Awards for Sport Opens
Awards for Sport is a new small grants programme managed by Sport Northern Ireland.
Awards for Sport aims to increase participation in sport and physical recreation, especially among under-represented groups; and increase the number of athlete with improved sporting performances.
Awards for Sport will invest in projects that are well planned and organised; can clearly demonstrate need; and adopt an innovative approach to increasing participation and/or improved sporting performance.
Applications are open to Governing Bodies; Sports Clubs; and Community and Voluntary Organisations.
As a result of budget limitations the current round of Awards for Sport is limited to equipment applications only. In future rounds it is hoped that funding will be available for revenue programmes. Grants will range from £1,000 - £10,000.
Please note that applications must be submitted no later than: 4.00pm on Wednesday 6 January 2010. Awards must be spent by Wednesday 31 March 2010.
For further information, or to join the mailing list for future rounds of funding, please contact: Email: awardsforsport@sportni.net, Tel: 028 9038 3232You can apply online at www.sportni.net.
Neil Irwin | 12 November 2009 - 9:17am |
Comments
Awards for Sport
Lottery Funded? Can you tell from the application materials if this programme is a lottery or exchequer funded programme? - you need to look very closely. I have asked Sport NI for clarification and for the overall budget allocated to the scheme.
Why the Hurry Now? You have until the 6 January 2009 to apply. Realistically speaking I make that six weeks to make an application when you take out Christmas and New Year. Presuming Sport NI are able to provide a quick response to successful applicants - lets say within 8 weeks as they aim to do - and pay you the money within a month as they state - that could give you a matter of days to purchase the equipment you need by 31 March 2010. Presumably the urgency is to keep the spend within the current financial year.
I wonder too if the real reason it is only open for equipment is that it is easier and quicker to expend funding for capital than revenue? It seems to me a bit rushed given the programme was expected to be open in early 2009 and was repeatedly postponed but maybe I am getting too cynical.
What are your thoughts?
Awards for Sport Budget
The overall budget for Awards for Sport has been revealed to be £200,000.
AWards for Sport - update
It turns out the Awards for Sport programme is 100% exchequer funded so lottery money is not involved.
It is not expected that there will be a lottery funded small grants programme from Sport NI in at least the current financial year.