Lancashire Sport Partnership together with the Duchy of Lancaster Benevolent Fund are pleased to announce the fifth round of the The Lancashire Rising Star Fund.
The Lancashire Rising Star Fund will ensure that young sportsmen and women and their families receive financial support to enable them to excel in their chosen sport.
Interventions like this at such a crucial time can often be the difference between a young sports person continuing and achieving in their chosen sport or dropping out.
On average each athlete and their families can spend in excess of £5,000 per year on equipment, training, travelling and other essentials that are required to compete at the top level
The Fund
The Fund will provide financial assistance to Lancashire's amateur able-bodied and disabled sportsmen and women and will focus on giving grants to young people aged between 12 - 24 years, from sports officially recognised by Sport England*.
Grants of up to £500 per year will be awarded to successful applicants to help with costs such as travel, training, accommodation, competition fees and equipment, specialist coaching and other specialist support such as physiotherapy and nutrition advice.
Grant Criteria
Applicants must fulfill the following criteria to be eligible for the Lancashire Rising Star Fund:-
- Applicants must be a resident within in the Lancashire Sport Partnership border (i.e. within the boundaries of Blackpool BC, Blackburn with Darwen BC, Burnley BC, Chorley BC, Hyndburn BC, Fylde BC, Lancaster CC, Pendle BC , Preston CC, Ribble Valley BC, Rossendale BC, South Ribble BC, West Lancs BC, or Wyre BC. (click here to check where you live)
- Applicants must be between 12 - 24 years old.
- Applicants must be competing for their Regional or National team/squad in their chosen sport.
- The sport must be a Sport England recognised sport see below list for clarification
- Applicants must be of amateur status.
- Applicants must be fully endorsed by the relevant National Governing Body (NGB) representative to be considered for funding. (If NGB statement is not uploaded to the application it will automatically be ineligible - click here to access a contact list of NGB officers)
- Applicants must be fully endorsed by their coach to be considered for funding. (If a coach statement is not uploaded to the application it will automatically be ineligible.)
- Only applications submitted through the online system will be eligible.
- Grants will not be paid retrospectively
Conditions of Grant
- Appropriate recognition must be given to the Lancashire Rising Star Fund in any media coverage received by the individual.
- Successful applicants will recieve a maximum grant of £500 per year. Successful applicants are eligible to apply again after 12 months. Successful applicants can receive funding for upto three years through application process.
- Funded individuals must be willing to be involved in promotional material undertaken by Lancashire Sport Partnership in the promotion of the Lancashire Rising Star Fund.
- Funded individuals will be required to complete an end of year progress report stating their achievements.
Application Process
Applications will be submitted to the Lancashire Rising Star Fund Panel. The panel is made up of representatives from the Family Bakers Warburtons, Lancashire Sport Partnership, National Governing Bodies of Sport and the Duchy of Lancaster Benevolent Fund.
The fifth round of funding is open from 4th July and closes at noon on 12th Sept 2011.
- The latest Lancashire Rising Star Fund round has now closed.
Applicants will be informed of the panels decision within one calendar month of the closing date.
Lancashire Sport will reserve the right to reclaim any grant that is deemed not to have been used against agreed eligible cost.
Owing to the number of applications the panel are unable to reply to individual application and discuss decisions. The decision of the Lancashire Rising Star Fund Panel will be final.
Please Note - To apply it is essential to have an electronic statement of support from your relevant National Governing Body Officer and your Coach/Manager as these will need to be uploaded when completing the application form. If application do not have both of these statements they will be automatically ineligible.
* Eligible Sports:
Angling, Archery, Athletics, Badminton, Baseball & Softball, Basketball, Basketball (Wheelchair), Boccia, Bowls, Boxing, Canoeing, Cricket, Cycling, Equestrian, Fencing, Football, Goalball, Golf, Gymnastics, Handball, Hockey, Judo, Lacrosse, Modern Pentathlon, Mountaineering, Movement & Dance, Netball, Orienteering, Rounders, Rowing, Rugby (Wheelchair), Rugby League, Rugby Union, Sailing, Shooting, Snowsport, Squash, Swimming, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Tennis, Triathlon, Volleyball, Waterskiing, Weightlifting and Wrestling