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Liverpool City Region set to benefit from 2 key Sport England pandemic-response funds

MSP’s Strategic Lead for Adults & Workforce, Andrew Wileman, takes us through how Sport England’s Community Emergency and Tackling Inequalities Funds are being landed locally with help from MSP.

Sport England – Community Emergency Fund

As an immediate response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Sport England put in place the Community Emergency Fund (CEF). The primary focus of the funding is to support sports clubs and other voluntary and community organisations which are directly involved in providing physical activity. It’s intended for organisations facing immediate risk to their survival or facing financial hardship, as a result of the crisis.  

To date, 231 organisations from across Liverpool City Region (LCR) have been successful in applications to the fund, with £772,472 allocated to our region. Across the country, 7489 applications have now been approved by Sport England and over £27 million has been awarded.

Due to the significant interest in the funding which was widely promoted by partners from across our sector, new applications to CEF are now paused. As and when this fund is re-opened MSP will make sure that this information is again highlighted across our networks.

Sport England – Tackling inequalities through awards to sector partners

MSP have been tasked by Sport England with taking forward a targeted programme of support for community organisations and groups – across the LCR – who either connect with and directly support priority audiences to be active, or are in a position to enable other partners to engage the audience thanks to the relationships which they have.

Initial research and data analysis undertaken by Sport England have highlighted COVID-19 is having a negative impact on the widening of the inequalities in sport and physical activity across priority audiences than is the case with the wider population. The disease is having a significant impact on People from Lower Socio-Economic Groups, Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic Communities, Disabled People and People with Long-Term Health Conditions (LTHC) and has the potential to further widen the gaps that already exist with these groups in respect of being physically active.

Emerging insight and understanding that is building around these four priority audiences and their ability to be physically active highlights they face additional challenges and barriers. They are likely to have higher mortality rates from COVID-19 which can create a culture of fear where people are choosing to stay indoors to keep safe. Additionally, we know there is a greater impact on their financial status which is the single greatest determinant of activity levels.

Purpose of the Programme

The purpose of the Tackling Inequalities Fund programme is to deal with ‘here and now’ issues that sector organisations are facing as a result of the impact of COVID-19. It’s about supporting organisations in the community now so that they have a future to plan for.

Active Partnerships have been tasked with supporting Sport England to identify those local community organisations and groups who would benefit from accessing financial support and to work with them to develop solicited applications which focus on one of the following:

  • Providing financial support to sector organisations that connect to priority audiences that may be experiencing financial hardship at this time. In many cases, this will be part of a wider sector support offer including other funders.
  • Providing opportunities for priority audiences to be active at this time by adapting offers or providing new offers.

While the National Lottery funding is devolved to MSP to administer locally, all applications for support are subject to review and approval by Sport England. 

Alongside the network of Active Partnerships, Sport England are also devolving funding to a small number of national sector bodies who have the opportunity to reach the priority audiences through their respective networks and partnerships.

In order to ensure that the programme is targeted on the four priority groups and the funding initially allocated to the LCR maximised, MSP is looking to engage organisations working in those communities which face the greatest challenges.

We look forward to bringing you news of the benefits the funding has brought to the Liverpool City Region in a future edition of MSP roundup. If you’re not already on our mailing list why not sign up?

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