Funding is generally issued in four, quarterly payments to organisations. These payments happen in April, July, October and January. The default payment structure is that organisations are awarded 25% of their total annual amount each quarter – but if an organisation has a particular requirement to alter this payment structure (for example to front load spending in advance of a major festival or programme of work that is taking place at a certain time of year) then this is permitted.
Applicants will be given a limited opportunity to provide their alternative quarterly payment structure in advance of the financial year beginning. Once the contract is issued, and payment structure is agreed, it isn’t possible to make amends in-year. This process of agreeing the quarterly split of your funding will be repeated in advance of Years 2 and 3.