Heart of England Community Foundation is launching a brand-new fund for sports groups across Birmingham. The new £60,000 fund, made available following a decision by Birmingham Sport Association, will aim to encourage grassroots sport engagement from some of the most deprived parts of Birmingham.
The newly named Birmingham Sports Fund will support projects to develop participation in sports as well as nurturing emerging sporting talent across the city. Priority will be given to organisations helping the most disadvantaged people and communities including black and minority ethnicities, women, girls and disabled people.
Grants of up to £1,000 will be awarded to voluntary and community organisations to deliver a range of sports projects and activities including swimming, football, athletics and racquet sports to name just a few. The funding will contribute towards start-up costs, pilot projects and purchasing resources.
Birmingham Sports Association was established as a charity in the 1970’s and has been successfully distributing funds ever since. The charities management committee, which has operated the charity on a voluntary basis, decided to safeguard the future of its funding by closing the charity and transferring the assets to Heart of England Community Foundation.
The Foundation, a grant-making charity which is the only one of its kind in the region has distributed a huge £1.6m last year to a range of non-profit organisations and social enterprises across the region supporting projects which make a lasting difference to their community.
Tina Costello, Chief Executive of Heart of England Community Foundation, said:
“We are really excited to launch the new Birmingham Sports Fund.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for Birmingham and means that even more funding will support grassroots sports projects to develop healthier and even more active communities. It’s important for us to continue the fantastic legacy of the Birmingham Sports Association, and we’re proud to have a positive impact on the lives of budding young sports people. Supporting these projects is vitally important.”
Simon Kirkland, Founder and Managing Director of Sports Structures and Chairman of the Birmingham Sports Association, said:
“The Birmingham Sports Association are delighted to be working with the Heart of England Foundation to promoting and administering the Birmingham Sports Fund to support clubs and individuals in Birmingham”
If your organisation is looking to apply to the Birmingham Sports Fund please visit our website for more information: https://www.heartofenglandcf.co.uk/birmingham-black-country-communities-fund/ or contact our grants team on (024) 7688 3262.