New funding opportunties now available

Inclusive Clubs Grants Programme Launched

English Federation of Disability Sport (EFDS) is pleased to announce a new small grants programme to support local clubs develop inclusive sporting provision.

The inclusive clubs grant scheme has been developed in partnership with the Coalfield Regeneration Trust and will focus upon coalfield regeneration area within the North and Midlands areas.

The scheme which brings over £50,000 of investment into inclusive sport provision focuses on the Coalfields priority sports of Athletics, Football, Rugby and Cricket; as well as multi sport clubs focusing on these sports. Grants of up to £1000 are available to help clubs develop an accessible and inclusive environment by providing much needed funds to support club development, volunteer training and equipment.

Eligible projects should have spent the grant prior to 31st March 2011, with priority given to groups who have not previously received a micro grant from the Coalfield Regeneration Trust previously.  The closing date for the first set of applications is 23^rd April 2010.

Further information on eligible Coalfield area and an application pack are now available from the EFDS website www.efds.co.uk or by contacting your relevant regional manager.

Mark Fosbrook
Aiming High: Disability Sport + Physical Activity Development Officer
T: 01785 619398
E: mfosbrook@staffordbc.gov.uk  

Wells Sports Foundation

The Wells Sports Foundation is a new sporting charity that aims to make a difference by encouraging and inspiring young people.

The Wells Sports Foundation is a new sporting charity created and entirely funded by successful entrepreneur, Barrie Wells, to provide financial and motivational support to sustainable grassroots sports projects.

Support for Grassroots Sport

The Wells Sports Foundation supports projects that develop sport at grassroots level. They have created two unique and exciting schemes designed to motivate young people to participate in sport at all levels, contributing to a lasting sporting legacy for future generations.

Sports Grants Scheme

The Sports Grants Scheme has been established to create a lasting legacy for future generations through the development of club sport. Grants of between £500 and £2,000 are available to sports clubs to support worthwhile projects.

What projects will we fund?

We are looking to fund projects that support the development and sustainability of sports clubs. For example - projects that need equipment that is specifically focused on increasing participation, CRBs for volunteers, coaching qualifications and refereeing/umpiring courses.

The Sports Grant Scheme is now open and accepting applications from sports clubs, although they will only accept applications from sports clubs that meet all of the criteria in their self-assessment checklist.

Ambassador Scheme

These Ambassadors are a team of world class athletes from a variety of sports who visit sports clubs and schools projects in various parts of the UK with the aim of encouraging young people to get active and enjoy sport as a lifelong activity.

Our Ambassadors are some of Britain's most promising hopes for London 2012 and beyond. They are carefully selected as Ambassadors based on their ability to engage with all age groups and to demonstrate that being active and healthy is important to leading a fulfilling lifestyle.

This scheme will be open for applications in March 2010.

Further information and how to apply can be found at http://www.wellssportsfoundation.org/

Team Donations fundraising for sports clubs

Team Donations provides an online alternative to more traditional methods of fundraising.

They recognise that most organisations continually need funds for maintenance and the general upkeep of their facilities, as well as for tours and tournaments. They also realise that often such organisations don’t have the time or resources to co-ordinate large fund raising drives and activities. At Team Donations, they pride themselves on offering a unique online option.

Through their donation platform you can raise funds for your sports club through a safe & secure network where your privacy is protected through RBS Worldpay.

By simply creating a fundraising page and sending your link to friends and family, you can effectively receive donations from anywhere and anyone with minimal stress and no out of pocket expenses that you may incur through other fundraising activities.

Our aim:

Our aim is to offer a unique opportunity for teams, associations and community groups to successfully raise funds through online donations and to continue to develop Team Donations, to be recognised as a reliable, dedicated and interactive donation platform.

Benefits:

Apart from the obvious benefit of a simple and cost effective way to raise funds, all organisations that sign up with Team Donations will receive the following standard benefits regardless of whether they are registered with HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) or not.  

• A customised web page dedicated to your team, detailing the individual / members requesting the donation, the cause towards which people are donating as well as other customised adjustments to make each page distinctive.
• An area to display team photos and facts.
• A worldwide pool of possible donors.
• All donations are facilitated by Worldpay a highly regarded 3rd party payment system.
• Opportunity to set your own fund raising targets.
• Donation balances can be monitored online.
• Your page can be customised to include your donors' messages to be displayed with their donation, so you know who has donated.
• We will act as an agent on your behalf to process the claims, if your donations qualify for Gift Aid.

For further information please visit the Team Donations Website:
http://www.teamdonations.co.uk

Sainsbury's Active Kids for Clubmark clubs  

This year, Sainsbury's Active Kids is giving Clubmark accredited clubs the opportunity to take part in, and benefit from the Active Kids scheme.

What's Active Kids all about?

Since its launch in 2005, the aim of Active Kids has remained unchanged: to help teachers, leaders and coaches inspire and motivate young people to get active and be healthier by providing equipment and unique experiences for them to enjoy.

With 100s of pieces of equipment, resources and experiences on offer - from traditional sports equipment to more novel and cutting edge items - there's so much that your young club members could benefit from.

Look out for Active Kids 2010

Active Kids is now all set for its sixth phenomenal year. Over the last five years, schools, Scout and Guide groups have benefited from an incredible £86 million worth of active equipment and experiences! So why not join in, and make sure your sports club claims its share of the great stuff on offer?

It's so simple to take part

From 17th February to 8th June 2010, Sainsbury's shoppers can earn Active Kids vouchers for every £10 they spend in a main store (or every £5 spent in Sainsbury's Locals), at Sainsbury's petrol stations or online at www.sainsburys.co.uk.

These vouchers can be donated to your club for you to redeem for any of the products featured in the Active Kids 2010 catalogue.

It's so easy to join in - register your club now, by calling the Active Kids helpline on 0844 415 8440.

They will then send you a welcome pack, including your catalogue to help get you going.

Mars? Refuel? Drink Fund - Competition Open

Every month until May, Mars^? Refuel will be giving away £10,000, up to £500 to 20 lucky people or clubs.

Mars^? Refuel Drink helping individuals and clubs to play longer!

The Mars^? Refuel Drink Fund has helped over 10,000 people play longer. So if you or your team needs some coaching, equipment or kit, enter online for this year's fund

You will need to complete an online application form stating your club details and describing in no more than 200 words how a donation from the MARS Refuel Drink Fund could help you or your club to play longer and fulfil its sporting potential or achieve its fund-raising endeavours.

Major fundraising boost for grassroots sport

Sport England and JustGiving have announced a campaign to bring an extra £22 million into grassroots sport over the next five years through a new partnership called JustGiving for Sports Clubs.

JustGiving for Sports Clubs will help sports club members to raise more money, and claim Gift Aid, using the same award-winning tools as the biggest charities in the UK. JustGiving have dropped their subscription fees (worth £180 per year for every club) for all Community Amateur Sports Clubs (CASCs), so clubs can sign up today.

One club has already tried out JustGiving; in two weeks, Ashley Cricket Club in Cheshire raised £480 in donations and received a further £140 in Gift Aid, with JustGiving looking after all the administration.

Sport England’s Chief Executive, Jennie Price, said: “In this tough economic climate, we need to do everything possible to support the community sports clubs that do so much to get more people playing and enjoying sport. That’s why I’m urging sports clubs across the country to take advantage of this fantastic opportunity.

“Thanks to JustGiving for Sports Clubs, community sport’s fabulous army of volunteers will now be able to spend more time on sport and less time on fundraising.”

The scheme is being delivered in association with CCPR, the alliance of governing bodies of sport, who will make sure that clubs who haven’t yet registered for CASC status can join almost 6,000 clubs already eligible for mandatory rate relief, the entitlement to claim Gift Aid and the right to sign up for JustGiving for Sports Clubs.

Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) estimates that only one in 10 CASCs currently take advantage of the right to claim Gift Aid, meaning that grassroots clubs are missing out on vital funds that they are fully entitled to claim. JustGiving for Sports Clubs makes claiming this much-needed money much more quick and efficient.

Tim Lamb, Chief Executive of CCPR, said:

“We hope that this change will not just enable existing clubs to claim Gift Aid more easily but that it will encourage other community sports clubs who have not yet registered as CASCs to join the scheme. There are thousands of clubs out there which are missing out on the benefits of CASC membership and in these tough economic times benefits like this can make all the difference.”

The benefits for clubs of JustGiving for Sports Clubs include: 

• Money can be raised more easily and efficiently
• JustGiving make claiming Gift Aid easy, as they do all the administration for you, saving you time and money. Through Gift Aid, the Government will give you up to 28p for every £1 you raise
• Payments through JustGiving are weekly, so you know when they are coming, and can plan ahead
• Real people are on hand to give you and your supporters help and advice seven days a week.

Sports clubs that want to take advantage of this scheme should visit the JustGiving for Sports Clubs website and view the attached document.

Chris Turner
Club Development Manager
T:01785 619681

E:cturner@staffordbc.gov.uk