Launch of The Greater Manchester Sports Fund 17th June 2005

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Launch of The Greater Manchester Sports
Fund17th June 2005
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• How it all started . . . .
• GMSP and CFGM were invited to submit a joint
  proposal for the distribution and management of
  Funds previously awarded by Sports Aid North West
  to talented young sports people within the
  Greater Manchester area.
• The organisational skills and infrastructure that
  exists within the two organisations combine to
  provide an accessible programme will provide
  maximum local benefit through local management
  and measurable outcomes.
• All administration will be undertaken by CFGM,
  promotional activity via both networks. The
  decisions on applications will be made by an
  independent Grant Panel which will be
  co-ordinated by the Foundation. This panel will
  be identified, recruited and trained within the
  early development period of the fund as outlined
  in the timing schedule.
• Award for year one 50,000 split equally into
  four quarters 10,000 plus 2500 for fast track
  applications

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• Criteria
• The following criteria was established through
  consultation with CFGM, GMSDO and GMSP staff
• The fund is available for athletes who have
  reached county, regional or national honours or
  who are perceived to have the potential to
  progress to such levels in the future given
  appropriate access to training and trials.
• The fund is open to athletes from all sports.
• Priority will be given to those athletes who are
  struggling to reach their potential due to a lack
  of financial support, and who are not in receipt
  of grants from elsewhere.
• The fund will be open to young sports men and
  women between the ages of 12 and 21 years at the
  time of submitting an application. (Exceptions to
  this will be for those sports where athletes are
  encouraged to specialise at a younger age, e.g.
  Gymnastics).

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• The fund is open to all able bodied and disabled
  athletes who fulfill the above criteria.
• Applications must be validated by a letter of
  support from the appropriate NGB or signed off by
  a nominated member of the Sports Development
  Team, or a designated member of GMSP or CFGM
  staff.
• Grants from 50 up to a maximum of 750 can be
  applied for during a 12 month period.
• Only one grant is permitted per person at any one
  time. If an individual is awarded less than the
  maximum amount and wishes to apply for further
  funding within a 12 month period they can do so
  providing the previous grant has been spent in
  full and appropriate receipts and End of Grant
  forms have been received by CFGM.
• Fast- track grants of up to 250 can be awarded
  for time critical applications who meet the
  priority criteria (20 day turn around).

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• How will the process work?
• Administration of the GM Sports Fund will be
  delivered by the Community Foundation for Greater
  Manchester.
• We propose to deliver a standard application
  process (maximum 16 weeks from receipt of
  complete application to decision), following the
  steps below, as well as a fast track system.
• Step 1
• Applications meeting requirements will be
  submitted to the grant panel for consideration.
• Applications with missing information or that
  require further information will be placed as
  pending subject to collation of all information,
  once this is complete it will be submitted to
  panel.
• Applications of poor quality, but indicating that
  the applicant is possibly a suitable candidate
  for success will either be contacted by a member
  of CFGM staff for support, or referred back to
  the appropriate SDO if further development is
  required.
• Step 2
• The applicant will receive written confirmation
  that their application has been received and
  notified of the next steps, a sheet that
  advises them of the date they will expect to
  receive a decision by.

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• Step 3
• Panels will sit on a quarterly basis with the
  funds for the year (less monies reserved for
  fast-track applications) being split equally
  across the panels to ensure that good applicants
  will not miss out on funding because all money
  has been spent earlier in the year.
• Dependent upon the decisions of the panel
  applicants can be
• Awarded as per application (or part-funded
  according to the panels decision)
• Deferred for further information
• Declined
• Panel Dates April 06 beyond
• 1st Deadline for applications 5th May 06
• 1st Panel Meeting 15th June 10am
• 2nd Deadline for applications 4th August 06
• 2nd Panel Meeting 14th September 10am
• 3rd Deadline for applications 3rd November 06
• 3rd Panel Meeting 12th December 10am

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Sports Aid in Manchester, the charity for sport,
has been re-launched as the Greater Manchester
Sports Fund with the support of MCFC players,
Bradley and Shaun Wright-Phillips