Project20 sets out to transform city access to sport

As part of Salisbury 2020 City on the Move, Wiltshire and Swindon Sport (WASP) and Salisbury City Council are hoping to develop a “legacy of a minimum of 20 new coaches”.

Project20, set up by WASP and the city council, will provide grants in order to assist people who want to start their coaching journey, either to give something back to the community or to start coaching as a career.

Through the project, several additional courses will be available or supported so that coaches can attain the minimum standards of deployment. These will include Safeguarding and First Aid.

Applications encouraged

In addition, there is provision for 15 participants to achieve a fully funded level 2 dodgeball qualification.

Any individual over the age of 16 who coaches on a voluntary basis and wishes to achieve a UKCC Level 1 or 2 qualification can apply.

All applicants must be a resident in Salisbury and/or will be using their qualification within the local area.

Applications are also encouraged from women and girls, those living with a disability, ethnic minority groups, or anyone over the age of 50.

People who are delivering sport to any of those groups are also encouraged to apply.

The maximum grant is £200 for level one and £500 for a level two, unless prior consultation and agreement by the panel allows an exception.

This figure does not include accommodation, but transport will be considered on a case by case basis.

In return for the grant, the council will ask that you deliver five one hour voluntary sessions in a curriculum, extra-curricular, club and/or community setting.

Funding is is also available for promoting local sport and physical activity, to increase the capacity of local clubs to train new coaches and volunteers to grow membership, and to support clubs to provide sporting activities to engage or re-engage residents of Salisbury after Covid-19 in physical activity.

Clubs, schools or groups can apply for funding to support events that can feature as part of Salisbury 2020. These events can be one of festivals, competitions or open days where new potential members can see what’s on offer. The funding can be used to start up a new activity or expand what’s currently running.

The funding can also be used to cover equipment costs or hire, medals, marketing or publicity or anything that will encourage participation in your sport or activity.

Any club or organisation running within Salisbury (SP1- SP2 postal codes) including schools, youth groups, and community groups can apply.

Due to coronavirus the project is now running until December 2021.

'Committed to equality'

Salisbury City Council has been seeking to understand why minority groups in Salisbury struggle to (or just do not) access sport.

A questionnaire was send out via clubs, the media and social media channels, and 37 per cent of people thought sport was accessible and 25 said it was not.

Most replies were football based and biggest issue was lack of facilities. A large issue was a lack of 3G pitch space for all sports.

50 per cent of those that replied gave negative responses to how clubs deal with new participants.

A statement said: “Both Salisbury City Council and Wiltshire & Swindon Sport Partnership are firmly committed to the principles of equality and inclusion in both coaching and participant provision.

“We are keen to celebrate the diversity of people who live and/or deliver in Salisbury to ensure our sport provisions are accessible to all.

“Our aim is to ensure no applicant receives less favourable treatment or is disadvantaged by policies, procedures, conditions or requirements including on the grounds of age, disability, sex, gender identity, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, ethnic background, religion or belief, sexual orientation or caring responsibilities which cannot be shown to be justified.”

For further information on the scheme or to apply contact Alan Low, Workforce Project Officer at alan@wiltssport.org or BHC@salisburycitycouncil.gov.uk.