sports and physical activity projects bidding for Big Lottery Fund money may be subject to new criteria as a result of a government consultation into the way the fund operates.

The Cabinet Office has published a consultation document which will examine the policy directions for the Big Lottery Fund, including who makes the decisions on which projects receive funding, purposes for funding and conditions made for funding.

The government has laid out several proposed policy directions, such as involving the public and local communities in making policy and setting priorities, and creating a system which ensures money is distributed to projects which promote public and social benefit.

The public and stakeholders will now be able to provide submissions for the consultation until 12 August 2016 before a final version of the Fund is issued in the autumn.

“Our intent while drafting these policy directions has been to respect and reflect the Fund’s own commitments and strategic priorities in combination with the government’s commitments and priorities for creating a bigger, stronger society,” said Rob Wilson, minister for Civic Society.

“The priorities include supporting the development of stronger, more resilient, more capable and empowered communities, improving the life chances of the most disadvantaged in society, and growing a more confident and capable voluntary sector, armed with the skills it needs to meet the challenges ahead.”

Every year the National Lottery generates around £1.8bn (US$2.6bn, €2.3bn) for good causes – £700m (US$1bn, €904m) of which is distributed by the Big Lottery Fund.

Big Lottery Fund couldn’t break down the amount of funding it had ploughed into sport schemes in 2014/15 when contacted by Sports Management, but it has contributed to some significant initiatives over the period.

In the last 12 months, money has been put towards grassroots rugby league, a community football hub in Liverpool, a sport and loneliness foundation and a project overseen by the English Federation of Disability Sport (EFDS).