Four thousand applications were received in the run up to the close of the old Awards for All programme at the end of March.

Unfortunately despite extra money being added to the funding pot it is inevitable that a lot of applications will have to be rejected. However, the BIG Lottery are encouraging groups that were turned down on procedural grounds because documents were missing, for example, to reapply under the new scheme. They will, of course, have to have community benefits and fit into one of the new aims.

Advice is available to any voluntary group in Lewisham that applied and was turned down from Mike Umoren (Tel: 020 8314 9411).