Getting started - A guide to successful bid writing

Structuring a bid

Introduction

• Provide a brief introduction to the project to capture the reader's attention.

Statement of major aims and objectives

• Outline the project's principal aims and objectives, and ensure these are feasible, well expressed and can provide a basis for more detailed planning, whilst having a clear focus relative to the funding programme.

Outcomes

• Express both the short-term outcomes during the life of the project and long-term consequences of the project.

Deliverables

• Present the tangible items or outputs from the project and quantify in terms of how many will be produced or delivered.

Context

Provide a more detailed analysis of the context in which the project will operate, particularly from a national, regional and institutional perspective.

Methodology/project plan

• Prepare a detailed work plan demonstrating how the project's outcomes and deliverables will be achieved.
• Highlight key tasks or activities, time-scales, critical dates, milestones and project team responsibilities.
• Indicate how progress will be monitored and communicated to the project partners.
• Ensure time is allocated for start-up (e.g. recruiting project staff) and the close of project (e.g. reporting for contractual purposes).

Continuation strategy

• Demonstrate how activity will continue to be supported beyond the end of project funding
• Consider how the project will be embedded into the mainstream activities and what resource, financial or otherwise, will be required.

Dissemination

• Outline a clear dissemination strategy showing how the project outcomes will be communicated to, and impact upon, other providers.
• Consider level and extent of dissemination (i.e. awareness raising, increased understanding or implementation of good practice).
• Utilise a range of appropriate media (e.g. workshops, web pages, networking) to ensure maximum uptake of project's deliverables.

See the FAQ 1 and FAQ 2 for more information.

Project management strategy

• Set how the project will be managed and give details of the managemnet structure, including the respective roles of the project team and steering group
• Outline the strategy to be adopted by the proejct team and steering group in ensuring the successs of the project team and steering group.
• Provide relevant information on members of the project team and steering group, including experience in managing such projects.

Evaluation

• Indicate the strategy for monitoring and evaluating the project activities against outcomes and deliverables (i.e. the impact of the project).
• Ensure strategy involves both formative and summative evaluation, and incorporates internal and external (if appropriate) assessments of progress.
• Consider evaluation of project managemane, deliverables and dissemination activities.
• Outline how the external evaluator, if required, relates to the project team and steering group.

Financial plan

• Set out detailed costings for the project under various subheadings (i.e. staffing, travel and subsistence, evaluation, dissemination and consumables).
• Profile the costs attributed to the project by financial year, if required by the funding body.
• Ensure that full costs of the project are met, and contributions (in kind or in cash) from project partners are detailed.

Appendices

• Include supporting documentation (e.g. letters of support from project partners and the wider community).

See the checklist for more help.