Funding your club 

Recent strained financial times mean that nearly everyone is feeling the pinch one way or another, and that may include your club. The good news is that you could receive a cash boost as funding is available out there if you know how to get hold of it.

The RYA’s Regional Development Officers (RDO’s) are always available to offer advice and pointers on the best ways to secure funding. With this in mind, three of the RDO’s, Guy Malpas, Graham Manchester and Gareth Brooks’ special workshop at Club Conference was aimed at helping you improve your chances obtaining a cash grant for your club.

Graham explained, ‘The good news is that there are funds out there and sailing clubs are prime targets for funding as they tick a number of boxes by providing training, promoting fitness and development, are driven by volunteers and are generally very community based.

‘So it’s just a question of knowing where to go and how to go about doing it. Our knowledge can really help push you in the right direction.

‘For example, at the moment, there isn’t much funding available for facilities, but plenty for equipment, so you can plan your spending around that.’

Plan Ahead

You need a clear idea of where the money is going to go and what you want to use it for. It won’t pay to randomly apply for funding as you might end up with money you can only spend in areas you don’t want to grow as a club. Sit down and work out where you feel your club needs to go and target those areas.

From there, draw up a Club Development Plan. This might sound like a pain, but it will prove invaluable in securing funds. The three factors to consider are:

• Where you are now: Number of boats, cash in the pot, membership trends.
• Where you want to be.
• How you’re going to get there.

Now you’re ready to start applying for funds, here are the RDO’s top sources for funding.

Sport England Small Grants Programme

This is a programme which can provide up to £50,000 worth of funding for sport related projects. I know many clubs have been successful in securing funds through this one.

Graham explained, ‘The main stipulation is that you are a not for profit organisation and the main criteria is to introduce more people in to the sport and also to get your current members out sailing more.’

The application takes about eight weeks to process and you will need a reference, which the RYA is happy to supply.

You can find our more here www.sportengland.org/funding.aspx

Youth Opportunity and Youth Capital Fund

Gareth explains the criteria, ‘This one is all about youth development and the application will have to be actually written by a junior club member.

‘Grants can be anything between £5 and £10,000 and the amount varies from county to county. I have had a number of clubs in my area get help from this source.’

Find out more at www.dcsf.gov.uk

John Merricks and Eric Twiname

Guy chose two smaller independent charities. He explained, ‘These guys generally go for projects which provide a junior racing pathway at your club and although they don’t have masses of cash, they’re always keen to help out - perhaps with a boat here or there.

‘The fact is that they are often overlooked, so apply to them!’

To find out more visit www.jmst.org.uk

We’re here to help

Beyond this, you have the RYA itself. You can apply for funds through the RYA Sailability Programme to improve access. In addition to this, if you are a Volvo Champion Club or an OnBoard Club, or even if you’re applying to become one, you can pick up funding for training; RDO’s have access to funds to improve the quality of coaching at your club.

Ultimately there are funds out there, but the fact is that many people just aren’t taking advantage. The important thing is to keep pushing and pressing, there is money out there and we’re happy to help you access it.

Further information on sources of funding that may be on offer to your club.