Junior Club Development Fund: Empowering Netball Clubs Across Scotland

11th June 2024

Netball Scotland is thrilled to announce the continuation of the Junior Club Development Fund for the 2024-25 season, made possible through our valued partnership with Johnston Carmichael. This fund provides essential financial support to affiliated Junior Netball Clubs, allowing them to access up to £500 for critical needs related to participation, accessibility, training, and competition.

Partnership with Johnston Carmichael

The Junior Club Development Fund is a testament to the strategic partnership between Netball Scotland and Johnston Carmichael, Scotland’s largest independent firm of Chartered Accountants and Business Advisors. This collaboration aims to foster the growth and development of netball across the nation, ensuring a sustainable future for the sport.

Quote from Martin Osler, Chief People Officer, Johnston Carmichael:

“We are pleased to support Netball Scotland in its mission to nurture talent and promote inclusivity within the sport. Our commitment to leaving a positive legacy for our people, our clients and the communities in which we work aligns perfectly with the objectives of this fund. We believe strongly in the importance of young girls and women having access to opportunities to play sport and benefit from the health, wellbeing, and life experiences this offers. We believe the Club Development Fund will make a significant difference to junior netball clubs across Scotland.”

Quote from Carol Harvey, Director of Development at Netball Scotland:

“This fund is a lifeline for many junior clubs, providing them with the resources they need to thrive. The generosity of Johnston Carmichael enables us to support the critical needs of our clubs, ensuring they can continue to develop and compete at all levels.”

What Can the Fund Be Used For?

The Junior Club Development Fund can be used to cover a variety of critical needs, including but not limited to:

• Coaching: CPD opportunities to ensure succession planning and up-skilling.
• Volunteer Training: Developing the club volunteer base through training for new and existing volunteers.
• Access to Competition: Financial assistance with travel expenses for away competitions.
• Local/Community Provision: Taster sessions to attract new participants/members.
• Additional Equipment: Enabling expansion or safer delivery of activities.
• Emergency Facility Hire: Covering emergency costs for clubs in financial difficulty.
• Mental Health Awareness Training
• Safeguarding Training

For a comprehensive list of eligible and ineligible costs, please refer to the [Junior Club Development Fund – (See Below)

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the Junior Club Development Fund, clubs must meet the following criteria:

• Be affiliated to Netball Scotland.
• Work towards or have completed the Thistle Mark Standard credential.
• Be a recognised junior club under Netball Scotland.
• Provide evidence supporting their critical need for financial assistance.
• Implement the project within 6 months of receiving funding.
• Provide detailed information on the impact of the funding on members and the community.

How to Apply

Applying for the Junior Club Development Fund is straightforward. Follow these steps to submit your application:

1. Check Eligibility: Ensure your club meets the eligibility criteria.
2. Prepare Documentation: Gather necessary evidence to support your application.
3. Complete the Application Form: Fill out the application form.
4. Submit Your Application: Make sure to submit the form by June 28th, 2024.

If you have any questions or need further assistance, please contact Katelyn Williamson at Katelyn.Williamson@netballscotland.com or Carol Harvey at Carol.Harvey@netballscotland.com

Applications close on June 28th, 2024. Don’t miss this opportunity to secure vital funding for your junior netball club!

Junior Club Development Fund – Criteria

Provides emergency support fund for affiliated Junior Netball Clubs to access £500 to assist with critical needs linked to participation, accessibility, training, and competition.

This has been made possible by a partnership with Johnston Carmichael, Scotland’s largest independent firm of Chartered Accountants and Business Advisors (www.johnstoncarmichael.com). _________________________________________________________________________________

Provided your project meets the programme aims, we can cover various areas relevant to critical need.  However, your project should add value to existing services or provision – we won’t fund costs already being incurred.

Projects should consider the financial situation of the club before applying (healthy financial situation = won’t receive funding)

Funding awarded should build on the strengths and assets already in place.

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Below are some examples of what can be funded:

Coaching

Providing CPD opportunities to ensure succession planning, up-skilling people to lead in coaching roles.

Volunteer training

Develop the club volunteer base through offering training to both new and existing volunteers.

Access to competition

Financial assistance with expenses for travel to participate in away competition.

Local/community provision

Providing taster sessions within the local community to attract new participants/members.

Additional equipment

To enable expansion of activity or safer delivery of activity.

Emergency facility hire.

To cover emergency costs for clubs in financial difficulty.

Mental Health Awareness Training

Safeguarding Training

What we won’t fund

• Clubs that are financially secure
• General running costs or existing costs of your club (e.g. utility bills, staffing etc.)
• Existing activity
• Replacement of equipment provided by fund/ gifted through fund if damaged.
• Costs associated in submitting the application, (E.G paying someone to write your application for you)
• Costs benefitting an individual (E.G membership fees)
• Costs that aren’t a direct responsibility of the applicant to cover (for example, costs associated with a facility not owned/leased by the applicant)
• VAT you can recover.
• Projects where coaches or the applicant organisation is not affiliated to Netball Scotland.