Mayo Sports Partnership launches Return to Sport Small Grant Scheme
Date: 01-06-2021
With sporting clubs & groups returning to sport Mayo Sports Partnership is delighted to announce details of its revamped Sports Investment Scheme for 2021.
While COVID19 has impacted hugely on sports clubs and organisations many clubs are looking to return safely to sport & physical activity, extending their reach within communities and providing much needed outlets to improve people health and wellbeing.
The scheme, supported by Sport Ireland, invites clubs and organizations who have sport / recreation as their central focus to submit proposals which would return participants to sporting activities and/ or increase participation amongst disadvantaged groups of our population.
Since the scheme was established hundreds of initiatives have been assisted in communities across Mayo. 2020 initiatives included development of a new rowing club in Ballina, a new camogie club in Claremorris, Mothers & Others Ladies Football Clubs in Islandeady, Carnacon and Kilmoremoy, Mayo Autism Camp and much more.
Mayo Sports Partnership is also inviting clubs / organisations who are planning to hold coach education courses, volunteer training / upskilling workshops etc to apply for some assistance towards the cost of these initiatives.
Mayo Sports Partnership Chairman Cllr Michael Loftus commented “ The Partnership knows that volunteers in sport have faced tremendous challenges over the last number of months and we would like to help clubs in whatever way we can to get their activities back on track . Sport is so important to the fabric of life in communities the length and breadth of the county”.
Sports Partnership Head Charlie Lambert added: “ While this scheme may give a little help to clubs returning to sport, we are mindful here in the Partnership that indoor sports have been disproportionally affected by the Pandemic with many closed since March 2020. We plan to run an additional scheme in Autumn 2021 which will specifically assist this sector, so if groups are not ready to apply at this time they can wait until then”.
Organisations / Groups are asked to note that any capital / building projects are not eligible for investment under the schemes criteria and clubs should refer to the governments sports capital programme, see www.dttas.ie . Other items such as ongoing costs for teams ie travel costs, competition costs, registration fees, sponsorship etc are also not eligible.
Closing date for applications is 5pm on Friday 19th June 2021, the maximum allocation to any one project can be €1,000 and this is dependent on the quality of the initiative. The Mayo Sports Partnership committee will decide on all successful applications and its recommendations are final. If clubs / groups require assistance on the scheme contact the Sports Partnership office at 094-9064360 or download an application form here