External funding boost for sports clubs in Hertfordshire

The 2,500+ voluntary sports clubs in the county will be able to access specialist advice to help identify possible external funding sources; to formulate successful bids; and to develop funding strategies leading to long term sustainability.

In announcing the partnership arrangements, John O’Callaghan, sports development manager at the Herts Sports Partnership said: “Our voluntary sports clubs make a massive contribution to community life in Hertfordshire.

“Run almost exclusively by volunteers, they do so much to make our communities safer and better places to live and work.

“Not only do they provide opportunities for our residents to enjoy their sport and to keep fit and healthy, but they also make a marked contribution in terms of social inclusion, community cohesion, anti-social behaviour reduction, and educational achievement.

“They are the living embodiment of the Big Society concept and we should never underestimate the work that these volunteers undertake.

“However, daily life for a voluntary sports club involves having to deal with creeping regulation, burgeoning legislation, escalating costs and a society where gratitude is often at a premium.

“Many of these clubs offer opportunities for people living at the margins of society and a lack of funding is a real threat to their survival.

“This new partnership deal with Funding4Sport will help those clubs secure vital external funding so that they can continue their outstanding work.

“We are delighted that we have secured an agreement with one of the country’s leading sports funding organisations and we look forward to a long and fruitful partnership for the benefit of sport in Hertfordshire.”

Echoing those sentiments, Richard Sutcliffe of Funding4Sport said: “We are delighted to be supporting sports organisations in Hertfordshire to access some of the many and varied external funding sources that are out there.

“Securing external funding can be a daunting task for a voluntary sports club and, as a company with a proud track record, we will be on hand to guide local sporting organisations through the external funding maze.

“The Herts Sports Partnership is recognised nationally as one of the leading County Sports Partnerships and we look forward to supporting their efforts on behalf of sport in Hertfordshire.”

For further details of the partnership agreement, how local clubs, schools and other organisations can access the support on offer, please click here