SPORTSMATCH is an award scheme that supports grass roots sport projects that encourage participation at community level, especially youth groups. In Scotland, SPORTSMATCH is funded by the Scottish Government and administered by sportscotland.
SPORTSMATCH aims to match commercial business sponsorship on a £ for £ basis and has three primary objectives:
- to encourage businesses to sponsor community sports
- to foster lasting partnerships between business and community sport
- to further develop and improve community access to sport through quality business sponsorships
Who can apply?
Any not-for-profit group such as a sports club, local authority, governing body of sport, school etc. can apply.
How does it work?
We aim to match sponsorship fees on a £ for £ basis. Although applicants are expected to be from not-for-profit groups, sponsors can come from any profit-distributing business, whether a bank, restaurant or local jeweller.
We recommend that you have at most 3 sponsors per project, each contributing at least £500. Sponsorship can last between one and three years for any one project. Funding must be applied for annually.
Sponsorship can be in cash or in kind with regards sporting equipment.
Applications are viewed by a panel on a competitive basis as there tends to be more bids than there are funds available.
What size are the awards?
Awards start at a minimum of £500 and go up to £10,000 per project.
What should the award be used for?
Sponsored projects should aim to include either increased participation at the grass roots level, new or enhanced activities, or activities that provide links to the local community and ensure long term benefits.
Priority will be given to projects which can be seen to benefit young people, disabled people, ethnic minorities, school related projects, or projects in rural or urban recreationally deprived areas.
Forthcoming dates:
| Closing Date |
Panel Date |
| 19 March 2008 |
23 April 2008 |
| 21 May 2008 |
18 June 2008 |
| 23 July 2008 |
20 August 2008 |
| 17 September 2008 |
15 October 2008 |
| 12 November 2008 |
10 December 2008 |
| 14 January 2009 |
11 February 2009 |
