An empty netball court
Apr 07, 2020 11:17 BST
Covid-19: London's funders have beenresponsive and agile to help the sector
Specialist Advisor for Funding Mel Antao looks at how funders are adapting theirmethods during the covid-19 outbreak and delves into the support available forgrassroots physical activity and sport organisations in the capital.
Since the beginning of the UK’s covid-19 crisis, civil society bodies across thecountry have mobilised en masse to provide much-needed support to thosemost at need.
And while most people’s first concerns are understandably focused on thereal and immediate health impacts of the virus, an important underlyingfocus on the economic consequences of the associated lockdown measureshas quickly emerged.
In the past weeks, one of the main requests received by London Sport frompartners working across London’s grassroots physical activity and sportcommunity has been for guidance and support around funding and financialsustainability within the industry.
At a time where the long-term importance of a robust community sport sectorfor the capital has never been more apparent, addressing these concerns hasto be a clear priority.
It’s important to recognise that the covid-19 pandemic has presented realfinancial and operational challenges to London’s grassroots physical activityand sport organisations.
Many of these organisations rely heavily on a mixed economy approach ofmembership income, grants that are often ring-fenced and tertiary income(bars, cafés, hiring out of facilities, fundraising events etc).
Regardless of how they are set up, organisations are extremely concernedabout how they will sustain themselves or be able to commit to runningprogrammes that are funded by grants.
Over the last week or so, a number of grant funders have responded to helpthe sector by joining forces or changing the way that they fund to ensure thatthe sector can be responsive and agile.
More than 250 funders have signed the covid-19 funder statement (includingLondon Sport), coordinated by London Funders. By signing, funders havecommitted to reassure and support the civil society sector (which includesphysical activity and sports organisations) in four ways. More on those here.
As such, if you have not already spoken to your funder(s) about how covid-19affects the delivery of your grant(s), then please make sure you do and talkthrough your options with them.
A number of funders have launched specific emergency funds that the sectormight find useful:
London Community Response Fund
The first wave of up to £5,000 funding will focus on urgent needs, so thatorganisations can cover costs that are being incurred right now to supportcommunities affected by the covid-19 outbreak with a focus on food andessentials.
Later funding will support organisations to deliver services in new ways tosupport communities, and to ensure that their longer-term needs areconsidered by the funding community. As this fund is a collaboration offunders, there is a separate application process and no due diligence requiredon organisations that have been previously funded by the collaboration tospeed up the process.
Sport England Community Emergency Fund
Grants of between £300 and £10,000 are available to help community sportand physical activity organisations who are experiencing short-term financialhardship or the ceasing of operations due to the ongoing covid-19 crisis.
The £20million fund has been designed to complement other sources offunding from the government, such as funds targeted at small businesses andcharities. It is also very clear on what it will and won’t fund.
The National Lottery Community Fund
As well as continuing to honour their current commitments, all The NationalLottery Community Fund funding decisions made for the next six months willprioritise funding to groups best placed to support their communities at thisvital time focusing initially on existing grant-holders and applicants.
CAF Coronavirus Emergency Fund
The Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) has one-time rapid response grants of upto £10,000 for small charities, organisations and social enterprises that arestruggling to survive. Due to it being extremely oversubscribed lastweek, they have now paused the fund but the CAF hope to expand the fundand will reopen as and when they have additional money.
London Sport offers a free Check and Challenge service on completed grantapplications and last financial year, influenced over £4m into the physicalactivity and sport sector through this process. Please email your draftapplication here.
In the meantime, once your immediate operational fears have been allayed,this is a great opportunity for your organisation to plan for when we comeout the other side of this.
What should this look like and what can you learn from this to ensure thatyour organisation is adequately structured/set up if an exceptional event wasto ever happen again?
Support to the sector is constantly changing, and London Sport will ensure thatour dedicated covid-19 page is updated with this information.
About London Sport
London Sport aims to make London the most physically active city in theworld. Supported by the Mayor of London and Sport England, our target is toget Londoners more physically active.
For more information on London Sport, visit www.londonsport.org
Contacts
Chris ScottPress ContactHead of Corporate [email protected] 3848 463007498 753 851
Andrew LawtonPress ContactSenior Communications [email protected] 3848 463007398 215 076
