Lancashire Sport Partnership together with the Duchy of Lancaster Benevolent Fund and Family Bakers Warburtons are pleased to announce the launch of 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 quitting.
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 – 24years, from sports officially recognised by Sport England*.
Grants of up to £500 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 between 12 – 24 years old.
- Applicants must be a resident within in the Lancashire Sport Partnership border (see map for clarification).
- Applicants must be competing at Regional, National or International level in their chosen sport.
- The sport must be a Sport England recognised sport (*see 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.
- 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.
- Continuation grants may be awarded in exceptional circumstances for a further 2 years. These continuation grants will be up to £250 per year.
Application Process
Applications will be submitted to the Lancashire Rising Star Fund Panel. The panel is made up of representatives from Family Bakers Warburtons, Lancashire Sport Partnership, Lancashire Sport Partnership Advisory Board, National Governing Body and the Duchy of Lancaster Benevolent Fund.
The latest round of funding has closed. Details of the next round will be announced shorlty.
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 below. If application do not have both of these statements they will be automatically ineligible.
Application Form
* Eligible Sports:
Archery, Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Boxing, Canoeing, Cricket, Cycling, Disability Sports, Diving, Equestrian, Fencing, Football, Golf, Gymnastics, Handball, Hockey, Ice Hockey, Ice Skating - Speed, Ice-Skating - Figure, Judo, Karate, Modern Pentathlon, Netball, Orienteering, Rowing, Rugby League, Rugby Union, Sailing, Shooting, Skiing, Snowboarding, Squash, Swimming , Synchronised Swimming, Table Tennis, Tennis Taekwondo, Triathlon, Volleyball, Water Polo, Water Skiing, Weightlifting, Windsurfing, Wrestling