Eighty voluntary organisations and clubs have benefited from a share of £48,000 from the Neath Port Talbot Community Chest fund.
Neath Port Talbot Council’s Physical Activity & Sport Service (PASS), which administers the fund, says there is still £20,000 in the kitty waiting to go to eligible sporting organisations in the county borough.
Ali Thomas, the Leader of Neath Port Talbot Council, said: “The purpose of this Sports Council for Wales initiative is to make a difference to local sport and physical activity opportunities that are additional to what is already in place and would not be possible without a grant.
“The aim of the scheme is to increase participation, improve standards of performance and encourage more people to become physically active more often.”
Community Chest funding has allowed new clubs to be formed and existing voluntary organisations the opportunity to expand and improve.
Community groups have to meet certain criteria to be eligible for the money, including recruitment of volunteers, training for coaches, the purchase of equipment and to meet club team start up costs.
Councillor Thomas added: “The Community Chest grant scheme is vital to voluntary organisations as it provides much needed funding to assist with getting the whole population more physically active with the overall intention of improving health across the County Borough.”
Derek Jones of PASS said: “There is one Community Chest panel meeting left before the end of the financial year to discuss applications. Some of the main areas of criteria are recruitment of volunteers, coach education, new club/team start up costs, non personal equipment, publicity, community school links, sports events and festivals, transport schemes in special circumstances and school club links.”
Clubs and organisations applying for funding should submit their forms by January 26th. The panel meeting is on February 9th 2010.
The panel is asking all organisations who submitted applications since 10th November to resubmit their forms to the Council’s Physical Activity & Sport Service new address at Library HQ, Reginald Street, Velindre, Port Talbot, SA13 1YY or to Derek Jones via e-mail: [email protected]
