Funding Guide for Boxing Clubs

Transcription

1 Funding Guide for Boxing Clubs Before Applying for Funding There are a number of key factors a club should consider before they even think about completing an application for funding. A club should have a business plan incorporating key sports development targets. This will not only help you clarify within the club what funding is needed but will also be a sound starting point for when you do start to complete application forms. Before applying for funding you should: 1. Understand everything about your club Future plans Finances Catchment area 2. Understand the need Not just the need from your club s perspective but also consider the need in the local community, county and how the developments may fit in with the Amateur Boxing Association s Whole Sport Plan and Sport England s Strategy. 3. Understand your project What will it deliver? Who else benefits? Costing Sustainability Tips for Completing the Application Form Always read the guidance notes first before you start to fill in the application form. In many instances the guidance notes provide useful information to help you answer the questions on the application form and help you show how your project matches or fits the criteria of the funder. Read through your answers to each question on the application form when you have completed it to make sure you haven t left anything out or made any mistakes. It might be better to get someone else to read it through. It is always a good idea to keep a copy of the final application before you send it off to the funder. Always have updated copies of relevant policies and procedures available that the funders are likely to request. These documents include: Latest approved constitution Equal opportunities policy Child protection policy Health and safety policy Data protection policy Most funders ask for a copy of the organisation s latest audited annual accounts. It is a good idea to have a few spare copies of your signed accounts. Always show the need for your project on the application form. It is a good idea to provide hard evidence in the form of facts and figures in support of your application. You can include any evidence you have gathered from consultation with users or the community in your application. If your project is included within a Local Authority development plan, County Sports 1

2 Partnership strategy or NGB Facility strategy most funders will accept this as evidence of consultation. It is important to be realistic in the calculation of the costs of your project and make sure your financial figures add up correctly. Put together a well-justified budget that includes income as well as expenditure. You will be asked to provide quotes if you want to purchase equipment or carrying out capital works to buildings. Most funders do not provide retrospective funding so don t apply for anything you have already started. Part of your project planning should be to identify relevant closing and decision dates. Make sure you include all the additional information with your application form that is stated in the guidance notes. These documents may include constitution bank statements equal opportunities policy audited accounts BACS form that has been completed by your bank or building society Often funding organisations will include a checklist on the form to help you make sure that you have included all the documents they need to assess your application. Make sure your project matches or fits the criteria of the funding organisation. Present a clear picture of what you plan to do, how and why. Most funding organisations will have criteria or targets they need to meet and will refer to this when assessing your application. If your application is not successful, ask the funding organisation for feedback so that you can learn from the experience. Sometimes your application is good but the funding organisation may have just been over-subscribed for that particular round of fund. Some funding organisations will allow you to resubmit your application for a future funding round Community Amateur Sports Club Scheme (CASC) Sports clubs play a valuable role in their communities. The CASC scheme recognises this important role by distinguishing between clubs and businesses for rates and tax purposes, ensuring money is kept in sports clubs. Both property and non-property owning clubs can significantly benefit from the scheme. The key benefits of CASC registration include: 80% mandatory business rate relief. Local authorities can offer up to 100% relief to clubs at their discretion. The ability to raise funds from individuals under Gift Aid. A registered CASC can reclaim up to 28 in tax for every 100 donated, though at the moment this does not apply to all types of donations. CASCs are exempt from Corporation Tax on profits derived from trading activities if their trading income is under 30,000 pa. Profits derived from property income are also exempt for CASCs if gross property income is under 20,000 pa, of particular relevance following the abolition of the nil rate band. CASCs whose income does not exceed these thresholds will no longer be required to complete an annual Corporation Tax return. Relief on business rates alone are estimated by the Chancellor of the Exchequer to be worth 2,000 per year. Whilst this only benefits facility owning clubs, non-facility owning clubs can still significantly benefit from Gift Aid and exemption from Corporation Tax. To become a Community Amateur Sports Club, clubs must: be a recognised sport by the sports council; not discriminate in any way in their membership policies and be wholly open to all sections of the community; have a core purpose in the promotion of amateur sports participation; be non-profit making, and re-invest any profits in the sports club; stipulate that in the event of being wound up, any remaining assets be distributed to either the sports governing body for use in community sport, another CASC or charity 2

3 The most important thing to remember is that once you have registered as a CASC, you will always remain a CASC. Applying to become a registered CASC is a simple process. Clubs are required to submit a completed application form to HMRC with a copy of the club's constitution adhering to the criteria set out in the guidance notes. Further information can be found at or - Strengthening Your Case ClubMark Accreditation Achieving Clubmark can improve your prospects of gaining funding by demonstrating to potential funders that your club meets nationally recognised quality standards. Letters of Support Letters of support from key people should be sought in support of your project. For example, you may wish to seek support from potential partners, project beneficiaries and your local authority. Targeted Beneficiaries A number of funding organisations have a specific remit to allocate funding to projects that address inequalities in sport and society. Projects are often sought that specifically address the needs of under-represented groups, for example women and girls, people from disadvantaged communities, people from ethnic minorities and disabled people. Identifying Potential Funding Agencies This section provides guidance on finding suitable funders for your project. You will need to be aware of the following factors prior to making any application: Eligibility Does your club meet the funding agency s eligibility criteria? Type of Project Check that the type of project you are developing is eligible. For example, some organisations will only provide funding for revenue projects such as coaching sessions and would not provide funding for facility development and vice versa. Level of Funding Most funding providers will have a maximum and minimum amount you can apply for and most will require some partnership funding as they will be unable to fund your project 100%. Timescales of Project The funding agency may have a deadline by which the funding must be spent. Inclusion Many funders specify target groups towards whom funding will be directed, particularly those who are underrepresented in sport. New Activity Funders tend to only fund new activities and not existing costs. Increased Participation Many funders will want to know how your project will lead to an increase in participation in your clubs activities. 3

4 Potential Sources of Funding This guide is intended as a starting point for those seeking funding for sport. Please note that this guide does not intend to be comprehensive, but aims to provide details on some of the main sports funding programmes available at the time of publishing. Awards for All Amount: Deadline: on going Aims: Awards for All is the small grants programme of the Big Lottery Fund, which aims to help improve local communities and the lives of people most in need. Voluntary or community organisation, school, parish or town Council is eligible to apply. Awards for All programme aims to help improve local communities and the lives of people most in need. Projects need to meet one or more of the following outcomes: - People have better chances in life with better access to training and development to improve their life skills. - Stronger communities with more active citizens working together to tackle their problems. - Improved rural and urban environments which communities are better able to access and enjoy. - Healthier and more active people and communities. BBC Children in Need Amount: No limits BBC Children in Need Appeal PO Box 1000 London W12 7WJ Telephone: pudsey@bbc.co.uk Deadlines: Four closing dates throughout the year: 15th January, 15th April, 15th July and 15th October Aims: Grants are available for projects solely dedicated to benefiting children. The application should focus on the children your project will work with and the differences that your project will make for them. You should clearly be able to demonstrate how your project will change the lives of the children involved for the better. Where possible it should take into account their views and involve them in decisions that affect them. Organisations must be constituted and not-profit making. Grants must be used with 12 months of the award date. Football Foundation Amount: 100-1million The Football Foundation 30 Gloucester Place London W1U 8FF Telephone for general enquiries: Fax: mailto:enquiries@footballfoundation.org.uk Website: Deadlines: None Aims: The Foundation funds a wide variety of projects including floodlighting, community projects, kit and club facilities. Depending on the scheme you are applying for, applicants include football clubs, multi-sport clubs, local authorities, all educational establishments, registered charitable organisations, not for profit companies limited by guarantee, industrial and provident societies and unincorporated not for profit organisations. It's Your Community Awards of up to 1,000 are Amount: up to 1000 Full details are on: Aim: available to local groups and individuals for anything that can be shown to benefit your community. The awards are independently judged and administered by The Conservation Foundation on behalf of O2. They support projects that bring people together and benefit your community. Basically your idea needs to: Bring together and benefit your community; Have long lasting effects - that will keep going once the money has been spent; Have real, tangible results that you can see; Demonstrate fresh, bold thinking, which is innovative enough to inspire 4

5 others. Your application will be judged within one month. Kellogg s Active Living Fund Amount: up to 1000 For help or support in completing your application form please contact Louise Daly by phone or by kelloggs@communityfoundation.co.uk lity/activelivingfund Deadline: Rolling Aim: The fund will give small grants to fund projects and activities that directly lead to people taking part in sustained physical activity. The aim of the fund is to help remove the barriers which stop people being active. Applications can be considered for projects engaging with young people up to 25 years of age. However priority will be given to applications requesting support for family units children and adults undertaking physical activity together. They are particularly looking for projects that are innovative in their approach to involve children or young people and their families. The fund is more likely to support projects where it is the main funder and does not want to contribute as part of a large project. Landfill Communities Fund Amount: various Contact: Deadline: various Aim: The principle of the LCF is that it 'offsets' some of the negative impacts of living very close to a landfill site. This is done by allowing the Landfill Operators to pay a proportion of their landfill tax liability to not-for-profit organisations that deliver benefits to the general public, biodiversity or the environment. There are two methods of receiving funding through the Landfill Communities Fund (LCF). These could be either: from an organisation that distributes the monies on a landfill operator's behalf. These are commonly known as Distributive Environmental Bodies (DEBs). You are far more likely to receive money via a DEB than you are directly from directly from a Landfill Operator (LOs) Landfill operators in the district include: Biffa - Veolia - Lafarge Sport England From April 2009 Sport England has adopted a new funding strategy and therefore some new funding streams have been developed. Detailed below is information on the funding streams which are open to community applications. More information can be found at Open Funding Themed rounds - 30m per year (allocated to this fund) Aim for voluntary organisations to run sports programmes, coaching, equipment, new and extending facilities to community groups Projects over 10,000 First round announced in February 2009 Open for 2 3 months (2 3 rounds per year) Encourages partner contribution Small grants - 7m per year (allocated to this fund) Aim funding for activities that help people become and stay involved in sport, or help people improve their performance Equipment, coaching activities, coach education Open to Sports Clubs, voluntary/community organisations, local authorities, educational establishments Awards ,000 Online application with 6-week turnaround Partner contribution will be encouraged, but not essential Innovation fund - 5m per year (allocated to this fund) Aim medium to large awards to organisations that demonstrate they can address specific barriers to growing and sustaining participation Small number of projects over 10,000 which offer an innovative approach Evaluation will be important part of proposal Successful projects will be seen as market leading 2-stage application process (2 rounds per year) Partner financial contribution encouraged but not essential 5

6 Sportsmatch - 3m per year (allocated to this fund) Aim to support grass roots sport by matching eligible funding invested in community sport Minimum award 500 for Schools and 1000 for other organisations and maximum award is 100,000 and maximum capital grant is 25,000 Application will be online A minimum of 1 partner contribution for 1 Sport England funding is required Mixed solicited / open funding Sustainable investment in community facilities - 10m per year capital funding Aim support innovative projects which promote a sustainable approach to community facilities. Supports projects which involve partnerships with public, private and commercial organisations creating a range of facilities that are sustainable both in financial and sports development terms. Support a smaller number of large awards which focus creative ideas for facility provision Sport England will expect to be a minor funding partner within a larger project Links to BSF, Learning & Skills Council s capital programmes to add value to these investments Sports Aid Amount: Contact: SportsAid - The Charity for Sports People 3rd Floor Victoria House Bloomsbury Square London WC1B 4SE Telephone: mail@sportsaid.org.uk Deadline: two deadlines per year, applicants must be through NGB Aim: SportsAid is the charity for sports people, helping the next generation of young British sportsmen and women to succeed. They aim to encourage sports people to reach a top-level and more importantly to keep them in sport at a decisive time of their lives. It is aimed at talented sports people who are of international competition standard or have the potential to reach this level. Applicants must meet the following criteria: Performance: Member of the GB/England team or squad member Location: Live and train in England Age: between 12 and 18 years old, but focus on the 12 to 16 age group Income: must not earn over 8,000 a year Funding: should not be in receipt of any other funding such as TASS Award or Lottery (younger athletes may be eligible for a top up grant) Have a permanent home address in the Yorkshire & Humberside region Special cases can be put forward by NGBs for athletes between 16 and 18. For disabled disciplines, there is no age restriction Talented Athletes Scholarship Scheme Amount: see below Contact: Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme Sports Development Centre, John Beckwith Building Loughborough University Leicestershire LE11 3TU Tel: (01509) Fax: (01509) Deadline: Awards run from 30th September to 1st October Aim: SportsAid is also at the heart of the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS). This is a Government backed programme which supports young sporting talent, specially designed to cater for the special needs of athletes within the education system. The programme aims to reduce the drop-out of talented athletes from sport due to academic and financial pressures and through provision of a tailored package of services, comprising coaching, sports medicine, sport science etc., ensures the athletes have the optimal level of support to train and compete whilst studying. TASS make two types of awards: Scholarships - Scholarships are awards to the value of 3,000 per annum Scholarships Scholarships are awarded to the value of 10,000 per annum. Athletes identified by their NGB who have already demonstrated exceptional sporting talent are eligible for TASS The aim is to fast track these gifted youngsters into World Class Pathways. 6

7 Other Potential Sources of Funding Local Authority Almost all local authorities make grants to the local voluntary and community sector and many have sports development departments with specific funding for sports related activities. Many local authorities also employ external funding officers who can provide advice on finding funding. County Sports Partnerships Every county in England has a County Sports Partnership (CSP) that provides core services to a range of sports. CSPs are able to provide guidance on funding and development opportunities, particularly in relation to club and coach development. They may also run workshops on how to raise funding for your club. Please note that each CSP will offer different levels of support depending upon levels of funding available and local sports priorities. Grant Making Trusts and Foundations These give a huge amount of funding to the voluntary sector and there are about 10,000 In the UK. Many offer only small grants restricted to a small geographical area, others work on a national basis and offer relatively large amounts. Your local authority should be able to provide details of local trusts and foundations. You may also wish to visit the website of the association of charitable foundations at for a list of all registered trusts. Local Volunteer Bureaux Your local volunteer bureau will be able to provide advice and guidance on finding and applying for funding. The may also have funding available that clubs may apply for. Grantfinder Since 1985, Grantfinder has been and still remains the leading source in the UK of accurate and comprehensive information on the full range of UK and EU financial support provision, including grants, subsidies, loans, venture funding and other incentives, available to all types of business, from the sole trader to the multinational company; to voluntary and community groups; to charities and charitable arms; to each and every aspect and every level of the public sector. Website: Useful Websites Lottery Funding The website details is a joint venture run by all the lottery funders in the UK. It has a search facility for organisations to enter their details and it will list potential funders. Funder Finder FunderFinder doesn't give grants. Nor is it possible to do a search on their website to see who might give you a grant but they do provide advice about how to use information on their website to best advantage. Help for Clubs Help for Clubs is an online resource to assist all sports clubs in developing their structures, organisation and programme. Help for Clubs provides sports clubs with practical advice about how to manage and develop your activities. It contains guidance on running an effective sports club, simple template documents for many administrative functions, case examples of how other clubs have organised their affairs, suggestions for increasing club income, and links to other useful sources of help Do-it.org The only national database of volunteering opportunities in the UK. Sports clubs and organisations can register their volunteering opportunities on the website. Visitors to the website can search via postcodes for volunteering opportunties in their area. Institute of Fundraising The Institute of Fundraising is the professional body for UK fundraising. They support fundraisers, through leadership, representation, setting standards, and training. 7