The Spirit of 2012 today has launched a new Sport Challenge Fund, offering a grant opportunity for a project that opens up sport or physical activity to an under-represented group. Applications are invited from organisations whose work is also focused on improving wellbeing, challenging perceptions towards disability and impairment, and decreasing social isolation.
Research from Sport England shows that sport and physical activity can boost mental health, wellbeing and connect people, helping to reduce social isolation. However, the demographics of sport participation do not evenly reflect the demographics of the country, or of the communities where sport is played.
The Spirit of 2012 Sport Challenge Fund will award £200,000 to a single project in Wales or England that brings new people together to enjoy being physically active. An essential element of this will be including time for social contact, in order that the project increases the mental as well as physical wellbeing of participants.
Their preference will be for applications that focus on a beneficiary group not usually targeted with sports and physical activity provision – including but not limited to disabled people, those with long-term health conditions or an under-represented ethnic group or gender. We seek to change perceptions and attitudes so that the legacy of the fund is happier and healthier individuals and communities.
Interested organisations should submit an expression of interest before 9am on 19 February, 2018.
Applicants who wish to discuss their project ideas and fit with the opportunity please contact Helen Spedding (helen.spedding@spiritof2012.org.uk).
