Darwin Initiative
New administration arrangements for Darwin grants
The following letter (below) was sent to Project Leaders on 16th April 2008. The letter is also available in PDF format, along with annexes and accompanying files:
- Letter to Project Leaders from Martin Brasher
- Annex A - award letter template (2008/09)
- Annex A part 2 - award acceptance form (2008/09)
- Annex B - list of publicity items
- Nlaim form (main and post) for 2008/09
- Change request form
These files are also available in the Resources for projects section of the website.
1/10B
Temple Quay House Telephone 0117 372 8277
2, The Square Fax 0117 372 8688
Temple Quay Email Martin.Brasher@defra.gsi.gov.uk
Bristol BS1 6PN
16 April 2008
Website http://darwin.defra.gov.uk/
IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING YOUR DARWIN INITIATIVE GRANT
Dear Project Leader
I am writing to notify you of a number of changes regarding the Darwin Initiative which are
aimed to improve the way that we manage your Darwin Initiative grant. I would advise you
to read the content of the letter carefully, and get in touch with the new contact listed below
if you have any queries.
Changes to how your Darwin Initiative grant will be handled and administered
As of the 1st April 2008, Defra's contractors, the Edinburgh Centre for Tropical Forests
(ECTF), are handling all financial and non-financial queries relating to Darwin Initiative
projects, and are therefore now the first point of contact for all Darwin Initiative queries.
The primary contact in ECTF is Eilidh Young, and her contact details are as follows:
Eilidh Young
Darwin Projects
ECTF
Pentlands Science Park,
Bush Loan,
Penicuik,
EH26 0PL
Tel: 0131 440 5181
Fax: 0131 440 5501
E mail: dawin-projects@ectf-ed.org.uk
All queries and financial claims should therefore be directed to this address with immediate
effect.
Following a review of our financial procedures, we are also piloting new arrangements on
how we handle Darwin Initiative grants in the future. The annual grant allocation letter for
2008/09 describes these in detail, and provides the relevant contact details, and a copy of
the template can be found at Annex A (official letters will be sent out to Project Leaders
shortly).
Handling of media and communications arising from your Darwin Initiative project
We are keen to ensure that the Darwin Initiative receives as much publicity as possible to
highlight the success of the scheme. I should be grateful, therefore, if you:
1) Alert the Defra press office (via the Darwin Initiative Secretariat) to any potential news
stories before they are published so that we are aware of them and can provide our
support.
2) Ensure that all publicity for Darwin Initiative projects (including press releases) include
the following reference: "This project has been funded by Defra's Darwin Initiative - which
draws on the wealth of biodiversity expertise within the UK to help protect and enhance
biodiversity around the world."
3) Ensure that the Darwin Initiative logo is used as widely as possible (I have attached a
PDF of the logo to this letter - other promotional materials are also available from the
Darwin Initiative Secretariat in Defra). I have attached a list of what promotional materials
we currently hold in Annex B of this letter.
Contact details for the Darwin Initiative Secretariat in Defra are:
For requests for promotional materials:
Vicki Giles
Area 3D, Nobel House
17 Smith Square
London
SW1P 3JR
Tel: 0207 2385258
E mail: vicki.giles@defra.gsi.gov.uk
To alert Defra to any potential Darwin Initiative news stories:
Sarah Nelson
Area 3D, Nobel House
17 Smith Square
London
SW1P 3JR
Tel: 0207238 5254
E mail: sarah.nelson@defra.gsi.gov.uk
And copy to:
Tom Briggs
Information Officer
Room 7, Nobel House
17 Smith Square
London
SW1P 3JR
Tel: 0207238 6140
E mail: thomas.briggs@DEFRA.GSI.GOV.UK
Darwin Initiative Information Project
You should recently have received a letter from ECTF alerting you to the Darwin
Information Project. This is essentially a new website which has been specifically designed
to ensure that the huge wealth of useful information that has built up over the lifetime of
the Darwin Initiative is made available to Darwin Project Leaders and to the wider public.
The new website has now gone live and can be found at the following web address
http://darwin.defra.gov.uk/. This has replaced the old website www.darwin.gov.uk
(accessing the old address will automatically connect you to the new website). This
website is still ‘work in progress' and we would very much appreciate your comments and
feedback on it. Please therefore direct any comments you have on the website to David
Baird at the following e-mail address: dave@zerofive.co.uk copied to Sarah Nelson, at e-
mail: sarah.nelson@defra.gsi.gov.uk
I hope that the new processes that we have now put in place will ensure that the Initiative
is more successful than ever.
If you have any concerns over any of the information contained within this letter, please do
feel free to contact me, the Darwin Secretariat or ECTF at the addresses given above.
Yours sincerely
(signed)
Martin Brasher
Page last modified: Monday, 21 April 2008