Clubs to avail of small grant
SPORTS clubs in County Sligo can now apply for Covid-19 Club Small Grants of up to €1,500 through Sligo Sport and Recreation Partnership.
The Covid-19 Club Small Grant Scheme is part of a series of Covid-19 related funding schemes from Sport Ireland, following the announcement of €70 million of funding by the Government to support the sports sector in response to the Covid-19 crisis.
The COVID-19 Club Small Grant Scheme is being implemented by Sport Ireland’s network of Local Sports Partnerships and will provide assistance to local clubs with covering costs associated with the reopening of sports clubs. This scheme is separate to the Sports Club Resilience Fund, which will be delivered through National Governing Bodies of Sport.
This scheme is designed to support sports clubs that do not have the finances to implement Covid-19 related hygiene and social distancing protocols. The Covid-19 Club Small Grants can be used to support Covid-19 related expenditure dating from 2nd May 2020 onwards (date of publication of Government roadmap to recovery). As the total fund available is limited, clubs which already have the finances to implement Covid-19 protocols should not apply. This grant scheme is designed and intended to support the return to sporting activities only and cannot be used to support Covid-19 costs related to hospitality services such as bars or restaurants within sports facilities.
The scheme will be based on identified needs. Sligo Sport and Recreation Partnership and Sport Ireland will work together to ensure that the investment is distributed fairly and every effort will be made to ensure that the wider sports community benefits from this scheme. There is a €1,500 limit per club on this grant scheme however applications will be means tested and only clubs with the most need will be eligible for the full amount. Clubs should not feel that they have to apply for the full amount to be considered for support.
Speaking regarding the launch of the Covid-19 Club Small Grant Scheme, LSP Coordinator with Sligo Sport and Recreation Partnership, Deirdre Lavin said: “Sligo Sport and Recreation Partnership welcomes the announcement of financial support for sports clubs across Ireland and encourages all sports clubs in County Sligo to assess their need for financial support towards Covid-19 related hygiene and social distancing protocols and apply accordingly.”
Clubs are advised to note the following conditions: only one application can be submitted per sport club. Applications to Sligo Sport and Recreation Partnership are only applicable to clubs based within County Sligo. Funding applications must be submitted prior to the deadline of 12 noon on Wednesday 26th August via the application form on Sligo Sport and Recreation Partnership’s website www.sligosportandrecreation.ie.
Clubs must ensure that, where available, they prioritise the application for funding support via their National Governing Body or relevant representative body. Funding support for the same purpose should not be sought from multiple sources. For further information please check out the Sligo Sport and Recreation Partnership website www.sligosportandrecreation.ie or email info@ sligosportandrecreation.ie or phone 071 9161511.