Sport England Update

Latest Sport England Funding  

All 5 of the new Sport England funding streams are now open for business. Each of the funds caters for a very specific type of project so it is very important that you read the information on their website carefully before applying to ensure that you are applying for the most appropriate fund.

Full details of the new funding streams and how you can apply, can be found at the NEW Sport England funding website, click here

The website also gives some very clear advice on what they will and will NOT fund - this information should be studied carefully before applying.

Please note that to stand a chance of being successful, your project must meet at least one of Sport England’s 3 core objectives - Grow, Sustain and Excel.

1) Small Grants Programme - OPEN NOW AND ONGOING

This fund offers between £300 and £10,000 for a variety of club development initiatives including equipment, coaching and facility hire for a festival or special event but NOT building projects or renovations. For more information on what projects and organisations they can fund please visit the website, click here

2) Sportsmatch - OPEN NOW AND ONGOING

Sportsmatch is an ongoing fund to help sports clubs attract external sponsorship and double any in-vestments made. Sportsmatch can match between £1000 and £100,000 that a club can generate from a single external source or donations from up to 5 individuals.

This means that if your club was to secure a £4000 sponsorship deal, Sportsmatch could give you an additional £4000, meaning you would have total of £8000 to spend. For more information please visit the website, click here

3) Sustainable Facilities - OPEN NOW UNTIL 30th JUNE 2009 SUITABLE FOR - Renovations and New builds. E.g. extending your building and adding an additional court!

The Sustainable Facilities fund is aimed at a small number of large scale, high-impact projects that will be able to generate their own revenue and keep the new or improved facilities at a very high standard for years to come. The funding can include contributions to the costs of a new build, modernisation and refurbishment.

Applicants will be required to supplement the resources available from both their own resources and other sources, including the private sector, some form of match funding will be mandatory.

Again, the main focus of this fund is increasing participation and developing talent.

More information is now up on the Sport England Website, click here  

4) Rural Communities Themed Round - OPEN NOW UNTIL 30th JUNE 2009 

SUITABLE FOR - Clubs located in rural locations as defined by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).  The Local Authortity areas within Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent that are eligible for this funding are:  Cannock Chase, East Staffordshire, Lichfield, South Staffordshire, Stafford, Staffordshire Moorlands.  E.g. Capital projects - extending buildings or renovations AND/OR Revenue projects - coaching, equipment etc!

Sport England has £10 Million to distribute this year to projects based in Rural Communities. This fund will support projects that will increase opportunities for people living in rural areas to take part in sport. If your club is based in a rural area, this fund represents a unique opportunity to access funds that have been specifically earmarked for such investment and I would strongly recommend you give it a go, as this type of specific fund is quite rare!

The minimum grant available is £10,000, but in order to maximise the positive effect on sport in rural areas, Sport England is explicitly encouraging high value, high impact projects. A significant proportion of the successful bids are expected to be projects requiring funding of more than £500,000.

Stage One applications must be submitted before 30th June 2009, all necessary information is on the website including the eligibility criteria and application form. Click here

5) Innovation Fund - OPEN NOW UNTIL 10th AUGUST 2009

SUITABLE FOR - Projects that will get people active in an exciting and novel way - preferably NOT Capital (build) projects, E.g. Any ’new solution’ that will get people active!

Like the above two funds, the Innovation fund is a competitive fund. Sport England anticipates making a small number of awards between £10,000 and £500,000 to between 10 and 20 projects. The fund will invest in new ideas and solutions which will reach a whole new audience, and provide better, more exciting opportunities to a wider range of people, some of whom, perhaps, think that sport is not for them. For full details of this project click here

If you are interested in applying PLEASE make contact with Sport England on 08458 508 508 as soon as possible to discuss your plans and ask for advice on which fund is best suited to your proposal.

Funds like these do not come around very often and offer a great opportunity to make a real difference at your club - especially if you are looking to build or renovate!