Funding for Performers
Grant Aid for Snowsports Performers
Snowsport England have provided some advice for snowsport performers according to local, regional and national programmes. Often performers need to be at county or regional level to access funding but this is not always the case. We do hope the below helps you in your quest to maintaining participation in snowsport!
County Sports Partnership
Get in touch with your County Sports Partnership to find out about their localised funds e.g. Rising Star Fund. The School usually has to nominate the performer to be included in the this programme, which will enable them to attend various workshops throughout the school term (subject to the school allowing day release).
County Sports Partnership Contacts
Local Authority Sports Development Unit
Contact your local authority Sports Development Unit for details of schemes and funding available. They are often responsible for administering grants like Sports Aid.
Facilities
Some of the facilities offer sponsorship to talented athletes. Ask the site manager of the facility you train at whether they can offer sponsorship to the performers e.g. free/subsidised slope fees. It will hopefully spark some good conversation!
Skiers Trust
The aims and objectives of the Trust are to promote, educate, coach and support - providing experience to skiing and snowboarding to a broad spectrum of young people, schools, youth organisations or ski governing bodies.
The Skiers Trust was created by the National Ski Federation of Great Britain in 1966. It has changed its name since its original creation from British Ski Educational Association to The Skiers Trust of Great Britain Ltd. The Trust is a registered charity and is governed by the Articles and Memorandum of Association and we have a membership in excess of 120 of whom 12 can sit on the Council. We have two grant making meetings per annum and the applicants have to use the forms provided on the web site in order to apply for a grant where the Council members discuss and decide. The Trust’s financial position can be found on the Companies House web site as it is a public document as well as the Charity Commissioners web site.
Aims and Objectives (extracted from the Memorandum and Articles)
To promote, financially support and otherwise further such of the following purposes as are legally charitable:
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Education, instruction, coaching and provision of experience at all levels, of young persons in skiing, including all activities which take place on skis or boards on snow or other surfaces at schools, youth organisations or movements but only as part of and within the general framework of the whole curriculum or programme of educational and/or physical activities provided or undertaken by any such school, youth organisation or movement, club or ski governing body;
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Support for education in skiing for those above who are in financial need;
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Advancement of education by payment of all or part of the school fees of children talented in skiing;
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Education in and/or research into environmental issues of skiing areas;
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Promotion of safety in skiing and skiing areas and accident prevention.
Letter of support from Snowsport England
If you are competing at the appropriate level for the funding, we are happy to send a letter of endorsement to accompany your application.
ICAP Scholarship programme - due to reopen in 2012
This is an annual scholarship and is aimed at 14 - 19 year olds. One of the SSE athletes received £1500 support from the Youth Sport Trust in association with ICAP PLC through the ICAP Scholarship programme.
Dickie Bird Foundation – support for disadvantaged young people to participate in sport, to the best of their ability.
Are your child/children disadvantaged due to your financial situation?
Unable to afford the clothing or equipment they need to take part in sport?
Are they unable to continue in the sport of their choice?
http://www.dickiebirdfoundation.co.uk/
Mars Refuel – apply for up to £5,000 (awarded monthly) to help athletes play harder, for longer.
Sportsaid – assistance for talented young sportsmen and women aged between 12-16 years.
The charity was first established in 1976 and has since given financial support and recognition to talented sportsmen and women, helping them from the start of their sporting to career to international success. They are an organisation that recognise talent with a maximum grant of £500 awarded. Performers must be nominated by Snowsport England. This programme is often overseen by the local Sports Development Unit or County Sports Partnership so get in touch with your Borough, District and/or County Council.
TASS – designed especially to cater for the needs of athletes within the education system.
The Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme, or TASS as it is better known, is a Government funded programme to support and fast-track young sporting talent, the potential medal winners of the future. TASS is a unique partnership between sport and higher and further education.
The TASS programme has been created to help hundreds to fulfill their sporting potential by maintaining a sensible balance between academic life or employment whilst training and competing as a performance athlete. TASS aims to reduce the drop-out of talented athletes from sport due to academic and financial pressures.
E.G. a package of support is provided including strength and conditioning coaching, coaching support and physiology testing). NB: Performer must be nominated by Snowsport England.
Sponsorship
Attracting Sponsorship from companies is always difficult. First, performers need a website and a proven track record to show Sponsors of their achievements to date. Then send out the information to the Head Office of the company concerned. Quite often sponsorship may be in the form of clothing or equipment, so be open to what the company can offer.
Keep SSE updated of how you get on, we want to know!
