PCC fires the starting gun on a summer of sport for North Wales
Written by Gary Carr on 03/06/2024
With Euro 2024 in Germany and the Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris fast approaching, a new fund is being launched which aims to help sports clubs and organisations across North Wales put on activities for the young people of the region over the holidays.
Called the Summer Sports Fund, the funding pot is being launched today (3 June) by North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Andy Dunbobbin, who is encouraging clubs and youth organisations to apply now for the funding to pay for sporting activities throughout the summer break.
One of the aims of the Summer Sports Fund is to help combat issues of anti-social behaviour, which can often spike over the summer months, by keeping children and young people occupied in a positive way, promoting teamwork, exercise, and a fun and inclusive atmosphere for everyone.
The new fund comes on the back of last year’s hugely successful Summer Soccer Fund, which centred on football and helped provide funding for activities and equipment for teams across North Wales. The new fund differs in that it is open to all sports. The Commissioner has allocated £25,000 to support these projects for the summer period with the focus being on empowering and developing children and young people and combating anti-social behaviour.
The PCC is hoping to support 25 organisations across North Wales and therefore a maximum of £1,000 will be available for each project and applications are requested by midnight on 28 June.
Andy Dunbobbin, Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales, commented: “I am delighted to launch my Summer Sports Fund. I hope it will make a real difference to the young people of North Wales during the summer holidays and emulate the outstanding success of last year’s Soccer Fund, which brought so much to so many teams across the region.
“We all know that sport is an excellent way of fostering a feeling of togetherness, confidence, positivity and, most important of all, fun, among young people. Another upshot of taking part in sport is that they are less likely to get involved in some less positive activities such as anti-social behaviour.
“I was re-elected as PCC in May on a promise of supporting communities and reducing anti-social behaviour in North Wales and I am determined fulfil my pledge. That’s why I am launching this Summer Sports Fund at the earliest opportunity, so the young people of North Wales can keep active and thrive over the holidays. I would encourage any club or community organisation that thinks they are eligible for funding to apply now and create a summer of sport right across the cities, towns and villages of North Wales. We might even find a future Euro, Olympic or Paralympic star right here in our midst!”
Eligibility and funding criteria
To be eligible for funding, applicants are asked to complete a short application form by midnight on Friday, 28 June. The project must be based in North Wales and work with children and young people up to and including 17 years old. The project must explain how they will tackle issues of anti-social behaviour or be linked to the Commissioner’s Police and Crime Plan. All organisations will need to ensure they have a safeguarding policy and/or child protection policy and all staff and volunteers have completed relevant DBS checks. It is preferred that the project includes an element of match funding, but this is not essential.
Exclusions
The grant cannot be used to fund an individual, organisations established to make profit, or work that statutory bodies (such as schools or local authorities) have a duty to fund. Applications will not be considered from local government, prisons, NHS bodies, projects that take place outside of the UK.
To find out more, visit: www.northwales-pcc.gov.uk/summer-sports-fund