Covid-19 Sport Recovery Fund

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A decision made on 7 May 2021

Decision Reference: MD-E-2021-0012
Decision Summary Title	COVID-19 Sport Recovery Fund	Date of Decision Summary	22 March 2021
Decision Summary author	Private Secretary EDTSC	Decision Summary: Public or exempt?	Public
Written Report title	COVID-19 Sport Recovery Fund	Date of Written Report	17 March 2021
Written Report author	Jersey Sport CEO	Written Report: Public or exempt?	Public
Subject: COVID-19 Sport Recovery Fund
Decision: The Minister decided that a sum of £109,223 from the budget of Jersey Sport should be utilised for a COVID-19 Recovery Fund for Sport (second round) to assist sports clubs and associations to recover from the effects of the pandemic and ongoing restrictions on activity that were necessary.
Reasons for Decision: The Jersey Sport 2020 travel grant budget was underspent due to COVID-19 travel restrictions and constraints, which continued to affect sports travel into 2021. The public health measures have halted, or significantly reduced, many sporting activities and created financial challenges for sporting clubs and associations. In view of the importance of active lifestyles, health and wellbeing, the Minister wished to support and sustain existing clubs and associations to enable them to resume after the pandemic.
Resource Implications: There are no financial or staffing resource implications arising from this decision. This is repurposing existing travel grant funding for sports.
Action required: Approval given to Jersey Sport to repurpose £109,223 of underspend travel grant money to provide grants to sports bodies financially impacted by COVID-19.
Signature: Deputy Hugh Raymond		Position: Assistant Minister with responsibility for Sport - Economic Development, Tourism, Sport and Culture
Date signed:		Date of Decision (If different)

Covid-19 Sport Recovery Fund

JERSEY SPORT
2021 COVID-19 Recovery Fund for Sports (Round 2)

Proposal

17/03/2021

Introduction	Not-for-profit sports clubs are closed or significantly impacted by the recent and current COVID-19 restrictions. Overheads and rental payments are due, membership numbers are dwindling in some sports with uncertainty over 2021 activities. Revenue streams are non-existent or heavily restricted, e.g. events, catering, socials, competitions etc. Reserves are being depleted across many organisations. To save clubs from collapsing or becoming unsustainable into the future, financial assistance is required.
Background (Round 1)	The first round of COVID-19 Recovery Fund for Sports utilised 2020 sports travel grant underspends, with an original budget of £105,000. This was authorised by the Assistant Minister with Responsibility for Sport, at the time, Senator Pallett. The 2020 travel grant budget experienced underspends due to COVID-19 travel restrictions and constraints, which continue to affect sports travel into 2021. Applications for the first round closed on 30 September 2020. Comprehensive terms and conditions, FAQs, and application forms were all available on the Jersey Sport website. The first round of COVID-19 Recovery Fund for Sports grants in 2020 saw 11 not-for-profit sports organisations awarded a total of £61,417. Together with further underspends on 2020 travel grants from the last few months of 2020 the total underspend is £49,223 from the 2020 travel grants and COVID-19 Recovery Fund budget. Jersey Sport proposes these funds are carried over and maintain the purpose of sports recovery grants into 2021, along with funds from 2021 Q1&2 travel grants, as detailed below.
Restrictions on Sport	Since the first round, additional restrictions have been introduced, including: Circuit breaker closing indoor sport and exercise services 2m physical distancing Gatherings limited to 10 outdoors These measures have put a stop to, or significantly reduced, most sporting activities.
Funding Source	Jersey Sport proposes the following figures comprise round 2 of the COVID-19 Recovery Fund for Sports, in 2021: £49,223 – underspend from 2020 travel grants and COVID-19 Recovery Fund for Sports. Request approval to carry over to 2021, maintaining the previously authorised purpose of recovery grants. £30,000 – first quarter 2021 and £30,000 for second quarter travel grants as sports travel is unlikely in the first six months of 2021. This will create a fund total of £109,223.
The Request to the Assistant Minister with Responsibility for Sport	Due to the financial challenges faced by sporting organisations, Jersey Sport requests the funds highlighted above are authorised to support sports clubs and associations in the form of a COVID-19 Recovery Fund for Sport (round 2), retaining the funds in sport, in 2021. Sport and physical activity play a critical role in the physical and mental health of islanders. This grant support will save not-for-profit sports organisations, who are predominately volunteer run, from the financial pressures they currently face.
	Recovery Fund
Purpose	To appropriately support sports to recover and re-start from the impact of COVID-19. This will enable sport and physical activity to continue positively impacting the physical and mental health of islanders. There is a limited fund available so the principles (below) will be applied and funding decisions will be made based on the priorities for investment (detailed below).
Principles	The allocation of funds must be targeted and timely, with all funding spent by the end of December 2021. The intention of this grant fund is to support sports to recover and re-start. Sports should be supported to be sustainable and to avoid collapse due to the financial pressures of COVID-19. Grants should be allocated based on a demonstratable need. Where no or limited associated income has been received to off-set the costs incurred, as would have been the case in previous years. Sporting organisations should not be in a better financial position than they would have been in previous years because of receiving a grant. E.g. This fund is not intended to support sports organisations who have continued to receive full annual membership fees, broadly in line previous years, that are usually used to cover the costs. Grants should only be available to not-for-profit sporting organisations. Sports businesses should be supported through other Government schemes for business and not this grant fund. This is a one-off grant support for sustainable not-for-profit organisations. Sporting organisations should look at their operating model to ensure they are sustainable into the future.
Eligibility	Sporting organisations will need to demonstrate how their operating model is sustainable for the future. The applicant must be a not-for-profit organisation. The applicant must be able to demonstrate effective governance and financial assurance.
Criteria	Organisations will need to meet one or both of the following criteria to receive a grant through this fund; Sporting organisations will need to demonstrate how the required funds will allow recovery from financial burden and/or loss as a specific result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Sporting organisations can demonstrate how the funding will be used to adapt their delivery or offer in response to the impact of COVID-19 on their organisation or club. In order to meet the specified criteria, the following will need to be demonstrated by the applicant; 1 – Recovery from financial burden • Detail of loss of income or additional spend required as a result of Covid-19. • Accompanying financial accounts to demonstrate the above 2 - Adaptation of delivery or offer • Detail of adaptation in order to respond to the impact of covid. For example and not exhaustive; • online booking system • new online events and/or calendar • promotion and marketing for new opportunities • taster sessions for recruiting new participants to respond to those lost through the COVID-19 pandemic • additional training such as mental health awareness training for volunteers • accompanying evidence of additional spend required.
Grant Management	How will the funds be allocated? - The fund will open and remain live for 4 weeks. - Applications received will go through an initial check against eligibility and criteria before any formal assessment. - Each eligible applicant will be assessed by Jersey Sports Officers and a recommendation taken to the Grants Advisory Committee for decision and approval. The grants will be distributed by Jersey Sport directly to the applicant subject to governance and financial assurance checks included in the Terms and Conditions of Award.
Impact and Evaluation and Underspend	The Jersey Sport team will monitor impact through officer engagement and organisational reporting, ensuring collective impact can be demonstrated. Any underspend from the Fund will be reallocated back into the Travel Grant fund to allow for greater demand when travel restrictions are safely lifted in the latter half of 2021.

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