To stand the best chance of receiving a grant or loan, clubs will need to prepare a detailed written business plan


OFTEN it is a question of a hard-won fight for cash and of knowing ‘how to play the game’, whatever the size of the club.


In essence, we are witnessing the transition from an amateur to a professional sporting dynamic, even at grass-roots level, and clubs have to demonstrate their professionalism by showing funding bodies that they can run their organisation to proven successful models.


National sporting agendas aside, a huge opportunity will open up for clubs across the country now that London will host the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games - some say the best opportunity this country has ever had for inspiring people of all ages and backgrounds to get involved in sport. A large slice of the funding that sports


clubs receive annually is generated by the National Lottery. Each of the home countries has a national sports council (Sport England, Sport Scotland, Sports Council Wales, Sports Council for Northern Ireland), and they are the agencies charged with administering Lottery funds in accordance with their own key objectives.


In England, the main funding stream for sports clubs to apply to develop their facilities is the Community Club Development Programme. Set up in December 2002 and administered by Sport England, the CCDP is a collaboration between the Department


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of Culture, Media and Sport, Sport England and 16 national governing bodies of sport (four band A and 12 band B). The £60m programme is earmarked for some 250-300 projects designed to meet the CCDP's aims of creating ‘a sustainable and financial viable sports club infrastructure in England that links with schools, provides appropriate support and pathways for identifying and developing talented individuals and meets the needs of local communities’.


Capital funding programmes exist in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, each with their own criteria and levels of support (see Table: National Sports Councils). In Eire, the Irish Sports Council channels funds primarily through national governing bodies and its network of Local Sports Partners. In all cases the objective is to get people to start, stay and succeed in sport at every level.


Eligibility criteria


FUNDING sources lay down set criteria for eligibility. To stand the best chance of receiving a grant or loan, clubs will need to prepare a detailed written business plan.


This will demonstrate the intent of the club to not only increase participation, but also to maintain their facilities at a high standard. When allocating funding, the respective sports governing body and


national sports council, for example, will ask what the club will contribute to the local economy and community. If the club can convince the agency that they can do this, as well as promote the health and fitness of those using their facilities, they stand a good chance of being granted funding. The accent on community participation does not rule out the involvement of clubs in elite sport.


Applying clubs might have aspirations to train aspiring Olympic athletes at their site, for example, as well as running a community sports programme. Excellence is a major priority for the national sports councils. A club that shows the intent to train athletes at Olympic standard will attract interest from funding bodies, as this is seen as meeting seal of excellence. The potential for participation will also be increased as higher standards of equipment and training make the club a more attractive and enduring proposition for a younger and broader catchment. By embracing the concept of


excellence, clubs are seen to be leading the way in contributing to their community, in training professional athletes, training and employing coaches and encouraging youngsters to engage in sports activities. Clubs who seek funding should ensure that the potential they have to achieve excellence is clearly outlined in their business plan.


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