Following their investment announcement recently Mayo Sports Partnership has now launched details of its upcoming Special Participation Grant Scheme for 2015.
The scheme invites clubs and organisations who have sport/recreation as their central focus to submit proposals which would increase participation amongst target groups such as youth at risk, disadvantaged communities, unemployed, women, travelling community, disabilities and ethnic minorities. This may include setting up of new clubs or additional activities which would increase participation within existing organisations.
Over the last couple of years particular focus was placed on inviting communities / organisations to think about forming walking and jogging groups in their locality. This has proved to be very successful and the Partnership will continue to support sports clubs / groups who are looking at providing activities which are fun and recreational in nature. Projects which received funding under the scheme in the past included assisting the development of a youth cycling programme in Ballina, supporting a new athletic club in Ballycastle, new underage basketball club in Ballintubber, the development of table tennis in the county, underage section in Westport squash club, special Olympic swimming programmes, adventure sports opportunities, mass participation programmes in running / walking, development of underage basketball in the county, and the development of underage camogie in the county. “Mayo Sports Partnership has supported over 300 various sports / physical activity initiatives in recent years allocating approximately €220,000.
The board recognises the need to support sports volunteers in the fantastic work they are doing in the community” stated Mayo Sports Partnership Sports Co-ordinator Charlie Lambert. Organisations/ groups are asked to note that any capital/building projects are not eligible for funding under the schemes criteria and clubs should refer to the governments sports capital programme which was also recently announced. Other items such as travel costs, competition costs, registration fees etc are also not eligible. Closing date for applications is 4pm on Wednesday, May 6, 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 board will decide on all successful applications and its recommendations are final. For further information on the scheme contact the Sports Partnership office at (094 ) 9047025 or log on to our website at www.mayosports.ie/news to download a copy of the application form.
