£25m Sport Sustainability Fund launches

4 Dec 2020 Shauna O'Neill    Last updated: 4 Jan 2021

DfC Support for Sports Sector

Communities Minister Carál Ní Chuilín has announced that the £25M Sports Sustainability Fund is opening today (4 December).

The fund, administered by Sport NI, is designed to help those clubs and governing bodies who have been impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Minister said

“This Fund will provide the sports sector with the financial support it needs to ensure it can cope with and recover from the impact of the Covid restrictions and the ongoing challenges the pandemic is presenting. 

“The restrictions imposed on sport since the start of the pandemic have had a serious financial impact on sports Governing Bodies, clubs and sporting organisations.  The restrictions, which have been necessary to protect the health service and save lives, have resulted in limited opportunities for organisations to generate income in the usual ways such as club membership, running events and competitions, having spectators at games and by attracting sponsorship.

Sports Sustainability Fund

The Fund will provide the financial interventions needed to stabilise and sustain sports core governing bodies of sport; enabling them to withstand the worst impacts of Covid19, specifically it will:

  • Minimise the financial stress on the sports sector due to lost income as a result of COVID-19 lockdown and ongoing restrictions so as to sustain the sector.
  • Enable Governing Bodies and clubs to plan and prepare to increase opportunities for participation in sport, recreation and community use following the end of COVID-19 restrictions.

What Organisations are Eligible to Apply?

The Sports Sustainability Fund will only accept applications from a Recognised* governing body of sport.

Clubs should apply through their governing body.  Sport NI will not accept applications directly from clubs.

*Recognised by Sport NI – meaning that the governing body is named on the UK Recognition list, per the UK Recognition policy as implemented by the UK Sports Councils. 

If you are not a Recognised governing body and have not submitted a pre-application for Recognition before the 4th December 2020, you will not be eligible to apply for this fund.

What is the application process?

Applications must be completed online through Sport NI’s Internet Grants Applications Manager (IGAM) portal (Live from 9am Friday 4 December 2020)

Closing Date

The fund will close for completed applications at 4pm on 20th January 2021.

Application support

Guidance notes for governing bodies and clubs and entities are available on the Sport NI website.

Sport NI will release an FAQ webpage in the next few days.

Sport NI will be hosting the following governing body information workshops to answer any questions on the application process:

  • Wednesday 9th December 2020
  • Wednesday 6th January 2021 

Booking details TBC shortly.

How to apply?

For more information and to apply, visit the Sport NI website here

Sports Sustainability Fund

 

shauna.oneill@nicva.org's picture
by Shauna O'Neill

Communications Officer

[email protected]

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