up with CommUNITY Barnet as the Locally Trusted Organisation.

They conclude that though they regret having to take such action there is no workable alternative.  In doing so they say they are acting in the best interest of the individuals, the area and the  programme.

Life in Brent to become even more of a gamble

Monday’s Brent Council Cabinet meeting is set to approve plans for a Community Lottery in the borough.  The aim is to raise funds for the voluntary sector in the borough.  The Cabinet report includes full details and can be read HERE.

There are currently 50 or so local authorities that run such schemes.  Brent Council has in the past turned down plans for a giant casino in Wembley Park and there are sections of Brent’s religious communities that are opposed to gambling on principle. The key question will be whether a local lottery could compete with the myriad other products on offer and as the Cabinet report states much will depend on successful marketing.

There is of course a wider issue as to whether this is the way that local services, often handed over to voluntary organisations in the wake of cuts to local authority funding, should be provided at all.

The running of the Community Lottery would be out-sourced to a private company.

The report gives the following details:

How does it work?

·      ·  Tickets cost £1 per week

·      ·  All players must be aged 16 or over

·      ·  Players can buy multiple tickets for multiple causes

·      ·  Draws are conducted every Saturday at 8pm and results are posted online

·      ·  Players sign up via direct debit or payment card; payments are taken on a monthly plan or a 3, 6 or 12 month one off payment

·      ·  Winners are notified by email and receive the prize directly into nominated account or can donate the prize to a good cause

·      ·  Good Causes are paid their income on a monthly basis

·      ·  Good Causes and the council promote the lottery to their supporters

·      ·  The Central Fund is administrated by the council

Local Lottery Good Cause Criteria

Your organisation must: 

·      Provide community activities or services within the London Borough of Brent which support the ambitions and actions of the Borough Plan 2019-2023. 


·      Have a formal constitution or set of rules. 


·      Have a bank account requiring at least two unrelated signatories. 


·      Operate with no undue restrictions on membership. 


·      Have a detailed plan as to how the lottery will be promoted. 
And be either:

·      A constituted group with a volunteer management committee, with a 
minimum of three unrelated members, that meets on a regular basis (at 
least three times a year) 


·      A registered charity, with a board of trustees. 
Or:

·      A registered Community Interest Company, and provide copies of your 
Community Interest Statement, details of the Asset Lock included in your Memorandum and Articles of Association, and a copy of your latest annual community interest report.


The council will not permit applications to join the lottery from:

·      Groups promoting or lobbying for particular religious, political beliefs or campaigns. 


·      Organisations that do not work within the boundaries of the London Borough of Brent. 


·      Individuals. 


·      Organisations which aim to distribute a profit. 


·      Organisations with no established management committee/board of trustees 
(unless a CIC). 
 

The council reserve the right to reject any application in line with the criteria above and to cease to licence any organisation with a minimum of seven days’ notice for any reason. If fraudulent or illegal activity is suspected cessation would be immediate. 


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