Mayo Sports Partnership launches 2020 Sports Investment Scheme
Having had to postpone its normal scheme launch date in March due to Covid-19, Mayo Sports Partnership is delighted to announce details of its revamped Sports Investment Scheme for 2020.
While Covid-19 has impacted hugely on sports clubs and organisations many clubs are looking to continue to develop their activities, extending their reach within communities and providing much needed outlets to improve people health and wellbeing.
The scheme, supported by Sport Ireland, invites clubs and organisations who have sport/recreation as their central focus to submit proposals which would increase participation amongst disadvantaged groups of our population.
Since the scheme was established in 2005 hundreds of initiatives have been assisted in communities across Mayo.
Recent projects have included development of new underage basketball clubs in Westport and Charlestown, development of volleyball in Mayo, Mayo inline hockey club, a new table tennis club in Ballyhaunis, development of masters basketball, Mothers & Others GAA programmes in Knockmore, Foxford and Crossmolina, junior golf programmes in Ballinrobe and Ballina, and much more.
As an addition to the scheme this year the Partnership is inviting clubs/organisations who are planning to hold coach education courses, volunteer training/upskilling workshops and similar events to apply for some assistance towards the cost of these initiatives.
Councillor Michael Loftus, chairman, Mayo Sports Partnership, commented: “The Partnership knows that volunteers in sport have faced tremendous challenges over the last number of months and we would like to help clubs in whatever way we can to get their activities back on track.
“Sport is so important to the fabric of life in communities the length and breadth of the county.”
Organisations and groups are asked to note that any capital/building projects are not eligible for investment under the scheme’s criteria and clubs should refer to the government’s sports capital programme, see www.dttas.ie.
Other items such as ongoing costs for teams - i.e. travel costs, competition costs, registration fees and sponsorship - are also not eligible.
The closing date for applications is 5 p.m. on Friday, October 23, 2020. The maximum allocation to any one project can be €1,000 and this is dependent on the quality of the initiative.
The Mayo Sports Partnership board will decide on all successful applications and its recommendations are final.
If clubs/groups require assistance on the scheme, contact the Sports Partnership office at (094) 9064360 or log on to https://www.mayo.ie/sports-partnership to download a copy of the application form.