Themes and Funding

Each of the visits to Ballon and the return to Billinghay has to be themed in order to qualify for EU funding.  

The themes, which are decided by each Association, vary from year to year, but are always relevant to current affairs and the local community: criteria set out by the European Union. 

Themes of the past have included Transport, the Environment, Caring for the Elderly and Recycling, amongst other topics. The Committee must consider that whatever the theme is, both sides must benefit.

Therefore, everything during the visit must be linked as far as is possible. The entertainment, for example, should reflect the chosen theme.

Once a suitable theme has been decided upon, the Association is ready to apply for the EU grant that is vital to our survival as a successful Twinning Association.

Funding is not automatically awarded, however, of twenty applications, only one has been turned down. This was as a result of the Foot-and-Mouth epidemic of 2001, so not really our fault!

The EU felt that, as a result of the Foot-and-Mouth restrictions placed on the countryside and on England generally, a visit to England by our French friends would not be practicable.

Furthermore, the BDTA has to be able to prove that we are still popular with local families. We need a constant stream of new members to remain eligible for a grant.

It is normal practice for the host families to fund themselves during a visit, and the EU grant would be used to pay for the visitors’ entrance fees etc.

However, in more recent years, an excess has been realised by the BDTA, allowing us to spend a little more money, and pay for the hosts too.

Last year, a coach was organised and paid for by the Association to carry the English to the National Space Centre in Leicester, rather than making their own way at their own cost, and later during their stay, the BDTA was able to finance a hog roast.

Additionally, the EU grant has enabled the BDTA to further widen its appeal to new members by launching this website in August 2006.