Sport England Relaunches Sportsmatch

Sport England has announced the re-launch of its Sportsmatch initiative to encourage new or additional sponsorship investment from businesses, trusts and private individuals into community based sports projects.

Through the scheme, Sportsmatch will continue to offer pound for pound matched funding to investments made by businesses, trusts and individuals into projects that encourage sports participation at grass roots level.

The minimum award made by Sport England is £1,000 and the maximum is £50,000. If you are a school the minimum award is £500 (the maximum is still £50,000). The funding available is primarily for running costs although capital awards of up to £10,000 can be made through the scheme.

Applicants will now apply online with telephone support available from Sport England on 08458 508 508. The scheme is open to community based sports projects, in particular those that benefit young people, disability groups, black and minority ethnic groups and/or women and girls. All projects applying in 2008/09 will need to ensure that they are able to deliver their project in its entirety by 31 March 2009. This will ensure that the benefits of the scheme are received at the earliest opportunity.

Since its original launch in November 1992, Sportsmatch, together with commercial sponsorship, has invested more than £102 million into 5784 community sports projects across England.

Applications to the scheme can be made at any time: www.sportsmatch.co.uk/index.html