The Government’s Big Lottery Fund gave almost £1.25 million to a charity four months after the lottery’s senior director in charge of grant-making joined its management board.

The charity, the Angelou Centre, was given two grants on the same day in April this year. One grant from the Big Lottery Fund was for almost £750,000 and the other for nearly £500,000.

Four months before the grants were awarded, Lyn Cole, the Big Lottery Fund’s England grant-making director, joined the Angelou Centre’s management board.

A source inside the Big Lottery Fund claimed there had been disquiet at the connection between Miss Cole in her senior role as grant-making director, and her new position on the Angelou Centre’s board.

The source said: “This charity has received two big grants. Most grants to charities are in the region of £10,000 to £50,000.”

The source said there were concerns over a perceived conflict of interest – a claim vigorously denied by the Big Lottery Fund.