New funding opportunities for grassroots sport

Sport England’s Investment Fund will officially launch on the 1^st April 2009 and will support grassroots sport through a series of themed rounds that tackle key challenges.

The first funding period will focus on removing the barriers faced by people in rural areas who wish to take part in sporting activities, such as a reduced choice of activities and difficulties with transport.

The government agency hopes its new fund will empower councils, local sports clubs and community groups to break down these barriers to participation and enhance local residents’ sporting opportunities. Grants worth upwards of £10,000 will be available once the scheme is up and running, with Sport England encouraging high value, high impact projects that will require funding in excess of £500,000.

The rural communities funding round is expected to run for three months from 1 April, with a second priority area identified for a future application period during the autumn.

From April this year, the body will run a series of new programmes with the aim of increasing sporting participation, particularly amongst children and young people.

Along with the Investment Fund, Sport England will also establish a £7 million Small Grants Fund offering local groups cash injections ranging from £300 to £10,000, a £3 million match fund to encourage additional private sector investment, and a £5 million Innovation Fund to test and develop new ways of promoting grassroots sport.

Further details about the new fund will be posted on 1 April 09 at www.sportengland.org

Sportsmatch 2009/10 Funding Round

Sportsmatch is funded by Sport England to support the development of grassroots sport and applications are now being encouraged for 2009/10 financial year.

Sportsmatch has been designed to improve the quality and quantity of the sponsorship which grassroots sport receives in England. Through the scheme, Sportsmatch can match eligible commercial business sponsorship, or funding from trusts/private donors (up to a maximum of three), for a sporting project that aims to increase participation and/or improve performance at grassroots level. Projects may be a revenue scheme or, in limited cases, a capital project. Sponsorship may be in cash or in-kind.

The minimum award available for 2009/10 will be £1,000 (£500 for schools) and the maximum will be £100,000 or £25,000 capital grants for equipment projects. The minimum partnership funding of £1,000 (or £500) must come from one eligible source - a number of businesses/trusts/individuals cannot club together to make up the minimum sponsorship.

The scheme is open to community based sports projects, in particular those that benefit young people, disability groups, black and minority ethnic groups and/or women and girls.

An organisation seeking sponsorship should be a properly constituted organising body involved in sport. This includes governing bodies, sports clubs, charities, local authorities, schools/colleges and voluntary youth organisations.

Applications can now be made on the Sportsmatch website,  http://www.sportsmatch.co.uk/index.html help available over a dedicated telephone line.

A new application will go live on 1 April 2009.

For information on how to apply call 08458 508 508.