Sports funding up for grabs!

 

Sporting cash available for young talent

 

Applications are now being invited from Staffordshire young sports people for a share of this year's Staffordshire County Council’s Young People's Sports Performance Grant Scheme which is also supported by Sport Across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.

Each year the scheme provides funding to support young sports people who either live, or go to school, in Staffordshire and have proven to excel.  The money awarded is used to support the cost of their training and participation in competitions, including expenses such as travel, equipment and accommodation.

 

The scheme is aimed at young competitors born between 1 September 1988 and 31 August 1999 who are members of their National Governing Bodies Development or Performance Squad.  Priority is given to those who are not yet eligible for other existing funding schemes, such as Lottery funding.

 

County Councillor Ben Adams, Cabinet Member for Communities and Culture, said: “The scheme has been developed with a view to supporting young athletes who are aiming to compete at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. We also want to recognise and support those athletes from Staffordshire aiming for future Olympics, Paralympics and major international competitions. It is fascinating to see how our Staffordshire Young People’s Sports Performance Grants recipients progress throughout their careers”.

  

Last year the scheme supported over 30 young sports people who have continued to excel in their field. These included 18 year old swimmer Emma Wilkins (pictured below with Gordon Brown) from Cannock who received a £400 grant which enabled her to purchase a competition suit she wore during qualification for the British Gas Swimming team in March.  She has since competed in her first World Swimming Championships in Rome as part of the British team, which included double Olympic champion Rebecca Adlington and Olympic medalists David Davies, Keri-Anne Payne and Jo Jackson.

 

Emma Wilkins pictured with the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown

Emma has now been selected for the National Squad and is aiming to compete at the 2010 Commonwealth Games and London 2012 Olympic Games.
 

Another grant recipient, Kieran Martin from Cheadle, recently became the 2009 U15 World Techno Champion after winning performances at the Techno World Championships in Weymouth this August.

 

Andrew Bridgman from Stone also competed at the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) Gul Topper World Championships in Ebensee, Austria on 19 to 24 July 2009 becoming World Topper Champion for 2009, 1st junior male.

 

For further information about Staffordshire County Council’s Young People’s Sports Performance Grants Scheme and to download an application pack please visit: www.staffordshire.gov.uk

 

You can also contact Chris Kirkland, Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Co-ordinator for the 2012 Games, on 01785 854595 or email chris.kirkland@staffordshire.gov.uk

 

The closing date for applications is 12 February 2010.
     

Chris  Kirkland
Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Co-ordinator for the 2012 Games
Tel: 01785 854595
Email: chris.kirkland@staffordshire.gov.uk

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Staffordshire Community Foundation Comic Relief Grants

 

Comic Relief grants of up to £10,000 are available to support community groups in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent who are using a range of activities, including sport, to:  

• Increase access to sport and exercise for people who face social exclusion and isolation 
• Help people who are experiencing difficulties in their lives to regain their confidence and self-esteem
• Build skills of local people

• Increase community cohesion

The Comic Relief scheme is aimed towards small community groups, especially those who are unable to access larger funders to help make them become more sustainable over the long term. For example a grant may be given for buying equipment, small scale building works or providing training for coaches/volunteers.

The kinds of groups that can apply are:

• Community groups
• Resident associations
• Community centres
• Social enterprises / Community Interest Companies

The Staffordshire Community Foundation will consider applications requesting funding for;

• Equipment
• Training
• Core costs
• Staff costs
• Volunteer costs

The Staffordshire Community Foundation will not fund applications if;

• the application is for retrospective costs - those being equipment, training or work already commissioned or completed.

How to Apply

The easiest way to apply for a Comic Relief Grant is by our apply online function. It is submitted to us immediately and is quicker to process.

http://www.staffsfoundation.org.uk/grants/index.htm

 

Or please contact Sarah Nadin, Grants Officer responsible for Comic Relief Applications at sarah@staffsfoundation.org.uk  or 01782 683000

 

Chris Turner
Club Development Manager
Tel: 01785 619681
Email: cturner@staffordbc.gov.uk

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BT Community Connections Awards

Do you know a community or charitable organisation that is looking to extend its work through the use of the internet and ICT? If so, they could apply for a BT Community Connections award in Round Two, which is now open.

BT Community Connections is an award scheme, which enables sports, community and charitable groups to get online and make use of information and communication technology (ICT). Groups can apply for a laptop and a year’s free broadband connection if they can demonstrate how an award will benefit their work and the local community.

The scheme supports a diverse range of sports, community and charitable groups. Round One has just finished and a number of sports organisations within the county have been supported including;

• Leek Amateur Swimming Club
• Leycett Cricket Club
• Youth Sailing @ Chasewater Sports Centre

Applications can now be submitted for the second round and must be submitted prior to the relevant closing date:

Postal applications: 5th January 2010
Online applications: 7th January 2010

 

Chris Turner
Club Development Manager
Tel: 01785 619681
Email: cturner@staffordbc.gov.uk

 

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