Council to discuss Sports Legacy Fund schemes for Bassetlaw

NOTTS County Councillors will meet next week to discuss major grant applications to the Sports Legacy Fund for three schemes in Bassetlaw.
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Guardian News

The authority’s Culture Committee will discuss the merits of 60 awards totalling more than £1m made to its Game Changer scheme on Tuesday 5th March.

Game Changer offers the chance for sports clubs to bid for for funding grants worth between £10,000 and £50,000.

The legacy scheme has been hailed as a trail blazer by Lord Sebastian Coe who has said it is a ‘wonderful example of a local legacy fund’.

And last week the county council extended its initial £1m pot to a further £700,000 for the next financial year.

The Culture Committee has already approved funding from the Legacy Fund for more than 100 sports clubs across the county through its smaller funding streams, Kick Start and Kick Start Rapid.

Coun John Cottee, culture committee chairman at Notts County Council said: “We are delighted that the Sports Legacy Fund has captured the imagination of local people and it is superb that so many clubs took the time and effort to apply. “

“We anticipated a need for sports funding following London 2012 and the response has been terrific. We are also determined to ensure we build on the legacy of the Games without delay.”

The county council received bids in excess of £1m from 9th October to the end of the year following the launch of the grassroots community sports fund confirming a big interest in the fund from the public.

Sports clubs need to be able to demonstrate how the funding will be used to support increased participation and/or improve the performance of club members.

As well as providing direct financial support, the grants scheme will also support club efforts to lever in additional matched funding from other sources.