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Rushcliffe Sports Grant – Workforce

The Rushcliffe Sports Grant – Workforce is in place to support the borough’s sports clubs in developing their workforce. This may include coaching, officiating, grounds maintenance and safeguarding.

As part of the application, sports clubs are required to produce a workforce project plan highlighting how they will spend the grant funding. The project plan should also include outlining beyond what the grant will fund, showing the clubs commitment to developing the workforce long term. Projects can be longer than 12 months but if successful, this grant must be used in the first 12 months.

The Rushcliffe Sports Grant - Workforce opens on Monday 17th February 2025 and closes for applications on Monday 31st March 2025.

You will be able to save your application and return to complete it at a later date and you will be shown a reference number when you submit your application – please make a note of this as confirmation of your submission.

Scope of the Award

Each year, two sports clubs will be funded £500 to support their workforce. £300 being paid up front, and the remaining £200 being paid on completion of the project.

Grants will NOT be awarded for retrospective costs including equipment purchased, or training courses and qualifications undertaken, before a grant offer is made.

 Eligibility and Criteria

 Applicants must fulfil the following criteria to be eligible for the Rushcliffe Sports Grant - Workforce:

  • Applicants must be a non-profit making, constituted community sports club based in Rushcliffe
  • Applicants must be affiliated to a National Governing Body.
  • Applicants must have a bank account in its name and be able to provide recent audited accounts.
  • The sport must be a Sport England recognised sport or discipline.
  • Applicants must provide a completed project plan.
  • Applicants must provide evidence of costings associated with the project.
  • Applicants must provide a Safeguarding Policy if the project benefits anyone under the age of 18 (this could be if coaches or officials will be working with this age group)
  • Applications from individuals will not be accepted.
  • The Rushcliffe Sports Grant - Workforce grant must be spent by 31st March 2026
  • All grants awarded are entirely at the discretion of Rushcliffe Borough Council and subject to funding being available.

What does the Rushcliffe Sports Grant - Workforce fund?

  • Recognised National Governing Body of Sport Level One and Level Two coaching qualifications
  • Recognised National Governing Body of Sport officiating courses (umpiring, refereeing, scoring etc)
  • Recognised Ground Maintenance Association (GMA) training courses and qualifications
  • Mentoring/coaching services to improve the performance of the club’s workforce
  • Equipment to support the club’s workforce – this must be linked to the wider project
  • Resources to support the club’s workforce
  • Other training courses to support specific roles such as safeguarding, mental health first aid training, financial planning/management for club treasurers etc.

What does the Rushcliffe Sports Grant – Workforce not fund?

  • Capital costs
  • Equipment not associated with the wider project
  • Ongoing costs such as venue hire, energy costs, insurance costs etc
  • Level Three or Four coaching qualifications, or fitness qualifications)
  • Courses for coaches or officials who are employed by the club or National Governing Body

Application and Decision Process

All applications submitted by the deadline will be assessed against the criteria and a report will be submitted to the Rushcliffe Sports Grant Panel. Applicants will be informed of the Council’s decision in writing.

It is anticipated this grant will receive a high number of applications and owing to this the Council will be unable to discuss unsuccessful applications. The decision of the Council will be final.

The Council will assess and mark applications based on the strength of the following:

  • Project objectives
  • Evidence of need
  • Sustainability/longer term plan
  • Project Plan

Terms and Conditions

Successful applicants will be required to sign a grant agreement which states that the club:

  • Will reference Rushcliffe Borough Council during any written or verbal press engagements where the topic of funding and support is covered.
  • Will receive £300 on acceptance of the grant, with the remaining £200 being paid on completion of the project.
  • To provide an end of project evaluation report when claiming the second instalment of funding. This includes providing any certification of courses/qualifications completed as part of the project.
  • To give permission for the project to be shared on both printed and web-based publications in relation to the Rushcliffe Sports Grant – Workforce, for the promotion of Rushcliffe Borough Council.
  • To provide information for interviews when requested for the promotion of the grant to a maximum of 2 requests per year. This information will be requested by a member of the Community Development team only.

Rushcliffe Sports Grants