1. About this Guide
This guide provides you with details of the Northern Home Counties (NHC) Grants Scheme and explains how you can apply for funding.
2. About the Grants Scheme
The objects of the Area are to foster, encourage, develop and promote the sport of Judo at all levels and for all people. Promote, organise and provide opportunities for the teaching, practice and development of Judo for recreation and competition and Promote diversity and inclusivity within the sport of Judo.
To contribute towards the delivery of our objectives we have provided a Grants Scheme to assist our clubs and our members in their development.
3. Who Can Apply?
All registered clubs within the BJA’s Northern Home Counties Area are eligible and can apply for a grant award. The grant is available to support revenue funded activities such as coaching, members development costs, also running costs for newly formed clubs.
4. When will the Grants Scheme be available?
There will be 4 bidding rounds and the bidding period for each round will be 8 weeks:
1. 1st April (Deadline for submitting bids - 12 noon on 26th May)
Applicants will be notified of the decision by the end of June.
2. 1st July (Deadline for submitting bids – 12 noon on 25th August)
Applicants will be notified of the decision by the end of September.
3. 1st October (Deadline for submitting bids – 12 noon on 24th November)
Applicants will be notified of the decision by the end of December.
4. 1st January (Deadline for submitting bids – 12 noon on 23rd February)
Applicants will be notified of the decision by the end of March.
5. Grant Programme Objectives and Funding Priorities
The objectives of the Grants Scheme are to support the development of our clubs and members through:
· Start-up Grants up to £250 for newly formed NHC area clubs, affiliated to the BJA. Grants can only be awarded for specific purposes i.e. contribution towards purchase of mats, judo suits, rent/facility hire fees.
· Grants to support BJA Coaching/Refereeing and Technical Officials courses – up to £100 per person.
· Grants to support Initiatives benefiting the club (e.g. First Aid, Safeguarding, Club Welfare) – up to £100 per person.
· Grants to support Talented individuals (players representing England or Great Britain) – up to £100. A contribution towards the cost of attending the event. Note: These grants must be applied for by the Senior Club Coach. The Grant will be paid into the Club Bank Account, and managed by the Senior Club Coach, who will then pass the award on to the individual(s).
· Grants to support Talented Individuals (players and Referees) attending European, World and Olympic events – The NHC Grants Panel has the discretion to awards a grant of up to £250.
· Grants to support Hardship. To maximise participation – up to £100 per person. Can only be awarded for specific purpose i.e. mat fees, judo licence, judo kit.
6. Minimum Grant Standards
The Grants Programme will be run in line with our obligations as an English Area within the British Judo Association and in accordance with any governance standards. Our primary concern is to have due regard to the way we account for our Grant expenditure and value for money.
7. Eligibility
The Grants Scheme is open to all clubs registered to the Northern Home Counties Area. The completed Grant Application must be signed, which could be by an electronic signature, by one of the following (authorised members):
· The Senior Club Coach
· The Club Chairperson
· The Club Secretary
· The Club Treasurer
The person signing the Grant Application will be the Lead Applicant who will be responsible for managing and accounting for the grant awarded.
8. Application Process & Assessment
Your Grant Application Form can be submitted using the following link. All questions on the application form must be completed in full. The application process will commence as follows:
· Review of the application to determine that it meets the criteria and objectives.
· Those that meet the criteria will be put forward for consideration by the Grants Panel.
· Where an application is unsuccessful the applicant will be contacted and given an opportunity to provide/amend information, enabling their application to meet the criteria. If information is not available, their application will be withdrawn.
· Applications that are successful following this exercise will be considered by the Grants Panel.
9. Payment of Grant Award
We will endeavour to make payment within one week of notifying you that your application has been successful. Grant awards will be paid in one instalment of the amount awarded. Payment will be made by BACS into the club’s bank account. We reserve the right to withdraw funding and/or recover any funds already paid to you if you make any false representations in relation to your application.
10. Evaluation
Successful applicants are expected to participate in any evaluation exercise carried out by us that will enable us to assess the impact and value of the grants awarded.
11. Assistance with your Application
If you require any assistance in completing your application, please contact Dave Edmonds on david@edmonds-accountancy.co.uk who will be pleased to assist with any queries you may have around the application process, or any other related matters. Also, please let us know if you require any reasonable adjustments to facilitate your application.
12. GDPR
As part of the BJA we are committed to ensuring that your privacy is protected. Should we ask you to provide certain information by which you can be identified, then you can be assured that it will only be used in accordance with the BJA’s privacy statement. For more information about your rights and how you can exercise them, please go to the BJA website where you can view or download a copy of the Privacy Policy.
Please Note:
· Only one Start-up Grant will be paid to a Club.
· Normally a maximum of two Grants will be awarded to an individual member of the NHC area in any one year.
· Normally a maximum of £250 can be applied for by the Lead Applicant in any one bidding round.
· Normally a maximum of £500 can be applied for by the Senior Club Coach (Lead Applicant) in any one year.
· It is a condition of the Grant that the recipient, if asked, provide feedback on the use of Grant Award.
· A grant cannot be applied for if the activity has already taken place. Approval must be given prior to the activity taking place.
· Any funding not used for the stated purposes of the grant must be returned.
· To acknowledge the NHC in any literature or publicity materials associated with your Grant Award, including social media.
· To permit the NHC the use of any information related to the Grant Award to publicise and promote the activities of the area in any communication or publication, whatever the form or medium (including the Internet