Help with bills for local sports organisations

Local sports clubs and other community organisations which keep people active can apply to an emergency fund for help with bills.

Sport England has opened applications to a £20 million fund. The fund has been set-up with National Lottery and government funding and is there to help partners, clubs and community organisations that provide opportunities for sport and physical activity across England.

In West Suffolk, this means that organisations with a role in keeping local people active, but with short-term financial hardship or ceasing operations due to coronavirus, can apply for a grant of between £300 and £10,000.

John Griffiths, leader of West Suffolk Council said, “This emergency fund follows national measures to support business and communities through the pandemic and recognises the value to the country of being physically active to stay healthy.

“West Suffolk Council is working with partners to support eligible community organisations who need the help on offer. Many are already known to us, through locality and Community Chest funding, and I foresee a time, hopefully in the near future, when they will help communities recover by coming together through such sports and physical activity.”

A quick guide, available at www.westsuffolk.gov.uk/coronavirus/covid19communitysupport.cfm  sets out the sort of groups and items that the fund can support, including rent and utility bills. It also sets out who is not eligible, including parish and town councils and leisure operators and what the fund cannot be used for.

Further information about the fund, including eligibility criteria and how to apply, is available on the Sport England website.

The full set of questions is available so that organisations know what information they will need to provide when completing the online application form.

The fund is designed to complement other sources of funding, such as those targeted at small businesses, and applicants are expected to have exhausted all other government funding sources being offered during the crisis.

Active Suffolk is able to assist groups looking to apply.

Contact them through info@activesuffolk.org