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Sport England Announces National Sports Foundation's 2008/09 Funding Details
Sport England is delighted to announce the arrangements for the operation of the National Sports Foundation (NSF) in 2008/09.
The NSF, which is funded and administered by Sport England, is responsible for levering new and additional private investment into community sport in England, and will continue to do this by matching new and additional private investment of £50,001 and above, on a pound for pound basis. There is £7.67 million available in the NSF Open Pot in 2008/09.
Eligible organisations with suitable projects and private investment commitment are encouraged to submit applications for funding at their earliest convenience. Applications will be assessed on a first come first serve basis. This will ensure that the benefits of the funding are received at the earliest opportunity. It is anticipated that the level of applications will exceed the funds that are available; therefore not all eligible projects are likely to receive funding. Current and prospective applicants will be notified via the website and through Project Development Officers when all funding for 2008/09 has been committed.
Eligible applications will be assessed on the quality of information provided and the organisation's ability to meet NSF and Sport England objectives (Grow, Sustain, Excel) and assessment criteria. Further information on these objectives can be found by clicking through to the About the Foundation page.
All projects applying in 2008/09 will need to ensure that their project is able to spend and deliver their entire grant funding by 31 March 2009. Private investment may be used to sustain projects after this date; however the private investment funding will need to be in the applicants' bank account from the beginning of the project. Therefore, the NSF will only consider one year revenue projects and capital projects that meet the above criteria. We recognise the tight time scale and we will do everything to support applicants to help them comply with it, however it is a constraint of exchequer funding which we can not change.
Any applications already submitted are being reviewed and should be presented at the 8 July 2008 Projects Committee Meeting. You should contact your Project Development Officer if you are unsure of the status of your application, or if you are required to submit any additional information.
All applicants should please note the two stage assessment process which is detailed on the NSF website. However, it will be possible to move a project straight to full Award at the first stage if sufficient detailed information is submitted with the initial application. This will require applicants to undertake significant work at their own risk to develop a suitable Action Plan. Applicants interested in fast tracking their application should discuss this with the Project Development Officer assigned to their project.
If you have any general questions regarding the NSF please contact us using the details below:
Tel: 08458 508 508
Jennie Price presents cheque to national schools rugby programme
Jennie Price, Chief Executive of Sport England, presented a cheque for £99,131 to Premier Rugby Ltd for the EDF Energy National Schools Rugby Programme at the Guinness Premiership Final on 31 May 2008.
The award, made by Sport England through the National Sports Foundation, supports the programme's second year of teaching youngsters non-contact tag-rugby and giving them the skills and confidence to go on to play Rugby Union. By July 2008, 70,000 nine to ten year olds will have taken part since the EDF Energy-backed rugby programme began in January. The aim is to get more than 112,000 children playing rugby to secure the future of the sport.
Gloucester and England star Mike Tindall is one of the many players who have helped at coaching sessions.
"We need to bring rugby to new audiences and give children a taste of the game at an early age" said Tindall.
Every Premiership club plus the Cornish Pirates and Exeter Chiefs from National League One are providing coaching.
For more information about the EDF Energy Rugby programme, visit: www.edfenergyrugby.com or www.guinnesspremiership.com
Junior Golf receives a boost
Sport England, through the National Sports Foundation (NSF), has awarded £112,500 to the Golf Foundation to further enhance its level of support for local sport partnerships and its 'Golf Roots' inner-city project; work that will help to introduce thousands of children to golf in 2008.
The funding by Sport England through the NSF, which has been matched against some of the Golf Foundation's R&A funding, means that the Golf Foundation can embark on specific additional grass roots junior golf projects in 2008 backed by a £225,000 investment.
This investment is helping to fuel a growing momentum to make golf more accessible to children from all backgrounds and abilities. Many thousands of youngsters are playing Tri-Golf and Golf Xtreme in schools (more than 700,000 children were introduced to golf last year through Golf Foundation initiatives) and a growing list of golf facilities are forging formal links with schools.
Sport England through the NSF funding, combined with backing from Foundation supporter, Radio and TV presenter DJ Spoony, the European Tour and the British Golf Industry Association's Grow Golf Fund, has meant that the Golf Foundation has been able to more than double the size of its inner-city project, Golf Roots, for 2008. Children in urban areas of England will be involved in sustainable projects designed to lead youngsters into golf clubs and driving ranges. The funding will provide the opportunity to reach out further into non-traditional events and venues such as shopping centres and multi-sport festivals.
The investment also means the Golf Foundation can take on an additional 21 School Links projects and 21 Community Links venues (golf facilities welcoming youngsters for coaching), run 84 training workshops for teachers and volunteers, and organise an ambitious local initiative in the Merseyside and Southport area linked to The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. This work will benefit more than 6,500 youngsters new to golf.
Mike Round, Chief Executive of the Golf Foundation, said: "We are really grateful for this great show of support from Sport England through the National Sports Foundation. Our golf projects are trying to reach youngsters from all backgrounds and circumstances and offer them the enjoyment and personal development benefits that golf can bring. This aim to grow the game, working with the national golf partnerships, is starting to have significant impact and we are highly appreciative of all the support we receive. We are now seeking to redouble our efforts to build on the momentum achieved this year."
Thomas Godfrey, Commercial Director of Sport England, said: "Young golf players up and down the country will benefit from extra funding into the sport. We are pleased that the Golf Foundation is working to find new ways of getting people excited about their sport. This is vital if Sport England is going to achieve its ambition of getting more people, who have not been given the opportunity before, to take part in sport."
* For more details about the Golf Foundation go to www.golf-foundation.org
National Sports Foundation teams up with England Stars
The England football team will spearhead a nationwide initiative to improve opportunities for young people in some of the most disadvantaged areas of the country.
Rio Ferdinand and Owen Hargreaves today launched the first of a series of 11 projects that will engage with some of the hardest hit communities worst effected by deprivation including poor housing, health, education, disability, high incidences of crime, racial and drug abuse.
This initiative forms part of the Team England Footballers Charity (TEFC) established by the players early last year following their decision to forego their England match fees to donate at least £1million to chosen charity partners ahead of the next World Cup.
The TEFC Outreach Programme initiative launched today will be jointly funded by the TEFC and the National Sports Foundation who are managed by Sport England, and together will work with children and young adults aged between 12-21 years to tackle a variety of social issues through football led-activities.
Speaking about the TEFC Outreach Programme, Ferdinand said: "We want to provide much needed opportunities and outlets for young people to benefit through football, whether that is purely participating in activities or gaining coaching qualifications to better themselves and the community they come from."
Wythenshawe Youth FC, one of the 11 projects identified by the TEFC spoke out about their new found support:
"Having established ourselves through a social inclusion scheme, we now have the opportunity to offer something back to the community. The England teams' investment will allow us to continue as a club and expand to benefit the community and surrounding areas."
Owen Hargreaves added: "It is our hope our intervention will not only financially secure projects like Wythenshawe Youth FC but encourage future aspirations and achievements.
Jennie Price, Chief Executive of Sport England, said: "The National Sports Foundation is delighted to be teaming up with the Team England Footballers Charity to support clubs like Wythenshawe Youth F.C. The dedication of the club's volunteers - and the young people who turn up to training every week - has helped it make a real difference in South Manchester. This extra funding will see the club benefit from better coaching and create more opportunities for young people.
The TEFC is also using the players' investment and time to support chosen charity partners including the Association of Children's Hospices; WellChild; the Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research UK and the Professional Footballers Association Charity Initiatives.
In addition the England team will also support the FA's Grassroots campaign that encourages children aged between 5-11years to enter into the game for fun and to develop their skills though quality coaching.
Press enquiries, please contact:
Mark Whittle - England Team Press Officer - 07908 617226
Team England Footballers Charity enquiries, please contact:
Jen Barrett - 020 7801 1966 / info@teamenglandfootballerscharity.com
The FA and Tesco join forces for Women's Football
Following the Women's World Cup in China, The FA announced their £1million funding and development programme at England's Euro 2009 qualifier at Walsall FC on Saturday 29 October 2007.
The FA received £1million from it's partner Tesco - with match funding from the National Sports Foundation to develop girls' and women's football, by increasing the participation opportunities available for girls to play football and increasing the number of female coaches, volunteers, leaders and referees.
Two brand new national grassroots cup competitions will also be launched for girls at U14 and U16 level. The Tesco Girls Cups will see clubs from all over England competing at county and regional level, with the best teams in England playing in finals set for May 2008.
The Prime Minister who was instrumental in the formation of the National Sports Foundation provided his support for the project.
"It is excellent to see The FA, the National Sports Foundation and Tesco joining together to invest in developing girls' and women's football in this way.
FA Chief Executive Brian Barwick travelled to China to watch the England Women's team in World Cup action against Germany and Argentina, and welcomed the funding from both Tesco and Government.
"The Women's World Cup was a major landmark moment for a fast-growing sport. The likes of Kelly Smith and Faye White are fantastic role models to the 150,000 girls and women playing affiliated football every week, but that is still a very small percentage of the female population.
"Funding from organisations such as the National Sports Foundation will ensure The FA engages even more girls and women in the sport and we hope it will be a platform for further FA-Government partnership in the future"
Jennie Price, Chief Executive of Sport England, said: "We are delighted to be teaming up with the FA and Tesco to support the Women and Girls Development Programme. This type of initiative shows that sports are reaching out to new audiences better than ever before. I am sure it will be a huge success."
England 'Gets Switched on to Athletics'
England Athletics Yorkshire and Humberside region has received a £50,001 award from the National Sports Foundation, to support grassroots athletics and delivery of England Athletics' "Get Switched on to Athletics" programme.
The programme will provide coach development support programmes and coaching qualification subsidies which will significantly boost the numbers of accredited level one and two coaches delivering Athletics in the region.
Kristine Monaghan, Regional Manager for England Athletics Yorkshire and Humberside was delighted at the announcement and commented:
"This fantastic news from the National Sports Foundation will allow us to focus clearly on coaching, which is our number one priority. In addition, this will act as the catalyst to attract many more people into the sport through our leadership and volunteering programmes."
Local athletics clubs will benefit from the arrival of guest coaches, nicknamed 'The Flying Squad' to assist in providing coaching sessions. In addition, there will be a new campaign designed to attract more female volunteers and leaders into the sport.
The National Sports Foundation has matched the contribution from CE Electric UK to help deliver a range of exciting initiatives over the next twelve months.
Stephen Baddeley, Director of National Sport for Sport England stated, "The National Sports Foundation is Sport England's primary initiative designed to attract and develop partnerships between private investors and community sport. Sport England is pleased to support England Athletics and its partner CE Electric in delivering valuable opportunities to participate in Athletics and strengthen the ability to deliver coaching in the sport".
Corus Triathlon Development Project
The Corus Triathlon Development Project run by British Triathlon and supported by Corus and The National Sports Foundation will work towards increasing the capacity of clubs to deliver the sport, ensure equity in participation and run a series of events entitled the Corus Kids of Steel Triathlon Series.
The National Sports Foundation has matched Corus' contribution of £200,000 to help deliver these programs. British Triathlon are now delivering against their stated objectives and have recently completed the 2007 Corus Kids of Steel Triathlon Series having spread across the United Kingdom taking in twelve venues. British Triathlon has been able to engage over 200 schools and 4,000 participants through the Corus Kids of Steel series.
Corus Kids of Steel is a series of triathlon events for kids between the ages of 8-13. The events are about having fun, having a go and trying your best. No training is required, but participants need to be able to swim, ride a bike and run. The series also aims to introduce participants to clubs in their local area.
British Triathlon's Development Director, Mark Barfield, spoke of the success of the 2007 Corus Kids of Steel series. "The Corus Kids of Steel programme has been a huge success and has helped us engage with a group of people that would not have been given the opportunity to try triathlon. We have given young people a high quality experience of triathlon in a fun, safe and attractive environment. The feedback we have received from participants and teachers has been great and we have venues requesting we bring Corus Kids of Steel to them in 2008. Clubs have reported a surge in new members"
For more information on the Corus Kids of Steel Triathlon Series visit www.corustriathlon.com or for more information on British Triathlon go to www.britishtriathlon.org.
EDF Energy National Schools Rugby Programme
The National Sports Foundation (NSF) announced today that it would support rugby at a grassroots level by providing match-funding for the EDF Energy National Schools Rugby Programme, organised by Premier Rugby.
The grant of £198,262, over 2 years, will help expand the programme so that it reaches over 1000 schools across 17 different regions in England.
This is Premier Rugby's first grant from the NSF, and is a unique programme that utilises professional players to create excitement and involvement in a sport at a grassroots level.
The EDF Energy National Schools Rugby Programme began this past winter and will run for three years. It will involve nearly 100,000 children and teachers at primary schools across England. The programme gives boys and girls aged 8-10 an introduction to rugby union through the tag rugby version of the sport. To ensure a rugby legacy in schools for years to come, teachers are given coaching workshops and are provided with equipment. An average of one Premiership player per day will also visit the schools and each Premiership club will work with over 100 schools during the three year programme.
The NSF is a government-led initiative set up in 2006 to leverage new and additional private investment into community sport. The NSF chose to support Premier Rugby and EDF Energy's programme because the programme encourages active children and increases the number of coaches, active volunteers, and junior club members involved in grassroots rugby.
Premier Rugby CEO Mark McCafferty said "We are very pleased that the NSF has given Premier Rugby our first grant to support this. Our clubs have always wanted to be at the heart of their communities and this grant will help us reach out to even more children in those communities and get them excited about rugby and sport in general."
Louise Pool, EDF Energy's Head of Brand, said: "We are committed to rugby at all levels and that's why we wanted to bring the Rugby World Cup trophy to as many schools as we could. It is a fantastic opportunity to inspire youngsters, which is exactly what we are doing with the EDF Energy National Schools Rugby Programme as Premier Rugby's Community Partner. Our work with schools, alongside our sponsorship of national competitions including the EDF Energy Cup, and involvement with the IRB Rugby World Cup, all demonstrate our long-term commitment and support for rugby from the grassroots to the highest level of the game".
Stuart Makepeace, National Sports Foundation's Head of Operations said: "This programme has already proved a first-rate introduction to rugby and is helping young people get the sporting habit. The National Sports Foundation is delighted to be teaming up with Premier Rugby to increase the number of coaches and volunteers involved in community rugby. We are also pleased to be working with EDF, which has recently shown its commitment to sport by signing up as a sponsor for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012".
To date, the EDF Energy National Schools Rugby Programme has involved over 250 schools, with 30,000 children taking part in over 1,500 coaching sessions. Over 20 teacher training days have also taken place.
NSF and RFU team up for Massive Recruitment Drive
Go Play Rugby, the largest recruitment drive ever mounted by a sport in the UK, has been launched in Bath today. It aims to bring former players back into the game and is timed to coincide with this year's Rugby World Cup.
The ambitious campaign involves over 700 clubs and 130 universities and colleges and is funded by the National Sports Foundation with the support of commercial sponsors the Chelsea Building Society and O2.
Go Play Rugby will remind former players what they are missing and how they can get back to enjoying rugby and all it can offer. It was developed from a pilot campaign conducted in Surrey last year, which identifies the reasons why players drift from the game. Time pressures, work or family commitments were key factors in giving up and the RFU has developed strategies to deal with these issues. The aim is to bring 6000 former players back to the game.
Rugby clubs are being trained and equipped with recruitment kits containing advice and materials to help them run their own local events. Tag, touch, sevens, beach rugby and a flexible approach to participation are some of the alternatives to the traditional full contact 15-a-side game which might appeal to former players.
A sophisticated nationwide advertising campaign using print, broadcast, online media and cinema advertising will support the work of local clubs and drive people to the website goplayrugby.com. Potential players can connect with local participating clubs by giving their postcode online or via the dedicated text number 64411.
Andrew Scoular, Community Rugby Director for the RFU, says; "Go Play Rugby is the single most important event in grassroots rugby in our lifetime. The game is thriving currently throughout England but this is our best chance to nourish the roots of the game to ensure a positive legacy for future generations to enjoy the game we love. With one year of concentrated effort we can lay the foundations for 100 years of rugby."
Rob Andrew, RFU Elite Rugby Director, believes rugby is the ultimate team sport. "Every player who pulls on an England jersey began their rugby at a club or school. Whether you play rugby professionally or for fun, nothing beats the challenge and camaraderie of a great team sport. But for some social players finding a balance between family, work and club can be difficult and they drift away from the sport. There are thousands of them who just need a little help and encouragement to come and join clubs again. It's good for us as a sport and it's good for them as human beings," he says.
Derek Mapp, Chairman of Sport England, says; "Go Play Rugby will show former rugby players exactly what they are missing. Getting people excited again about sport is just as important as attracting fresh faces. Sport England wants to get two million people doing more sport by 2012. Initiatives like Go Play Rugby - which the National Sports Foundation is delighted to support - show that sports are becoming more savvy when attracting new participants."
The advertising campaign and local and regional events will start to roll out in August and September in the build-up to the Rugby World Cup.
Chance to Shine
Jennie Price, CEO of Sport England, attended the England and Wales Cricket Board's Parliamentary Reception on the 15th of May 2007 to present a cheque for £2,500,000 to the Cricket Foundation in support of their 'Chance to Shine' programme. The cheque was received by the Cricket Foundation's Executive Chairman, Simon Dyson and England player Matthew Hoggard (pictured).
The 'Chance to Shine' programme was launched in May 2005 with the aim of regenerating competitive cricket in state schools. The Cricket Foundation aims to raise £50million of government and private sector funds over five years to maintain the successful programme, which in 2006 alone involved 45,360 participants. The National Sports Foundation is proud to support the Cricket Foundation and 'Chance to Shine' in their goal of reaching a third of all schools in England by 2015.
For more information on 'Chance to Shine' see the programme's website, www.chancetoshine.com.
Inclusive Fitness Initiative
The Inclusive Fitness Initiative (IFI) is a programme that aims to improve access to fitness facilities and proactively increase participation in health and fitness activities by disabled people. It was developed following a study commission by the Gary Jelen Sports Foundation in 1998 that identified a number of barriers preventing disabled people from accessing fitness services. Sport England provided £6million of funding to the English Federation of Disability Sport Operating Company (EFDSOC) over 6 years to deliver the IFI up until 2007. The funding resulted in the accreditation of 179 inclusive facilities, 3,500 fitness centre staff receiving disability equity training and leveraging £4.2 million in partnership funding and site funded access works.
Following on from the Sport England funding the National Sports Foundation (NSF) made an award of £1,950,000 to the EFDSOC to further expand the delivery of the IFI between April 2007 and April 2009. The additional funding will lead to the creation and accreditation of a further 200 private sector accredited facilities, targeting an estimated 60,000 new disabled participants making approximately 1.8 million visits to fitness centre's and the delivery of 238 Level 1, 2 and 3 Disability Equity Training courses to approximately 3,610 fitness centre staff.
Although in its early stages the programme has already achieved a number of key milestones:
- Registrations received from 200 fitness facilities in England wanting to receive support through the programme
- Initial visits and access audits conducted at over 50 facilities (July 2007)
- The establishment of a programme of outreach. The Inclusive Activator Programme supports facilities to communicate with disabled people more effectively. This scheme is now fully operational in 5 out of 9 Sport England Regions.
For more information please visit www.inclusivefitness.org.
FA Tesco Skills Coach Programme
The FA Tesco Skills Coach Programme, coordinated by the FA and supported by Tesco and the National Sports Foundation, was yesterday launched at Wembley Stadium. The three-year programme aims to give one million children in England top-quality skills coaching by summer 2010. The programme employs 66 coaches nationally, who will deliver coaching sessions to 5-11year olds through schools, clubs and holiday skills centres. In attendance to launch the event was FA Chief Executive Brian Barwick, FA Director for Football Development Sir Trevor Brooking, Tesco CEO Sir Terry Leahy, Sean Holt of Sport England and the National Sports Foundation and Frank Lampard, who led an exclusive coaching session for 20 children on Wembley Way.
Derek Mapp, Chair of Sport England, which manages the National Sports Foundation said: "This is a fantastic way of helping young people get the sporting habit. Coaches are crucial to the health of community sport. This initiative will help raise standards and create opportunities in schools and clubs across the country."
Tesco CEO, Sir Terry Leahy, commented: "Being a massive football fan myself I am delighted that we are working with the FA at a local community level. The scheme will encourage kids to get active, have fun and enjoy football, and the great thing is that both boys and girls at any level will be able to get involved."
England and Chelsea midfielder, Frank Lampard, said: "The importance of good grassroots training for children cannot be underestimated. I remember practising my skills over and over as a youngster and that has helped me reach the top. Whatever your ability, the Skills Programme will help make you a better player."
Coaches for the programme include former Aston Villa and Liverpool winger, Mark Walters, and current England women's international Fara Williams. All 66 coaches have now completed an intensive three-week skills coaching course.
5-11 years olds can now sign up at www.TheFA.com/Skills to join 'the greatest club in England'.
Get Hooked on Fishing
Get Hooked on Fishing deliver fun and interactive training around the sport of angling. Their programme is especially designed by young people for young people. It helps to give the participants more confidence and to demonstrate that there are alternative pathways and better opportunities available to them. One of the schemes kickstarted by funding from the National Sports Foundation is in one of the most deprived areas in the country - Wansbeck.
The project co-ordinator, Darren McGlen, is a keen sea angler and he is working closely with a number of local partners to make sure that the scheme reaches out to those young people who will benefit most.
Darren can be seen here on one of his schemes first courses on the pier at Blyth.
Cobham Sports Association to begin construction
July 2007
The National Sports Foundation's (NSF) inaugural capital award of £300,000 to the Cobham Sports Association (CSA) is well underway. Demolition of the existing facility built in 1968 is complete with Cape Contractors Ltd commencing construction of its two story clubhouse consisting of; 6 changing rooms, an official's room, bar, club room/training facility and storage areas on the 4th of June. The facility is expected to be complete in December 2007.
The CSA received a generous donation of £250,000 from one of its trustees Mr Peter Marsh in 2006 towards the construction of a new clubhouse. Through match funding from the NSF, tremendous support from Elmbridge Borough Council's Sports Development Officer and a hard working committee expected to raise in excess of £270,000 the total project cost in excess of £1.06 million can be realised.
For more information on the progress of the construction or on the CSA please visit www.cobhamsportsassociation.co.uk.
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