| Leeds Shared Health Check
| Pink Postcards
| Basis 2 Bids
| New Consortium for a new funding stream
| A Joint Venture by Three Equalities Groups in Bradford
| A merger of two Community Centres
| Widening Training Opportunities |

Basis 2 Bids

BIG, the Big Lottery Fund, asked for WYLDA's endorsement of partnership applications from West Yorkshire to their BASIS 2 fund for third sector infrastructure projects. Their intention was to help develop infrastructure activities in line with the existing infrastructure development strategy for West Yorkshire 2008-2014 which had been developed by WYLDA in 2007.We held an open event in June 2008 about BASIS 2, and we inviting all those interested in being part of a BASIS 2 bid to come along and start dialogue with potential bidding partners. Caroline James from BIG spoke at the event, explained what BASIS 2 was looking for and answered questions.

The two main challenges were:

i. Sorting out a fair process to look at these bids, given a relatively short timescale and no prior dialogue with BIG about working together in this way.

ii. Separating WYLDA's interests from the interests of the partners in each of the project proposals – the majority of the WYLDA Executive members were involved in at least one of the BASIS 2 bids.

On the positive side,

There were no competing bids in West Yorkshire, BIG was satisfied by the letters of support that came from WYLDA, and new partnerships were developed.

All four bids were sucessful 1 funded initially and the other 3 as a priority on the reserve list.

The projects are due to start with recruitment currently taking place. The impact remains to be seen but will be evaluated.

Three key learning points for other consortia?

i. Base letters of support on the content the Business Plan and Infrastructure Development Strategy. Draw on existing plans to link new initiatives to existing activity and needs, and to justify the positions you are taking.

ii. Include all infrastructure support organisations in co-ordinating these initiatives, not just the members of your Executive group.

iii. Be aware of the role of the infrastructure consortium, and don't get too involved in disagreements between partners – that's for them to sort out. The consortium has a neutral role, which means it can support open communications between all members.