[Busman747]

Originally Posted by Gayle

What I don't understand is how they fit the criteria - usually these grants are only given to organisations that have a turnover of less than £500k or £1m.

The group of soliciters mentioned above by Margaret P. (Halliwells) have over 200 staff so I would suggest that their turnover is slightly above the £1,000.000 maximum Gayle?

John Hannon, of the council for Voluntary Service in Manchester said of the organizations that have secured grants:
What these people have is the money to put together a professional looking application. The National Lottery is overwhelmed with applications, so they will use the smallest excuse to reject one. An under-resourced voluntary organisation can find it hard to jump through all the hoops.

Explain that to the Monte Cassino Veterans Association who have repeatedly been turned down for a grant of just £12,000 to help fund a veterans visit to the site of one of the bloodiest battles of the second world war so that they can commemorate fallen comrades. Never mind, the vets will soon be dead - won't need the funds then, will they!