Grant Support for Interim Travel Arrangements
Details
Displacement of Programmed Sports Activities
Aberdeen City Council is able to provide discretionary grants to recognised sports organisations, community groups and talented sports persons to assist in meeting additional travel costs incurred to sustain the delivery of community programmes, formal coaching structures or participation in competitions and assessments over an interim period not exceeding 12 months commencing 1st April 2008.
Support for individual citizens who are prevented from participating in activities, formerly offered within their home / work locality, due to added travel costs and recognised financial constraints can also be offered under certain circumstances.
Applications will be considered by The Resources Management Committee. The Committee meets approximately every six weeks. Applications which are to be considered at these meetings will require to be submitted to the designated officer at least twenty one days prior to the Committee date.
Funding availability:
- Funding is provided on the basis of assisting only with additional transport costs which may be incurred as a result of displacement from ACC facilities where no comparable facility (public or private) is available within the original facility catchment area. (i.e. 20 minutes walk or 10 minutes travel time)
- A maximum contribution of 50% towards identified costs will be made from this Scheme
The upper limits for each grant are based on a figure of £5,000 for organisations with a membership of 50 or more and £3,000 for organisations with fewer than 50 members.
The maximum figure for the support of individual applicants will be set at £300.
What is supported?
The scheme covers additional costs incurred in the return travel between a defined facility and the nearest available comparable venue. The defined facilities are:
- Bon-Accord Baths
- Linx Ice Arena
- Dyce Academy Swimming Pool
No support is available to meet costs which would normally arise as a result of travel between an applicant’s home residence and the defined facility.
Grant awards will be made on the basis of claims for:
(i) Car or motor cycle mileage
Or
(ii) Individual bus/train fares
Or
(iii) Transport hire
The maximum mileage rate for car travel is based on HM Revenue and Customs guidance for basic rate taxation purposes which is set at £0.40 pence per mile. Calculations of travel mileage should be based on information supplied by recognised motoring/transport bodies and take consideration of the shortest route available between the defined facility and the final destination.
Applications for assistance with bus/train travel should be based on the actual substantiated cost of the bus journey(s) quoted by the transport provider. As necessary, evidence of this figure may require to be submitted with your application.
Transport hire claims should be based on actual quoted costs for travel and must be verified by the submission of quotations from a minimum of two recognised transport providers.
Who can apply?
- Affiliated sports organisations representing groups or individuals currently using the defined facilities listed above.
- Community organisations providing support for activity programmes/use of facilities within the defined catchment areas of affected facilities.
- Talented individuals, not covered by the above categories, currently utilising affected facilities, who can demonstrate the support of a sports governing body, local Sports Council, Grampian Institute of Sport or involvement in regional/national coaching programmes
- Individual residents of Aberdeen City, not covered by the above categories, who meet the criteria for membership of Aberdeen City Council’s ‘Access to Leisure’ Scheme but are not eligible for travel entitlements provided under the Scottish National Entitlement Card Scheme.
All applications will be considered with the following in mind:
- Only one grant per organisation/individual will be considered within a 12 month period
- Sports Development Issues:
Applications from sports related organisations must clearly demonstrate that any submission enables the continuation of recognised development programmes or competition involvement which is supported or delivered by the sports governing bodies. As necessary, evidence of this support may assist the applicant’s claim.
- Community Engagement
Community based applications should reflect the priorities for engagement outlined in the Council’s Neighbourhood Community Planning documents addressing social inclusion, healthy and active lifestyles and/or diversionary activities designed to address specific social issues within their local community.
The extent to which the submission addresses the needs of wider community groups, including those with special needs or other disadvantaged groups will also be taken into account when considering the application.
- Financial
The extent to which efforts have been made to maximize additional sponsorship and/or involve other appropriate agencies in gathering financial support should be highlighted within the applicant’s submission.
Applicants should be aware that consideration of the level of existing financial support from Aberdeen City Council for an organisation or activity may be taken into account when considering the application.
- Cost Efficiency:
All submissions for assistance must bear in mind that calculations should reflect travel arrangements which are the most cost effective under the circumstances.
This would include the use of public transport where available/practical, effective car-sharing arrangements and the avoidance of multiple journeys arising from poorly co-ordinated travel programming.
When to apply?
There are no specific deadlines but applicants should:
- Complete the Funding Application Form, which is available on-line at Grants and other support for sports activities, or by contacting either the designated officer of the External Funding Support.
- Refer to the planned dates for Aberdeen City Council’s Resources Management Committee meetings, details of which are included in the application resource pack
- Make sure the application reaches the designated officer 21 days before the date of the next meeting.
For advice and information contact:
- Alex Paterson, Quality Assurance Officer, Balgownie 1, AECC, Conference Way, Bridge of Don, Aberdeen, AB23 8AQ.
Telephone: (01224) 814635 Fax: (01224) 814590
Email: apaterson@aberdeencity.gov.uk
Further support in identifying and applying against additional independent funding streams or grants may be available through the Council’s External Funding Support Officer, Evelyn Currie, who can be contacted through:
- The Office of the City Chamberlain, Town House Extension, Broad Street, Aberdeen, AB10 1AH
Telephone: (01224) 522504
Email: efs@aberdeencity.gov.uk
Bac to the Grants and other support for sports activities page.
