Community Games - Grant Funding Available
After the great success of the Community Games in Essex in 2014 and still building on the Legacy of the London 2012 Games, Active Essex, the County Sports Partnership of Essex, are once again inviting communities to take part in the Community Games, which is a way for you to bring your community together to take part in sporting and cultural activities!
The Community Games aims to get people to stage their own events and to bring communities together to take part in sporting and cultural activities where the community can organise their event in a way that works for them, but whatever the focus, you should provide an opportunity for everyone in your community to participate. The events will all be different – for example some could be held on one day at one venue, some over a week at multiple venues.
Community Games must include both sporting and cultural/art activities, and some sort of ceremony, ideally an opening and/or closing ceremony. For example sporting activities could involve single sport or multi-sport competitions or come and try activities. Cultural/art activities could involve a dance group, music, drumming workshops, arts and craft stalls/workshops, face painting, costumes, a photographic display etc. An opening ceremony could involve an opening parade, dance display, cutting of ribbon etc. While a closing ceremony could involve presentation of awards.
Who can be involved?
A community could be a street, an estate, regular users of a park or other public space, to name a few. It is important that the Games are driven and shaped by a community and although an event can be facilitated by a local authority or other statutory organisation, the community itself must be instrumental in the development and delivery of the event. It must be local, accessible and convenient, be fun, friendly and open to all and reflect and celebrate the communities’ diversity.
For example village fetes could be developed into Community Games events and benefit from the additional support, without losing their identity, and with little extra work. Sports clubs could host a competition day or an open day adding the criteria of ceremonies and culture to become a Community Games event. Perhaps you would like to do something for the children at your local school, or maybe you’d like everyone in your street to get to know each other better, or organise an activity in a park or community centre
If your community/organisation/group would like to organise such an event, and would like to apply for a grant of up to £400, then please complete this form.
Funding criteria:
Events must be scheduled to happen within the county of Essex between April to September 2015
Any community as described above based in Essex (Essex County Council administrative area, plus Southend and Thurrock) can apply.
Some evaluation of the event will be required; however, this will be minimal.
Applications can be submitted and consideration will be given to all ideas. However, the panel’s decision is final
Please read the Frequently Asked Questions sheet for more detail on criteria.
Dates for submission of applications are as follows:-
There will be one application opportunity only with the closing date of Friday January 30th 2015 at 5pm any applications received after this time will not be considered.
The panel will meet the week beginning 9th February 2015 and notification will follow the week after.
There is a finite amount of funding and once this is distributed the fund will end for 2015, so it is recommended to apply as soon as possible. Please understand that the panel’s decision is final and that no correspondence or discussion will be entered into on the panel’s decision.
