The BBO programme has two Cross-Cutting Themes, mainstreamed across all partnership work and project delivery. The two themes help ensure that BBO delivers fairer, greener engagement and support for a huge range of people:
- Environmental Sustainable Development
- Equality & Equal Opportunities
For each of the two themes, all BBO partnerships (grant holders and their partner organisations) are required to upkeep relevant policies and specific action plans to demonstrate progress over time. These policies and plans are subject to regular scrutiny through quarterly reporting, periodical audits and evaluation.
The two themes hold deep resonance for communities, VCSE organisations and The National Lottery Community Fund alike. Indeed, the two themes loudly chime with two of the guiding principles inside TNLCF: Climate Action and E.D.I. (Equity, Diversity, Inclusion).
BBO’s dual focus on ‘environment/climate action’ and ‘equalities/EDI’
BBO is a significant programme: over £500 Million of multi-annual funding since 2016, supporting well over 100 partnerships (approx. 2,000 organisations, majority VCSE/Voluntary sector).
That large scale and multi-annual nature is due to BBO having been co-financed, through TNLCF investment alongside European Social and Investment Funding (part of European Social Funding). Certain EU policy drivers have underpinned the BBO programme since its initial design and from its launch in 2016. These policy pieces are like the DNA of BBO, they span ‘social inclusion’, ‘combating poverty’, and ‘combating discrimination of any kind’.
Such clear policy pieces helped shape the programme’s Equality and Equal Opportunities cross-cutting theme. As for the Environmental cross-cutting theme, the programme’s main aims of boosting employability and employment, as well as training and education, directly relate to only two of the three sustainable development goals – the social and the financial – that have become the international standard since the turn of this century. The third goal – environmental sustainability – was effectively missing. So the focus on environment/climate action made sense as the other cross-cutting theme actioned during this programme.
More on the two cross-cutting themes within BBO
Explore the links below to understand more about the two important themes that are mainstreamed across all BBO partnership projects throughout England. The key take-aways refer to both themes, taken together, and is followed by a dedicated section for each theme.
Cross-Cutting Themes: Key take-aways
Environmental Sustainable Development (climate action)
Overview: Stakeholder sessions on Environmental Sustainable Development (climate action)
Discussion points: Topical conversations Re Environmental Sustainable Development (climate action)
Weblinks & further resources Re Environmental Sustainable Development (climate action)
Equality & Equal Opportunities
Overview: Stakeholder sessions on Equality & Equal Opportunities
Discussion points: Topical conversations Re Equality & Equal Opportunities
Weblinks & further resources Re Equality & Equal Opportunities
