Support for Sport

• Programme Priorities

  Active Awards for Sport programme seeks to prioritise the development of grass roots sport and maximise positive community sport legacies.

  Increase participation in sport and physical recreation especially among underrepresented groups:

  • Women and girls
  • People with a disability
  • People living in areas of greatest need

  In particular, Council welcomes applications from projects which will tackle health inequalities and improve health and wellbeing.

  Deliver projects based in Derry City and Strabane District Council Area and benefitting areas of greatest need.

  Areas of greatest need are defined as Neighbourhood Renewal Areas or the 25% most deprived Super Output Areas using the Northern Ireland Multiple Deprivation Measure 2017).

• Key Dates

  The current round of funding opens for application on Monday 15^th April 2024 at 10am and closed on Friday 3^rd May 2024 at 3.00pm.

  Project costs can only be incurred from the 15^th April 2024.

  Projects must be completed by 31^st March 2025.  All project costs must be incurred before this date.  Project costs incurred after the 31^st March 2025 will not be eligible.

  Please consult our website for further information https://dcsdcgrantaid.com

• How does the fund work?
  • There is one round of funding per financial year.
  • Clubs can apply for grant aid from £500 up to a maximum of £2,000.
  • The fund will cover project specific costs.  Please note, any equipment purchased must be project linked and integral to the delivery of the sport.
• Types of projects we will fund?

  Clubs can submit a maximum of 1 application, up to a maximum of £2,000 across the following areas.  Clubs must specify which areas you intend to apply for at the start of the application process;

  1.     Participation Initiatives         

  involves coaching, programming, venue hire

  2.     Performance                           

  involves travel to competition for events you have qualified to attend, or hosting regional significant events within the district

  3.     Coach Education

  Sports Specific and Generic Courses

  4.     Equipment

  Must be project specific up to a maximum of £500.00.  Can not be a stand-alone equipment application.  The applicant club have sole responsibility for the ongoing maintenance and safe usage of any equipment purchased.

  5.     Strategic and Developmental

  involves club development plans etc

   

   

• Who can apply:
  • Constituted not for profit Sports Clubs that are open, accountable and representative of the geographical area in which it services.
  • Sports Clubs must be affiliated to a National Governing Body and activities must be recognised as a Sport as outlined on Sport Northern Ireland’s/Irish Sports Councils website.  
  • All elements of the funding application must adhere to and be a recognised Governing Body sanctioned discipline/activity.
  • Individual applicants will only receive support if no relevant club exists in the area and they are competing at National or International level.
  • All applicants/clubs must reside in the Derry City and Strabane District Council area.
  • Governing Bodies of Sport (GB’s) and not for profit affiliated sporting organisations can apply for grants to deliver events within the Council area.  The ‘Regionally Significant’ event must attract internationally standard competitors rather than club based participants.
• Activities and items Support for Sport WILL fund
  • Projects that will support increased participation in sport and physical recreation, especially among underrepresented groups.
  • Sport specific coaching courses; provided they can be completed in full within communicated timeframes.
  • CPD courses/training e.g. Disability Awareness, Sport Leadership.
  • Sport specific coaching fees – capped at £20p/h unless justification can be provided for higher rate.
  • Project specific venue hire.
  • Project specific travel.
  • Project specific equipment – purchase of equipment should not be the focus of your project. We view equipment as a means to achieving our target of increasing participation in sport. Any application for equipment should explain why it is needed and how it will achieve this. Normally, no single item can be valued at over £500.00.
  • Equipment hire to allow you to run your project.
• Activities and items Support for Sport WILL NOT fund
  • Projects that do not directly benefit Derry City and Strabane District Council residents
  • Capital works costs or any equipment that would incur cost and resource to install and remove e.g. standalone scoreboard with its own foundations and mains electrics supply.
  • General organisation running costs, heating, rent, lighting, rates.
  • Office equipment, furniture.
  • Salary costs, loan repayments and endowments and volunteer costs.
  • Entertainment costs, food and beverages.
  • Items which only benefit individuals (e.g. prizes; scholarships; bursaries; personal clothing; personal equipment; event tickets; shin guards; boots, kits; etc) and non-essential items e.g. water bottles.
  • Secondary, further or higher education e.g. A Levels, Degrees, etc.
  • VAT that can be recovered from HM Revenue and Customs.
  • Retrospective funding or costs that will be incurred after the communicated grant period.
  • Donations/fundraising events or activities.
  • Organisation’s own facility hire – groups cannot be paid for use of own venue.
  • Insurance, affiliation, entry fees or membership fees.
  • Sporting activities not recognised by Sport Northern Ireland.
  • Curriculum time school programmes.
  • Publications, marketing and websites.
  • Access NI registration fees.
  • Livestock.
  • First aid kits/medical bags, defibrillators, medical personal costs, e.g. physio, sports therapist, etc.
  • Non-inclusive fitness initiative (IFI) gym equipment e.g.treadmills, rowers, bikes, etc.
  • Costs that are deemed to be unreasonable e.g. excessive goods/services. – This will be benchmarked against Sport NI costings
  • Existing activities already in place e.g. current training sessions, etc.
  • Council will not fund club/individual sports kits.
  • Costs that are not auditable (i.e. cash payments) will not be eligible for Council funding.
  • Sports Clubs currently in receipt of a Service Level Agreement.
• Deadline for Submission of Applications

  If you are submitting your application in an alternative format you should send it to:
  
  Support for Sport Fund
  Sports Development
  Derry City and Strabane District Council
  98 Strand Road
  Derry BT48 7NN
  
  OR
  
  Support for Sport Fund
  Sports Development
  Derry City and Strabane District Council
  47 Derry Road
  Strabane BT82 8DY
  
  Applicants are reminded that the deadline for submission of applications is 3:00 PM on Friday, 3rd May 2024. Applicants are encouraged to submit their application early as this deadline is absolute. Please do not wait until near the closing time to submit your application. Under no circumstances will an application be deemed eligible after the 3:00 PM deadline.