Set for Success Sports Fund
A new scheme has recently been launched which will create and manage dedicated funds to encourage and support young sports men and women in the Horsham District towards achieving their goals of becoming Champions and Olympians of the future.
A small ’Administrative Body’ led by the Rotary Club of Horsham in partnership with local schools, businesses and the media, supported by Horsham District Council and working in conjunction with the ‘SportsAid’ charity, will establish two funds:
The first fund will support young sports people in the District who have attained recognition by their sport’s Governing Body but are not yet at the level where they are financed by lottery funding. The aim is to provide such people with £1000 per year through SportsAid, using their robust and transparent approach to funding young emerging talent. SportsAid will provide a list of young people each year, both able bodied and disabled, who qualify for support and live in the District.
A second fund will be created to provide financial support to young school children who are recognised as excelling at their chosen sport but who may to be forced to cease their training and participation due to financial constraints.
Various bodies and organisations across the District will be encouraged to run activities that will raise monies for the Funds. No single organisation will be expected to contribute significant time or money - this is very much a community approach. Schools, businesses, sports clubs, social clubs and other groups will be encouraged to organise simple fund raising activities that would generate donations for the Funds (ie Dress Down Days; Collections etc).
Once a year a more significant event will be organised across the District which will encourage public participation in sport, raise awareness of sports facilities and clubs in the District, promote health and well being, raise funds and enhance the profile of the scheme, as well as supporting the local visitor economy.
Other Benefits
The first of the Funds listed above has clearly named beneficiaries and therefore schools and businesses will know who their fund raising efforts have helped. In conjunction with SportsAid, the beneficiaries will be expected to visit the donors and talk about their sport, their motivation, successes and goals. It has been proven that such visits have a very motivational effect in encouraging other youngsters to pursue sports.
SportsAid can arrange for high profile Sports Personalities to attend fund-related community events. Whilst there is a charge (which is taken from the Fund) it is far less than would normally be expected.
The Launch Event
The Scheme was successfully launched on Sunday 25 July 2010 at Horsham District Council’s Sparks in the Park event in Horsham Park with an Inter-Business fun challenge! This was an ideal opportunity for businesses to raise their company profile in the community, show support for our up and coming sports stars, and foster team spirit within the staff!
It is planned that the launch event will be followed by an annual fund raising event with future fees to continue the sponsorship being £50 and £150 as the cups will have been purchased from the initial fees from the launch.
Business Partners will also have access to the Sportsmen and women supported by the scheme as well as being able to influence the future plans for the Programme and the selection of beneficiaries of the Programme.
For further details, or if you would like to support this fund or take part in this year's Set for Success Business Challenge, please contact:
John Le Rossignol, Rotary Club of Horsham (01403) 754005. Email jleross@attglobal.net
Peter Lake, Rotary Club of Horsham (01403) 239748
Sarah Hogben, Horsham District Council. Email leisure@horsham.gov.uk
Information about SportsAid
For over 34 years, SportsAid has financially supported talented, young sports people when they need it the most – at the start of their journey to international success. SportsAid is the first organisation to recognise their talent, often when Mum and Dad are their only sponsors.
Young athletes, both able-bodied and those with a disability, are nominated to SportsAid by their sport’s own national governing body (NGB). This ensures the right athlete is helped at the right time, and in the right way. It is a proven and established process that makes a genuine difference.
Many of Britain’s most successful athletes have been helped on their journey by SportsAid: Redgrave, Radcliffe, Grey-Thompson, Holmes, Hoy, Adlington, Wiggins, Ohuruogu, and many more. By raising money in the name of sport for the benefit of sport, we ensure the next generation has the backing they need to reach the same heights.
Last Updated ( 26 July 2010 13:41 )