Sports Aid - News - South Norfolk SSP

Sports Aid

SportsAid background:

SportsAid’s principle function is to raise funds from the private sector to provide financial assistance to Britain 's amateur sportsmen and women. The aim is to help them prepare for competitions against overseas athletes.  SportsAid aims to bridge the gap that Lottery funding cannot fill by focusing on giving awards to young people aged 12 to 18, from 50 able-bodied and 25 disability sports.  Norfolk County Council (NCC) has financially added to SportsAid funds through contributing an additional £20,000 per year specific to Norfolk residents.  The primary aim of funding is to support athletes that compete in national squads and these awards, generally worth £1000 (£500 from SportsAid, £500 from NCC), help with costs such as travel, training, accommodation, competition fees and equipment.  Regional athletes can apply for funds up to £500, which are paid solely by NCC.

Over the last three years SportsAid  and NCC has distributed around £60,000 and gives approximately 50 awards per year.

Nominations:

Nationally, NGBs are asked to submit their nominations for SportsAid funding in October and February.  Depending upon the NGB, sports submit differing numbers of nominees.  For example, the following NGBs nationally nominated this number of athletes in 2008:

Athletics                     78

Football                      23

Badminton                 30

Cricket                        15

Golf                             30

Netball                        15

Swimming                  45

Tennis                         30

In addition to national NGB nominees, Norfolk invites national and regional athletes to submit applications themselves.  To date this has been through NGB / club circulation and word-of- mouth.  In future this will be via an on-line system and it will be essential for county/regional NGB officers to countersign and approve applications.

Funding:

Once each nomination is agreed a SportsAid / NCC Award is presented to each individual athlete directly, not to their NGB. Intervention at such a crucial time is often the difference between a young sports person continuing in their chosen sport or quitting.

Future Applications:

The next round of applicants will be considered in November 2009, following national NGB nominations. To apply please see the resource section below.

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