LCCC ‘Keep the Ball Rolling’ Fund 2022

Contents
– Introduction
– Guidance notes:
   – Who can apply - eligibility? 
– Programme criteria
   – Application process
– Apply

Introduction

Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council has launched a small grants fund for constituted Sports Clubs and other voluntary groups, as a means to support an area of development within your club.  Projects must take place between October 2022 and March 2023.

Applications for funding, up to a maximum of £3,000, must demonstrate how the proposal responds to the key themes as outlined below in Programme Criteria.

The closing date for receipt of applications is 4.00pm on Friday 26th August 2022

Applications will be assessed late-August to early September with the successful applicants notified in late September.

Please see below a Powerpoint presentation which outlines this fund.

Keep the Ball Rolling PowerPoint

Guidance notes:
Who can apply - eligibility?

The Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council fund is open to constituted Sports Clubs who are affiliated to their National Governing body as well as their local Sports Advisory Body, Sport Lisburn & Castlereagh. Other voluntary organisations within a sporting context, who can demonstrate the appropriate governance and insurance may also be eligible. This grant is exclusively for clubs/groups based in the Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council area that meet the following criteria:

  • An open and accountable governing document (Constitution or Articles and Memorandum of Association, or applicable governing document) that has been properly adopted;
  • A bank account in the name of the organisation, which requires a minimum of two unrelated members to authorise withdrawals and an annual set of independently examined financial accounts, endorsed at an Annual General Meeting;
  • A Management Committee or Governing Board, elected by its membership at an Annual General Meeting, and elected office bearers;
  • Have appropriate Safeguarding Policies for protecting Children and Vulnerable adults, who are involved as part of the group’s programme;
  • Public Liability Insurance, to cover all risk associated with the activities of the organisation.

We will not fund individuals, sole traders or profit-making organisations.

Programme criteria

What we will fund:

The fund has been developed to help Sporting Organisations meet costs during this difficult time but for this scheme we want evidence of tangible beneficial outcomes such as:

  • Sports Equipment (Not clothing merchandise or kits)
  • Specialist equipment e.g. lawnmower, people counters
  • Small scale improvements to grounds e.g. outside water tap, fertilise pitch, permanent bins
  • Club Development Officer Post which would see a minimum of 100 hours of coaching delivery in a school/club setting
  • Sports Festival e.g. one-off event to help boost the existing membership of your club
  • Up-skilling of coaches/volunteers through Coach Education courses and workshops

What we will not fund:

Unlike our previous Return to Sport scheme we won’t fund non-tangible running costs such as:

  • Rent/Lease
  • Facility Hire (for existing training sessions)
  • Utilities - electric, heat, light, water
  • Governing body fees
  • Insurance (essential building/contents insurance, public liability, pro-rata)

Please note that only one application is permitted per club. Multiple applications relating to different sections of a club will NOT be considered.

How much we will fund

The recommended minimum grant to apply for is £1,000. But please note we will also consider funding applicants who need less than this amount to make their project happen. The maximum amount that any group will be awarded is £3,000. Any money granted is for costs incurred from 1st April 2022.

Application process

All funding requests must be completed either online using the link at the bottom of this page. The required supporting documentation must be sent with the application (unless we have received it in the last 12 months and there has been no changes to it).

Before applying, please check that:

  • your organisation is eligible to apply;
  • your application meets the priorities of this fund;
  • you have completed every question on your Application Form;
  • you can provide all the information we ask for as part of the application process.

Once your application is received, we will:

  • Perform an Eligibility Check on your application and then assess it against the key themes of the grant, as highlighted in the PROGRAMME CRITERIA section above;
  • Contact you with questions should we need to, so please keep a copy of your Application Form for your reference;
  • Not assess your application if it is incomplete.

If your project is successful, we will:

  • Send you a Conditional Offer and our Terms & Conditions of Grant by email for your organisation to sign and return to the council;
  • Clearly indicate the eligible expenditure for the funding offered;
  • Request the grant to be acknowledged through the inclusion of the official Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council’s logo on all related promotional material associated with the project and that an elected member or council officer from Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council, is invited to the event/activity to which the grant is awarded;
  • Submission of a completed Award Evaluation Form. Failure to complete and submit an Evaluation Form will exclude your club/group from being eligible to receive future funding.

If your application is unsuccessful, we will:

  • Contact you by email informing you of the reasons why your application has not been successful, for which there is no right of Appeal.

Once we have received your signed Terms and Conditions we will:

  • Make payment to your group’s bank account, via the Bankers Automated Clearance System (BACS).

Proposals must comply with relevant government, public health and licensing guidance and regulations. Any activity outside the set timescales or guidance and regulations will not be eligible for funding.

Apply online