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
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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.
