County Sports Partnership Update

 

School Games Organisers Take Their Marks!

 

A team of School Games Organisers has been appointed across the sub-region to ensure Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent�s schools and pupils benefit from the new School Games framework.

 

The School Games forms a key part of the Government programme to deliver a meaningful sporting legacy for the London 2012 Olympics. It is supported by the Department of Education, the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, the Department of Health and funded by Sport England, through the National Lottery. The focus of the School Games will be to engage and enthuse more young people than ever before to participate in high-quality meaningful school competition, supporting them in achieving their own personal best in sport and in life.

 

Through four levels of competitive sport, young people will have the opportunity to get involved, have fun, challenge themselves, progress and ultimately compete against the very best talent.

 

The School Games is supported by a newly-established network of School Games Organisers (SGOs) and Teacher Release posts. Most of the SGOs across the sub-region are now in post and are working with their schools to embed the School Games within each school�s year.   The School Games Organisers will play a fundamental role in establishing Level 2 (inter-school) competitions within their area and for ensuring these link with Level 1 (intra-school) and Level 3 (county-level) competitions (Level 4 is organised at national-level). All SGOs have the following remit:

 

• Responsibility for getting as many state and independent schools as possible to take part in the School Games and then to deepen their involvement and engagement in the competition.
• Work with School Games Local Organising Committees to ensure clear links are in place to enable young people to progress between Levels 1, 2 and 3.
• Ensure the development of a cultural component to the School Games.
• Develop the workforce of teachers, non teaching staff, parents, volunteers and particularly young leaders, required to activate the School Games at all levels.
• Sustain/grow the network of Change4Life sports clubs in secondary schools and establish a network of Change4Life sports clubs in primary schools, building opportunities for these young people to progress into Levels 1 and 2 of the School Games.
• Develop a local workforce of Active Lifestyle Coaches in schools to identify the least active young people and engage them in appropriate activity.
• Provide access to specialist coaches, training and equipment to assist schools (and particularly primary/special schools) in delivering a range of lunchtime and after-school programmes.
• Ensure the provision of both inclusive and targeted opportunities for young disabled people to access the School Games, including the staging of specific �Paralympic-themed� local events.
• Support young people to access quality coaching, progress to higher level competition and move into clubs by working closely with CSPs and NGBs of sport, including aligning with NGB competition calendars and implanting NGB priority competition formats in as many schools as possible.
• Ensure quality assurance and local impact measurement mechanisms are in place. 

The contact details for the School Games Organisers who are already in post are below:

 

Burntwood and Lichfield School Sport Partnership

Jennifer Tipping

School Games Organiser

Tel: 01543 685828 x107

Email: j.tipping@eda.staffs.sch.uk

 

Cannock and Rugeley

School Games Organiser - TBC

 

East Staffordshire School Sport Partnership

Caroline Smith

School Games Organiser

Tel: 01283 749463 / 07502 039072

Email: SGO@robertsutton.staffs.sch.uk

 

Newcastle-under-Lyme School Sport Partnership

Carl Inskip

School Games Organiser

Tel: 01782 568370

Email: cinskip@ccsc.staffs.sch.uk

 

North Stoke School Sport Partnership

Nigel Edwards

Strategic Sport Manager

Tel: 07966 509132

Email: nedwards@sgfl.org.uk

 

South Staffordshire

School Games Organiser - TBC

 

South Stoke School Sport Partnership

Helen Moors

Partnership Development Leader (Monday - Thursday)

Tel: 07974 111964

Email: hmoors@sgfl.org.uk

 

Stafford and Stone School Sport Partnership

Steve Glover

Partnership Development Manager

Tel: 07825 999088

Email: steve.glover@staffordandstonessp.co.uk

 

Staffordshire Moorlands School Sport Partnership

Zoe Harp

School Games Organiser

Tel: 01782 521822 / 07879 070419

Email: Zharp@btconnect.com

 

Tamworth

School Games Organiser - TBC

 

For more information contact:

 

Jane Kracke
Sports Manager
T: 01785 619187
E: jkracke@staffordbc.gov.uk

 

 

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SASSOT Club Accreditation funding � 1st round closing soon!

 

SASSOT have amalgamated their Club Accreditation and Coach Scholarships funding into a single application process. Up to �600 of funding is now available to sports clubs who require financial assistance to achieve and pass their accreditation criteria and which now includes funding for coach qualifications. All sports clubs benefiting from the funding must be based within Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent to qualify and commit to achieving accreditation within 9 months.

 

Please click here for further guidance notes and how to apply.

 

Applications can only be submitted electronically and the 1st round of applications must be submitted to me by Wednesday 05 October 2011

 

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

 

 

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SASSOT advice for sports grant applications

 

SASSOT have produced a guide to support and advise sports clubs with funding applications.

 

Standard Requirements for Funding Applications

• A Governing Document. For example, this may be a constitution, memorandum and articles of association, trust deed or other formal document
• Set of accounts (income/expenditure forecast)
• Copy of recent bank statement
• Independent referee
• Photocopy of Affiliation to NGB sport where required
• Safeguarding vulnerable adults policy (for projects involving vulnerable adults)
• Child Protection Policy (for all projects involving children)

 

Preparing the Proposal

Before you start

• Approach your application like a job application � everything must be completed correctly, in full and signed.
• Read the guidance notes several times to make sure you fully understand what they will fund and their eligibility criteria.
• Does the time it will take to complete the application warrant the amount of funding you are requesting?
• Can you make a reasonable assessment whether your application is likely to be successful? Are you sure the project fits the criteria well enough and the donor has a significant amount of overall funding to warrant an application.
• Are the claiming and monitoring requirements reasonable for the amount of funding you are requesting?
• Have a project in mind � don�t just go after the money!

Which format do I use?

• Does the funder have an application form? Make sure you complete every section of the form - don�t leave an answer blank and think it won�t matter. Some application forms will only allow a certain number of words or characters which makes a big difference to the way you complete the application and what information you provide. Establish this before you start. Some online forms can be difficult to use so try downloading a dummy form for practise.
• If there is no application form, it is likely the funder will have a specific structure they need you to follow. Be clear what this is and be sure to follow it. Layout and presentation are crucial and your proposal must be easy to read and you must provide all the information funders request.
• What information or supporting documentation does the funder require? e.g. bank statements, constitution, budget, project plan. Don�t leave this until the last minute � build it into your timetable.

Writing the proposal

When you�ve found a potential funder, you might find it useful to consider the following:

 

Is your project eligible?

• What are the funder�s strategies, priorities and organisational values? How well does your project fit these? Be honest and realistic and don�t try and fit your project to a funder if there isn�t a good match.
• Investigate what kind of projects the donor has funded in the past, as this will give you a good indication of what they might fund in the future.
• Some funders are keen to fund activities in areas or communities that are disadvantaged in some way e.g. Leek where there are rural isolation and health inequalities.
• Some funder's like to focus on particular types of communities e.g. girls and women / BME
• Some funder's will only fund particular types of organisations (although most will fund charities) or small organisations so check if there are rules on the size of organisation (usually judged by annual income).

Is there time to make an application?

• Are there submission deadlines or is it a rolling programme? Be clear on any deadlines and make sure you leave sufficient time to complete your project planning, draft the proposal, consult with colleagues and partners, and collate additional information before the deadline. Find out who needs to sign the proposal and will they be available to sign the proposal?
• What is their decision making process? How long will they take to make a decision and how does this fit with your project plan? Build in extra time in case their decision is delayed and allow time for confirming contracts, receipt of offer letters and final details.
• Try to produce a project plan/timetable � ensure that you submit at the right time, when do you want your project to start and finish. Consider different stages � application development, assessment and outcome. Consider lead in tie for planning and project commencement (school holidays, sporting seasons, weather and lighting conditions).

Financial issues

• What is the maximum amount of money the funder will give?
• Do they require match funding? At what rate will they provide support e.g. 100%, 75% of costs. Can you use volunteer or staff time, or gifts in kind, as match funding?
• Include some match funding � unlikely to obtain 100% grant aid. Match funding will demonstrate commitment and strengthen your bid, place a value on in kind support time.
• Are there costs that the donor will not fund? e.g. salaries, training, personal equipment. If not, how will these costs be covered?
• Clearly present your project costs � how much will it cost to deliver project? Back up all costs with a breakdown and quotations, also remember to include nonrecoverable VAT, contingency, inflation, professional fees, planning/building regulation fees and insurance.
• Always mention �sustainability�. Funders might ask how the project will be sustained once funding ends. Try to build into your project 1) new partnerships (makes you stronger for the future), and 2) new training (you are stronger because your people are more competent).

What to include in your Proposal?

This is your opportunity to sell your project to the funder and show them why they should support your project rather than the hundreds of others they receive.

• Clearly describe the problem that needs addressing and your solution.
• Try to be innovative and creative with your project ideas � try to make application stand out from the crowd � competitive process � e.g. use of different sports / technology / partnerships and priority groups
• Make it easy for the person assessing your application to judge if your project fits their criteria. Assessors don�t have long to review your application. For example, Sport England staff have 40 minutes to review applications so make it easy for them to understand your project.
• Make it clear which specific elements of the project you require funding. Copy the words they use to describe their criteria when you are explaining how your project fits their requirements.
• Clearly evidence the need for the project � use different sources, demonstrate you understand your sport and community needs � use your community profile / statistics / surveys and reports / community consultation / evaluation of existing services / current provision.
• Be clear on your project�s fit with national, regional and local strategies and make this clear. Demonstrating how your project will contribute to others work is critical. This also gives the funder confidence that your project is based on need and acts as a third party endorsement.
• It�s always good to include some outreach community work in the bid! � develop partnerships etc
• Give the funder confidence you know what you�re doing. Demonstrate the project will be successful and make it clear what the project will achieve, its outcomes and the benefits it will bring.
• Objectives = something worked towards e.g. to increase participation in adult rowing. Outputs = amount produced / timescale � e.g. 2x2 hour coaching sessions per week over 8 weeks. Outcomes = end result � e.g. increased participation in rowing.
• Provide evidence of your organisation�s credibility by mentioning previous successful projects and partners with whom you work.
• Be realistic about what you will achieve. Don�t include high targets, which you are unlikely to meet.
• Ask a colleague to proof read your application to check for spelling mistakes or poor grammar. An application full of mistakes is hard work for an assessor to read.
• Remember to enclose all the supporting material as required.

Apply to several funders at the same time to increase your chance of success. Once you have the basic information it is easy to cut and paste text, however, it�s crucial to tailor your document for each funder. If you find you are having to significantly change your project to meet a funder�s criteria it�s likely the funder isn�t a good fit for your project and if successful, you will end up delivering a project which doesn�t fit your need. Always take a copy of the application documents and any supporting information. If a funder calls you want to know exactly what they received.

 

In summary make sure you:

• Demonstrate the need for your project
• Show your project is well planned
• Accurately cost the project
• Show how the project will make a difference.

Contacting the Funder

Building a relationship with a funder is very important in fundraising. Some funders don�t encourage contact, however, many are happy to meet, receive emails or phone calls. Where possible contact a funder before you submit your proposal.

Contacting a funder is an opportunity to ask for clarifications on their criteria or information they require. However, the most important aspect is to introduce your organisation and sell your project. This will help you clarify if it�s the type of project they want to fund, if there is a particular element of the project they suggest you highlight or address a concern they know the assessors may have. Talking to a

funder before you submit your proposal can significantly increase your chance of success.

 

It is good practice to contact the funder a short time, a few days, after you submitted the application to check the documents have been received and all the information needed is attached. This is another opportunity to continue building a relationship with the funders. Find excuses to contact the funder during the assessment period, for example, perhaps some match funding has been secured, a partner has confirmed their involvement, to check if they have any queries or concerns that they may not have pro-actively contacted you about, but they may welcome an informal conversation to allay their fears and feel they are reducing their risk.

 

Tips and Tactics

Write in their language, for example:

 

Question: What activities will take place if you receive a grant?

Answer A (bad practice): Buy footballs, bibs, cones. Hire a pitch. Go on the Man

Utd tour. Do some cricket.

Answer B (good practice): Attract 20 girls aged 11 to 15 for a new weekly football session; Qualify 5 new level 1 football coaches and 3 new level 1 cricket coaches, mainly from existing parents; Qualify 20 young people as young sports leaders; Organise Kwik cricket festival to attract new participants aged 8 to 12; Provide information on youth lifestyle issues in partnership with youth service.

• Prove It ! � Any sort of proof that there is a need for the new activity is better than just your word. Evidence of a public meeting, a survey, waiting lists are all simple but effective.
• Don�t write it alone � even if you think you are JK Rowling, your application will be much, much better if at least 3 other people read it and comment on it. It has to be clearly understood by everyone who might read it.
• Always be clear and concise � waffle is a disaster. You have less than one minute to impress the officer or panel member reading your application.
• Give your project a clear and descriptive title. For example, don�t call it a �Youth Project�; call it a �Youth Mentoring Project�.
• Check to make sure you have told them clearly who you are, what you do, what your project is, how much it will cost, and why they should give you a grant.
• Have you got any quality assurance awards? (e.g. Clubmark accreditation).
• Have you received grants before. Who from? When?
• Use bullet points � they are not classic English grammar, but they are very effective at giving a clear, concise, and professional message.
• Get quotes or estimates. It is no good just saying that some new sporting equipment costs �3000. How do they know that? It significantly improves your chances of getting a grant if you go to the trouble of getting quotes or estimates.
• Always mention �monitoring� and �evaluation�. They need to know there is a checking system to stop things going wrong. Use phrases like �rigorous monitoring� and �systematic evaluation�.

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

 

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FREE runningsports Community Asset Transfers workshop

 

Sport Across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent (SASSOT) have organised a FREE runningsports Community Asset Transfers workshop.

 

Date:                Thursday 27th October

Time:               18.30 to 21.30

Venue:             Gallery Suite, Fenton Manor Sports Complex, City Road,
                        Stoke-on-Trent ST4 2RR.

                        For Sat Nav users, please use the postcode ST4 2RR. 
                        Please find a map attached.

 

Intended Audience:

• Sports volunteers/clubs who are considering taking ownership of facilities
• Local Authority personnel and NGB officers who either want to know more about Asset Transfers or are involved in supporting clubs/organisations with the process

Attend the 'Community Asset Transfers' workshop and you'll get face-to-face help from the expert tutor to capitalise on the transfer of land and buildings from government to the voluntary and community sports sector. Plus, it will help you get the most out of Sport England's Online Community Sport Asset Transfer Toolkit.

 

Further info on the workshop can be found here;

 

The workshop will have approx 25 places, which will be allocated on a first come first served basis.

 

If you are interested in attending the workshop, please complete the attached workshop application form and return it to Kam Webster at SASSOT by the deadline of the 20th October.

 

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

 

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Aiming High: Disability Sport and Physical Activity

 

Disabilit-e News provides information about what is happening within the county, nationally and in the elite world of disability sport. It will also advertises courses, clubs, events and success stories to motivate and inspire.There is also a dedicated section on Aiming High and the good work it is doing to promote activity based short breaks for disabled children and families.  

 

 

This publication will be produced twice a month and you can see previous editions and subscribe to receive Disabilit-e News directly on a page of SASSOT's website.

 

Disabilit-e News Issue 31
Disabilit-e News Issue 32

 

If you would rather wait, publications will be linked to this newsletter each month for you to view.

 

Mark Fosbrook
Aiming High Disability Sport + Physical Activity Development Officer
T: 01785 619398
M: 07800 619683
E: mfosbrook@staffordbc.gov.uk

 

 

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As always, I hope that you enjoy reading this month's edition. If you would like a story to  be included in future newsletters, please do not hesitate to contact me and I will do my best to include this information.

 

Leigh Morton
Admin Officer
T: 01785 619349
E: lmorton@staffordbc.gov.uk