Due to an overwhelming number of applications received so far this year, Sport Wales is temporarily pausing its Be Active Wales Fund to new applications from 12pm on Tuesday 10 September until it reopens at 9am on Monday 4 November.
Using National Lottery money, the fund awarded more than £6m worth of grants to sports clubs and community organisations last year so that they could support more people to become active. The main uses of the funding are to buy sports equipment, enhance facilities and to support the development of volunteers and coaches.
Owen Hathway, Sport Wales’ Assistant Director for Insight, Policy and Public Affairs, said: “We have been inundated with applications for the Be Active Wales Fund during this financial year. It’s the most applications we have ever received.
“It’s brilliant to see that so many sports clubs across Wales are keen to take advantage of this fund to help get more people from their community active. However, the sheer number of applications we’ve received means we need to temporarily pause the fund for a short while so that we can work through existing applications and give those applicants the high standard of customer service they expect and deserve.”
What this means for recent Be Active Wales Fund applicants
If you submitted a Be Active Wales Fund application recently, your application will be assessed and, where successful, paid during the period that the fund is paused.
Anyone who has recently had their application returned to them for further information can continue to work with Sport Wales’ Investments Team throughout the period the fund is paused. However, their application won’t be re-assessed until the fund re-opens on Monday 4 November.
What this means for anyone who wants to submit a new Be Active Wales Fund application
Please fill out the community investment expression of interest form, just as you would usually. Should your idea be eligible for the Be Active Wales Fund, you will be contacted by Sport Wales’ Investments Team in the coming weeks and you’ll then be able to submit your application when the fund re-opens on Monday 4 November.
Please note that the ‘A Place for Sport’ Fund that Sport Wales operates in conjunction with Crowdfunder will remain open and accessible throughout this period. ‘A Place for Sport’ helps to provide funding for off-field facilities such as improvements to changing rooms, better disability access etc.
Sport Wales’ Investment Team continue to be on hand to help anyone seeking guidance and advice. You can email the team at [javascript protected email address] or call the helpline on 0300 3003102, Monday to Friday, between 10:00-12:30 and 13:15-16:00.
