If you would like further support for seeking funds contact your local Paddlesport Development Officer who will be happy to help.

Awards for All
Awards for all is a National Lottery grants scheme aimed at local communities which grants funds to projects in sport, art, heritage, and community activities.   It is probably the most popular and successful source of funding for our clubs and voluntary organizations.   Grants of £500 to £5,000 are available with priority given to organizations with an annual income of less than £15,000.  No partnership funding is required in cash but contributions of time, effort or materials are accepted and may help the application.  Each region will have priority groups that they wish to support – youth is usually included in these groups.   Your organization would need to have a constitution and bank account.  Decisions on applications are usually received in 12 weeks.
Due to changes in the programme Awards for All have made the following announcement.   We suggest you contact your local Paddlesport Development Officer  to help you with your application.

Sports based applications. As a result of a change in the level of funding available to the programme, fewer sports projects will receive an award in the year from 1 April 2004 to 31 March 2006. Sports based projects that most clearly meet the aims of Awards for All and our Regional Focus are most likely to receive an award.

To obtain further details and application form call 0845 600 2040 or go to the website  
 
Big Lottery Fund
This was launched in 2004 as the new distributor for lottery funding.   The fund aims to fund community transformation, from smaller grants at local level through to big capital projects, intended to regenerate and revitalise communities.   This is through a range of programmes - some of which are ‘open’ grant programmes, where a wide range of organisations can apply by completing an application form. Other programmes concentrate on strategic partnership working across different sectors, funding for infrastructure and development, or opportunities for voluntary sector involvement in the delivery of community services.

The new Lottery distributor will be responsible for giving out half of all lottery good cause money (equates to between £600 and £700 million a year until 2009.

The names ‘New Opportunities Fund’ and ‘Community Fund’ will gradually be superseded by the new name.

Community Fund programmes will continue to run in 2005. Applications should be made in the same way as usual (for information call 020 7211 3737 or email enquiries@community.fund.org.uk).
New Opportunities Fund programmes will also continue to publish timescales and programme priorities (for information call 0845 0000 121 email  general.enquiries@nof.org.uk).

For details of all the programmes under the Big Lottery go to their website

Young People’s Fund
This is funded through the Big Lottery Fund and has three types of grant available

• Grants to individual young people (or small groups of young people) to help them make a difference in their communities
• Grants to voluntary and community organisations to run local projects with and for young people
• Grants to voluntary organisations to fund national projects.
  For more details go to the website

Foundation for Sport and the Arts
This fund has been set up by the football pools promoters which donates grants to sport and arts organisations.   A wide range of projects have been included in grants.  For details and application form go to  their website - or contact the  Foundation for Sport and the Arts, PO Box 20, Liverpool  L13 1HB  Tel 0151 259 5505

Sportsmatch
This body aims to improve the quality and quantity of business sponsorship at grass roots level.    This government initiative, will match commercial sponsorship £ for £ starting with a minimum of £1,000 and a maximum of £75,000.  For further details see their website  Tel 020 7233 7747  or email info@sportsmatch.co.uk.

Local Sports Council and Local Authorities
You may be surprised to know that local authorities have made available significant grants for sports clubs and young sports people.  Check with your local authority’s department of leisure, recreation or sport for details of funding available in your area.

Other small grant assistance schemes may be available through your local sports forum.  Contact your LA department of recreation or leisure to find out if there is a Sports Council in your area.

Canoe Foundation
The Canoe Foundation is a BCU Charity with funds to support youth and disability groups.  Applications are considered twice yearly.  For further details go to Canoe Foundation.

Grant Seeker Smaller Trusts
The BCU provide a service through the development team for seeking suitable trusts for funding support.  Full details are included in the BCU “Alternative Funding” booklet.


The Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS)
The Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme, or TASS as it is more commonly known, is a Government funded programme to bridge the gap in sport’s talent development pathway between junior representative sport and world-class levels for our most talented 16 to 25 year-old sportspeople.  It represents a unique partnership between sport and higher and further education and is structured to help aspiring young sportspeople maintain a sensible balance between academic life or employment whilst training and competing as a performance athlete.

There are two ways that TASS can help talented youth;

• TASS Scholarships are for 18 to 25 year olds (extended upper age limit of 35 for scholar with a disability) who are undertaking higher or further education; and
• TASS Bursaries are for 16 to 19 years olds (extended upper age limit of 35 for bursar with a disability) who are undertaking further education or have left education to pursue a career.

Grants are administered through the British Canoe Union.  For more details on TASS go to their website.