Funding initiative for Wiltshire sports clubs announced (From This Is Wiltshire)

Local sports clubs have the opportunity to receive funding to help encourage new people get into sport thanks to two new grants.

Clubs can apply to Wiltshire Council for up to £400 to help set up a Return to Sport or Sports Stars project. The Return to Sport programme has been developed to encourage adults (over 16s) to get back into sport, or to try a sport for the first time.

Return to Sport is an ideal way to bring new adult members into sports club by providing coaching sessions over an eight week period.

The Sports Stars programme works on a similar basis but the target audience is young people aged five to 16 years. Again it aims to encourage young people to join the sports club, once they have gained confidence and developed skills during the eight week programme.

There are three deadline dates throughout the year for both initiatives, the end of June, end of October and end of January. Both funding pots will be open for sports clubs to apply from April 1.

Stuart Wheeler, cabinet member for leisure, said: “The grants offered through the Return to Sport and Sports Stars programmes will enable clubs to offer a high quality coaching scheme. At the end of the projects, clubs will provide opportunities for participants to continue to be involved in the sport on a more regular basis.”