Community Chest - Sports Council for Wales

Community Chest is a National Lottery funded grant aid scheme. It is designed to encourage more people to become more physically active more often.

The maximum grant is £1,000 in any twelve month period, however if you are a club then you are eligible to use £1,000 for club development and also apply for a further £1,000 for physical activity/health initiatives within your club.

Contributing to Welsh Assembly Government Targets

• Encourage more people to become more physically active more often 5 x 30 minutes per week and 5 x 60 minutes of exercise per week in adults and children respectively.
• Contribute to Wales becoming a healthier and more inclusive nation

Purpose of the scheme

The main purpose of the scheme is to support good projects which will create new or improved sport and physical activity opportunities. The maximum grant awarded is £1,000 and can be used to support amongst other things:

• Walking or cycling projects
• Projects which encourage employees to become more physically active
• Projects which encourage physical activity in the natural environment
• Recruitment and development of volunteers, leaders and coaches
• Projects which encourage the inclusion of sport and physical activity initiatives in the work programmes of new partner agencies
• Extending sports clubs to provide new opportunities for members

What is eligible?

Organisations can apply, provided they have a bank or building society account in the name of the organisation. Primary schools can benefit from a scheme called Dragon Sport if they choose, so they are not eligible to receive funding through Community Chest. Some secondary schools are also not eligible for Community Chest funding if they are a 5 x 60 school.

How to apply?

Contact Sports Development on 01978 297366 for an application pack or alternatively you can download the information from the download section below.

If you need any assistance completing the form please contact the Sports Development Officer who will be more than willing to help with the process. Please call 01978 297359.

Examples of Things Which Could Get Funding from the Community Chest Scheme

HEALTH EXAMPLES

1. Slimmers Group
   Introducing a light exercise programme to compliment the dieting.
2. Parks Department
   A summer programme of aerobics, dance classes and outdoor circuits in the local parks.
3. Mental Health Group
   Introducing people to physical activity opportunities and braking down barriers to regular participation.

VOLUNTARY SECTOR EXAMPLES

1. Voluntary Youth Club
   Leadership training and establishment of inter-club challenges
2. Women’s Institute
   Introducing a regular yoga, dance or other exercise class
3. Non-Sporting Voluntary Group
   Introducing a low level physical activity programme for members
4. Communities First Partnership
   Developing and delivering local exercise Action plans with residents

WORKPLACE EXAMPLES

1. Introducing exercise or dance classes at lunch times and after work e.g. salsa dancing, belly dancing, line dancing, step aerobics, pilates.
2. Installing showers in a disused store room to encourage active commuting and lunch time activities.
3. Piloting a programme of one to one lifestyle consultations, looking at activity levels of the workforce, particularly in older employees.

EDUCATION EXAMPLES

1. Secondary School – Establish community links with local sports clubs
   
2. College/ University – Produce materials to support a campaign to encourage greater physical activity levels.

SPORTS EXAMPLES

1. Volunteers training programme including coaches
2. "Tag" rugby or other activity sessions with parents, while their children train.

Important Information

Changes to Community Chest Application Packs from April 2007.

The Community Chest application pack is currently being updated and redesigned.  In the meantime applicants should note the following changes.

1. The maximum award has been raised from £750 to £1,000 in any financial year (April to March)
   
2. Sports clubs may apply for two awards in a financial year.  Each award can be up to a maximum of £1,000. However, one of these awards must be for a physical activity not normally offered by the applicant e.g. offering walking or cycling activities from the club base.
   
3. The Sports Council is keen to see clubs become community hubs by diversifying the physical activity opportunities available, as a means to encourage more people to be more active, more often.  For example, Any Town Rugby Club could make the following applications:
   
   • Any Town Rugby Club (application 1) - £1,000 towards improving coaching qualifications and starting a new women’s rugby team.
     
   • Any Town Rugby Club (application 2) - £1,000 towards piloting a 10 week programme of wider physical activity opportunities including; keep fit classes in the club house, a programme of organised walks and cycle rides leaving from the club base.

Community Chest Application Forms & Guidance Notes

These documents are available to download in the following format:

Application Form - Word version 681Kb

Application Form - PDF version 622Kb

Guidance Notes - Word version 24Kb

Guidance Notes - PDF version 11Kb

Help Notes - Word version 28Kb

Help Notes - PDF version 14Kb

The application form and guidance notes are also available to download from Sports Council Wales website.

Applications to be returned to:

Sports Development
Waterworld
Holt Road
Wrexham
LL13 8DH

Tel: 01978 297359