Grassroots sports clubs will now have access to a new fund of grants designed to help struggling organisations maintain their roles in the lives of young people.
The unrestricted grants of up to £2021 are a result of a donation of £4.79million by Flutter Entertainment, the global sports betting company responsible for well-known betting brands such as Paddy Power and Betfair.
The grants will be provided through the Cash4Clubs scheme, which has donated more than £800,000 to community sports since 2008. Made by Sport will be working with community foundations across the UK to disseminate grants to clubs that can show clear evidence of their work with young people.
For clubs to be eligible they must show that they help young people to:
- Develop life-long skills
- Offer training or pathways into employment
- Reduce crime and anti-social behaviour across their communities
- Tackle mental health issues
The grant will act as a way of injecting extra finance into their existing Clubs in Crisis fund that supports clubs heavily impacted by restrictions. Sophie Mason, the CEO of Made by Sport added:
“Whilst community sport provision is in a precarious state right now, there has never been more recognition that sport is fundamental to our individual, community and societal development. If sport at it its most grassroots level is denied, we risk a huge rise in mental health issues, anti-social behaviour and lack of life skills.”
Grant applications open on the 12th of April, see here for more information.
