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Frequently asked questions

 

Expand Q: Who is eligible to apply?
A:

All bona fide and legitimate organisations with a written constitution (such as a Memorandum and Articles of Association) or statutory powers can apply for this funding.

We are specifically seeking applications from:

  • Higher Education Institutions ( HEI s)– a maximum of one individual application can be made per HEI. This can be made up of interlinked components and can include partnership working with local partners.
  • A lead partner on behalf of a group of HEIs for a national, regional or local project, for example a regional HE body, a county sports partnership, or an NGB , which provides a collaborative approach to improving student participation. Such an application can also include other sport delivery partners. The lead partner can only apply once, but can be a named partner within other group applications.

For clarity, an HEI can apply once as an individual institution and can apply once as a lead partner for a group application. In addition to this application limit, an HEI can also be a partner in other group projects.

If you are not one of the lead partners identified, but have an idea for a project we suggest you contact your local HEI or your national representative body.

Expand Q: Can I apply for more than one project?
A:

Yes but only within the application limits set out below:

  • Higher education institutions – a maximum of one individual application can be made per HEI . This can be made up of interlinked components and can include partnership working with local partners.
  • A lead partner on behalf of a group of HEIs for a national, regional or local project, for example a regional HE body, a county sports partnership, or an NGB , which provides a collaborative approach to improving student participation. Such an application can also include other sport delivery partners. The lead partner can only apply once, but can be a named partner within other group applications.

An HEI can apply once as an individual institution and can apply once as a lead partner for a group application. In addition to this application limit, an HEI can also be a partner in other group projects.

Sport England is seeking to fund a diverse range of projects which can significantly impact on student participation as outlined in the criteria. Partners involved in a number of projects should ensure that there are clear differences between the projects, each adding value to HE student sport.

A further consideration is the level of investment that Sport England has made previously into higher education. Where an organisation has already benefitted from Sport England funding to improve higher education sport (both capital and revenue), an applicant must demonstrate the need for additional funds.

Expand Q: Why will you not fund research?
A:
The aim of the themed round is to get more students doing sport regularly. Whilst in the long term research will show us how we may do this effectively, it will not produce results in time to meet our targets, in particular 1 million people doing more sport by 2012/13. This is why consulting with the student population is vital to ensure the success of your project.
Expand Q: Is the purchase of sports equipment for capital and revenue projects eligible?
A:

The purchase of sports equipment is eligible for funding support where all the following criteria apply:

  • The equipment is an integral part of the development of a new project
  • The equipment will be sited / based permanently in one location.

We will also consider applications for:

  • 'Pools' of equipment as part of a structured development programme (for example, a governing body of sport or a network of groups)
  • Funding for equipment is restricted to essential initial items only, and on no account will replacements be funded.
Expand Q: Can Private Limited Companies apply to the Active Universities Fund?
A:
Private sector organisations are eligible to receive funding provided they meet the criteria for this themed round and have involved relevant HE agencies. They must demonstrate that the project is for the public good or a charitable purpose and any profit will be re-distributed into the project not to the company or shareholders.
Expand Q: Why are further education colleges who run higher education courses excluded?
A:

Sport England themed round funding is open funding; however the Active Universities themed round is specifically seeking projects that will have a significant impact on HE student participation.

We recommend that if an FE  college has HE students, the college should approach its local HEI to work with or consider being part of a group project to ensure that their HE students may be accommodated within a project.

Expand Q: Does my project have to focus on adults?
A:
Yes. Projects must be targeted at increasing participation of students enrolled at a higher education institution. Projects must predominantly benefit students – it is acknowledged that there made be other beneficiaries but at least 80% of participants will be HE students. 
Expand Q: Can a national governing body of sport apply?
A:

National governing bodies of sport can apply to the Active Universities fund if they are a lead partner in a collaborative project and they meet the eligibility criteria.

However, for the 46 national governing bodies in receipt of 09-13 funding from Sport England, applications must also demonstrate how the project is additional to the activities and outcomes already funded through the 09-13 whole sport plans.

Expand Q: What are considered ineligible capital costs?
A:

We will only fund facility projects or costs where they directly address barriers to participation; you must demonstrate in your application how your facility will do this.

Please note the following are classed as ineligible for capital funding support in this programme:

  • New builds
  • Gym equipment
  • Routine maintenance, repairs and renewals, as this does not represent capital expenditure
  • Personal sports equipment and clothing (this is not a lasting asset, nor does it provide wide enough community benefit)
  • Provision of children’s playgrounds
  • Support facilities where they are not deemed essential to the project
  • Living quarters for grounds staff
  • Purely social accommodation
  • Buying land or facilities for future use, or development, as this does not constitute the development of a specific / immediate project.
Expand Q: What are considered to be eligible revenue costs?
A:

The potential solutions and components of a successful project will demonstrate the types of projects that we are seeking to fund.

  • Education and training opportunities. This could involve providing groups with the opportunity to increase skills and become more self-sufficient in providing sporting opportunities. Localised mentoring schemes could be appropriate, as could access to accredited training opportunities
  • Revenue costs associated with the delivery of the project once a facility is in operation, from up to six months prior to its opening through to three years after opening
  • Salary and on-costs
  • Start-up costs; advertising costs
  • Recruitment and interview costs
  • Travel and subsistence costs for project workers, coaches, volunteers etc
  • Development costs including marketing, eg promotional leaflets, flyers, banners, costs of establishing a website etc
  • Training and capacity building e.g. costs for training staff / volunteers, course fees and the costs of bringing in trainers
  • Partnerships and activity development. This might involve costs for running activities and coaching courses e.g. transport, equipment hire / purchase, staff costs etc
  • Extensions in the size of existing revenue projects.

This list of examples is by no means exhaustive.

Please check with us on 08458 508 508 if you are in any doubt as to whether your projects revenue costs are eligible.

 

Expand Q: Which types of projects can be funded?
A:

This themed round is not designed to support major capital developments and new builds. As such we will not fund capital projects in isolation through this programme.

Should you have a large scale capital project we have a dedicated Sustainable Facilities Fund which maybe more suitable.

Revenue and combined (revenue/capital) projects will be considered for this themed funding round. We are seeking predominantly revenue projects but will also consider combined projects where modest structural building adaptations can be proved to be essential to enable the delivery of your project.

In terms of combined projects, we will prioritise applications which require no greater than £30,000 towards the total cost of any minor structural adaptations.

Please note that we will not fund maintenance works, new builds or refurbishments or gym equipment.

Expand Q: What are considered to be ineligible costs?
A:

Please note that for this themed round we will not fund any of the following:

  • Projects intended primarily for private gain either capital or revenue
  • Grants that contribute directly to a company's distributable profits
  • Endowments
  • Funds to build up a reserve or surplus
  • Retrospective funding (costs incurred prior to programme launch)
  • Loan repayments
  • Activities that primarily promote religious belief
  • Purchase of leaseholds
  • Minor works, repairs or maintenance (for example, replacing a leaking roof on an existing facility)
  • Floodlighting for natural turf pitches
  • Personal equipment
  • Maintenance equipment, fixed or loose equipment or office equipment not essential to the equipping of the facility.
  • Multi Use Games Areas ( MUGAs ) without floodlights
  • Any facility not meeting Sport England’s Design Guidelines
  • The purchase or lease of a vehicle
  • Normal DDA works.

This list of examples is by no means exhaustive.

 

Expand Q: What are considered to be ineligible revenue costs?
A:

Please note we will not fund any of the following as part of this themed round:

Supporting ongoing initiatives (must be new provision / resource). We cannot support ongoing initiatives that are not being extended in size

  • General running costs eg ongoing staff costs, council tax, gas, electricity or water bills, facility hire
  • Items that only benefit an individual, e.g. prizes, scholarships, bursaries, personal clothing or equipment or the purchase of tickets for events
  • Events unless they are part of an overall participation programme
  • Activities promoting religious beliefs
  • Endowments
  • Loan repayments
  • Foreign trips
  • Goods or services bought or ordered prior to an award being confirmed
  • Email and internet access
  • General office and administrative service costs.

This list of examples is by no means exhaustive.

Please check with Sport England on 08458 508 508 if you are in any doubt as to whether your projects revenue costs are eligible.

Expand Q: What measurement and understanding will projects need to complete?
A:

All Sport England funded projects will be subject to an appropriate level and type of measurement and evaluation.

This will be geared to ensure that the organisation meets its statutory duties, manages risks and, most importantly, achieves the agreed outcomes.

We would like all applicants to demonstrate how they will deliver an evaluation of the project which provides both qualitative and quantitative assessment of the success of the project. This is to ensure that lessons can be learnt and successful approaches can be replicated.

Expand Q: Can there be more than one applicant?
A:
No. It is vitally important to be clear on the identity of the applicant. For each application the applicant must be the person or organisation receiving and accountable for the award.
Expand Q: What is meant by consultation with students and understanding student need?
A:
For this themed funding round the applicant must be able to demonstrate that the target audience - students - have been consulted to understand what they see as their barriers to participation and what could solve these. This does not need to involve expensive survey methods or research, and could for example include using survey monkey, or a system you may have within your university to consult with students.
Expand Q: How do I apply?
A:

 

Expand Q: What essential documents do universities need to submit if they are the applicant?
A:
As part of the essential documents universities that are funded through the Higher Education Funding Council for England ( HEFCE) do not need to provide a photocopy of the governing documents, most recent audited accounts or copies of recent bank statements. However all other documentation outlined on the application form must be provided.
Expand Q: What is considered ineligible for partner funding?
A:

Sport England will not accept as partnership funding funding which it has awarded to other organisations.

For example we will not fund projects that have been funded either partly or entirely by the Football Foundation. Nor will we accept funding from national governing bodies where that funding forms part of the NGB’ s whole sport plan award from Sport England.

Speculative funding such as projected future income generated through the project activities is also ineligible. If a project generates income this should be reinvested back into the project as part of the desire for future project sustainability.

Expand Q: Is partnership funding required?
A:
Yes. Projects must include an element of partnership funding in cash or in-kind. There is no fixed minimum amount of partnership funding required for this themed round but applicants must demonstrate that any cash partnership funding can be secured prior to the start of the project.
Expand Q: What are considered eligible capital costs?
A:

Please note that for this programme capital expenditure will not be funded in isolation. We are seeking predominantly revenue projects but will also consider combined projects where modest structural building adaptations can be proved to be essential to enable the delivery of your project. In terms of combined projects, we will prioritise applications which require no greater than £30,000 towards the total cost of any minor structural adaptations.

Examples of eligible minor structural adaptations to combined projects might include:

  • Improving under-utilised facilities to meet modern standards, for example by upgrading lighting or sport playing surfaces
  • Alterations to provide additional/improved storage so that the related sports space can be used more effectively
  • Alterations to provide additional facilities for disabled people, in excess of the statutory minimum requirements, so that more disabled people can take part in sport. For example this might be providing more accessible changing rooms to meet an anticipated demand.

This list is not exhaustive

If you are considering facility improvements within the above parameters please consider Sport England’s Design Guidelines.

Combined Projects that proceed to Stage 2 development may need to be supported by a current condition survey of the existing facility which includes the fabric, internals and mechanical and electrical services condition to identify the extent of works the University intends to carry out directly and separately to this application. This should give further comfort as to the life expectancy of the building proposed

Equipment is also eligible where it is integral to the delivery of the project. For example:

  • Purchase of sports equipment (e.g. safety equipment, rescue vehicles, safety boats, club boats, gliders, rollers, etc)
  • Rescue vehicles or those specially adapted for use by people with disabilities might be eligible in exceptional circumstances.

Other eligible capital costs include:

  • Appropriate professional and other fees related to the project
  • Non-recoverable VAT.

This list of examples is by no means exhaustive and other project types may be considered.

Expand Q: How is an in-kind contribution defined?
A:

To be eligible the in-kind contribution must relate to project costs, which have to meet the relevant eligibility rules set out below:

  • Costs must be ‘additional’ ie above and beyond any existing provision
  • All in-kind contributions must demonstrate they are part of the co-ordinated action plan and must be directly related to interventions and activity within the action plan
  • All in-kind contributions must be a direct contribution towards eligible project costs
  • Partnership funding must be demonstrated up-front and cannot be done retrospectively.
Expand Q: Is partnership funding in the form of land eligible?
A:

The value of any land, facilities, equipment or other assets already owned by an organisation can never be counted as (part of) the eligible partnership funding contribution. However, the donation of freehold land / property from a genuine third party might be acceptable as a partnership funding contribution, provided that it constitutes added value through the genuine transfer of ownership and control.

The land must be given freehold or its equivalent. Sport England would regard a lease of 99 years or more, at a guaranteed peppercorn rent, as constituting freehold equivalent.

The value of any land or property donation will need to be independently and professionally verified (e.g. by the district valuer). The value must reflect any existing planning consent or restrictions (for example, it must be valued as recreational land unless the site has planning permission for non-recreational use). ‘Hope value’ based on potential development permission is not acceptable, as this is speculative.

When assessing the acceptability of land as an ‘in-kind’ contribution, the following questions will be considered:

  • Does the land donation bring added value to the project?
  • What are the motives for the gift?
  • Is the land already in sporting use?
  • Will the individual or body making the donation continue to have significant involvement in the project following the transfer of ownership? (If the donor will continue to exercise material control over the site, the donation will not be considered as constituting 'added value'). 
Expand Q: Does my project have to be new or can you support existing projects?
A:

We can support both new and / or existing projects so long as they meet the programme criteria. Existing projects will need to demonstrate that they are expanding the scope or scale of the project to increase delivery capacity.

Please note we will not fund the expansion of an existing project if work on the expansion has already started.

Where an organisation has already benefitted from Sport England funding to improve higher education sport (both capital and revenue), an applicant must demonstrate the need for additional funds.

 

Expand Q: Can I request funding for more than one year?
A:
Yes – applicants can apply for multiple years’ funding. However, it is not anticipated that projects will receive funding for a period of more than three years.
Expand Q: What are the assessment criteria?
A:

Detailed assessment criteria are available. Some of the criteria are specific to the theme; others are more generic relating to effective management of public funds and contributions to Sport England's strategic outcomes.

Expand Q: Does my proposed activity count as a recognised sport?
A:

Sport England recognises over 100 sporting activities. Only applications for projects relating to recognised sports are eligible for funding from Sport England.

In addition to being a recognised sport, for this programme, activities must be of at least moderate intensity and contribute towards our one million target. A list of these activities can be found here (need to attach).

This means that recreational walking and cycling, movement and dance, (with the exception of dance exercise), and shooting disciplines are ineligible and the following activities are ineligible if the participants will be under 65:

  • Yoga
  • Pilates
  • Bowls
  • Archery
  • Croquet

We strongly recommend that all applicants affiliate to their sport’s national governing body where possible.

Furthermore, due to the safety requirements of particular sports, we have (in certain instances) made affiliation to a recognised governing body an eligibility condition for Lottery funding. These sports are listed in the table below and will also appear with an asterisk on the drop down menu of sports on the application form.

Aikido

Flying

Luge

Sombo

Archery

Gliding

Modern pentathlon

Sub aqua

Ballooning

Gymnastics

Motor cycling

Surf life saving

Bobsleigh

Hang gliding and paragliding

Motor sports

Surfing

Boxing

Horse Racing

Mountaineering

Taekwondo

Canoeing

Judo

Parachuting

Tang Soo Do

Caving

Ju jitsu

Polo

Trampolining

Chinese martial arts

Karate

Sailing and yachting

Water skiing

Equestrian

Kendo

Shooting

Weightlifting

Fencing

Life saving

Skiing

Wrestling
Expand Q: Can I apply for a football project?
A:
Yes, but please note that we won’t fund projects that have been funded either partly or entirely by the Football Foundation, as Sport England funds the Football Foundation independently.
Expand Q: Can I seek funding for work that has already started?
A:

No. It is Sport England policy that no funding will be made in aid of expenditure to which the applicant organisation has committed itself by purchase, contract or other binding agreement before receiving a written award (unless it has obtained the written consent of Sport England prior to the commitment).

Even if there is no contract but the applicant has started work, it must by default be regarded as committed and the application will be rendered ineligible.

 

Expand Q: How do I apply for Without Prejudice Permission to start work ahead of a final funding decision?
A:

  This is the procedure:

  • Applicants should first submit their application. Without Prejudice Permission cannot be granted until a full application is received
  • A written request for Without Prejudice Permission should be submitted to the Programme Director, clearly stating the reasons for making an immediate start to the project and highlighting those elements of the project which must be started.
    Contact Details for the Programme Director
    Mr Phil Smith
    Director of National Governing Bodies and Sport
    Sport England
    3rd Floor
    Victoria House
    Bloomsbury Square
    London
    WC1B 4SE
  • At this point, a decision on your Without Prejudice Permission request will be considered. Applicants will receive a letter detailing the decision reached and should note that Without Prejudice Permission does not in any way commit Sport England to award any financial assistance
  • Where an applicant has committed itself and Without Prejudice Permission has not been given, the rule will be strictly applied and the application made ineligible.
Expand Q: My HEI is involved in the Facebook social networking project – would this exclude me from applying to this fund?
A:
No. Any HEI involved in this pilot project is viewed as a partner within this project and not a direct beneficiary.
Expand Q: Who do I contact if I want some pre-application advice?
A:

Applicants with queries should contact Sport England on 08458 508 508.

Sport England will also be running a number of pre-application workshops to provide greater detail on the types of projects we would be looking to fund, along with an explanation on the rationale and criteria for this specific themed round. These will be held on the following dates:

  • 7 April: The City Inn, Bristol
  • 9 April: Etc Venues – Hatton Garden, London
  • 15 April: Etc Venues – Maple House, Birmingham
  • 19 April: The Palace Hotel, Manchester  
Expand Q: If my application is successful, when would Sport England expect the project to start?
A:

We want to see projects and activities up and running as soon as possible after the funding has been awarded. However, we appreciate that projects take time to set up and that the timescales for the funding round are not perfectly aligned with higher education term times for delivering activity.

Sport England normally expects that project delivery will start within 3 months of the award acceptance.

It may also be worth considering how the holiday periods could allow for the provision of activity for students that do not leave the university area or the local community in the university holidays and /or the 20% of beneficiaries who do not have to be HE students.

Expand Q: Does my project have to deliver 3 x 30 minutes of sport at a moderate intensity for all participants?
A:

This themed round is primarily looking to increase participation of students not participating in sport three times a week for a minimum of 30 minutes per session, rather than improve opportunities for ‘sporty’ students. Therefore, it is vital that you can demonstrate within your consultation that the activity is right for your less sporty students.

We will need to see how each project contributes to our overall target of achieving 300,000 additional students doing 3 x30 minutes of sport. However, this does not mean that your project needs to provide 3 x 30 minutes of sport for every student who is taking part – it is your contribution towards moving them in the direction of more regular participation.

For example, your project may be targeted at females who are already doing some sport once or twice a week and therefore your activity should be looking to offer them an additional session(s) to move them in the direction of 3 sessions of  30 minutes per week, rather than moving them from 2 sessions to 5 sessions a week.

Remember, there are just over half a million students doing one or two sessions of sport for 30 minutes or more per week already.

Projects should not normally be targeting students who are currently not participating in any sport (0x30 minutes)

Expand Q: How do I know if an NGB already has intentions within its whole sport plan to work with my university – and will this af
A:

Active Universities applications should demonstrate which / how students would like to see their current sport offer enhanced at the university.  Applications should demonstrate how the project will meet the needs of those students who currently do not participate in sport at a moderate intensity three times a week for a minimum of 30 minutes per session.   

Sport activities identified in this way would be eligible for funding, UNLESS your university has already been approached by the associated NGB (outside of the themed round) to specifically work in partnership to increase and sustain student participation in their sport.   This is where there is either direct investment to the university or assistance to coordinate that sport in your university from the NGB, which has been funded by Sport England as part of the 2009-2013 Whole Sport Plan.  In this case it would be the responsibility of the applying university to demonstrate how the application adds value to the work already discussed and in delivery with the NGB.

NGBs can offer general advice regarding options for setting up their sport in your university, but this is not exhaustive.

For example:

Your students have identified five sports that they would like to have more opportunity to participate in, and at a different level to encourage them to participate 3x30 minutes per week.   This includes Rugby Union, Netball and Rounders and your application is to run an intramural programme for these sports.  Including this activity in your application would be acceptable, as long as:

  1. None of the sport NGBs are already providing direct funding or support via the whole sport plan to the university for developing an intramural activity in their sport.
  2. The sport NG B is providing direct funding and support but the application clearly demonstrates how this activity adds value to the current NGB contribution.
Expand Q: Does going to the gym and fitness classes count as an eligible activity?
A:

Going to the gym and most fitness classes (with the exception of yoga and pilates) are included in the one million indicator for sports participation. However, we are keen for this themed round to improve the wider sporting provision for students.

We do appreciate that for many students going from doing little sporting  activity to taking part in a formal sport setting may be too big a step and therefore we would consider funding fitness classes or gym based activities if they were being used as a catalyst for increasing student participation in sport. If this was the case, we would be looking for suitable exit routes to be identified in the project outline such as a student club or local opportunities.

For example, boxercise or a similar activity which includes boxing components might be used to engage individuals and give them the skills and confidence to continue within the university boxing club or other community boxing opportunities if they wish.

In terms of dance, dance exercise does count as an eligible activity and this can be defined as dance in a gym environment.

Please note gym equipment is not eligible for funding.
Expand Q: Is cheerleading an eligible sporting activity?
A:

Cheerleading is not currently a recognised sporting activity and so is ineligible for Sport England funding.

However, the recognition of cheerleading is currently being reviewed by the Home Country Sports Councils (Sport England, sportscotland, Sports Council for Wales, Sport Northern Ireland) and UK Sport who have joint responsibility for the recognition of sports.

Find out more about the recognition process.

Applications to the Active Universities themed round for cheerleading projects will be eligible only if recognition has been agreed by all of the Home Country Sports Councils before the final decisions on funding are taken.

Recognition is a complicated process and therefore not guaranteed within this timeframe so applicants apply and develop projects, if they are encouraged to stage 2, at their own risk.

Expand Q: Would insurance cover for students and-or physiotherapy support be eligible for funding?
A:

No.

However, insurance to cover an overall activity would be eligible but only for the length of time of the funding period.
Expand Q: Can county associations or equivalent apply as a lead applicant if their national organisation is also applying?
A:

No.  The themed round is only open to one application per organisation and/or its associated county or regional bodies. The reason being, that any sport that is currently funded through Sport England via the Whole Sport Plan will be distributing and using that funding through the infrastructure for that sport and hence it would be hard to prove how the project was adding value to existing funding.

There are however three ways in which a county organisation could be involved;

  1. As an interlinked component in a national application
  2. As a partner in a group application – but led by one of the universities involved
  3. As a partner in a specific university application
Expand Q: Would consultant fees be eligible for funding?
A:

Sport England will not cover consultant costs if they are for the preparation and writing of the grant application.  

Consultant costs necessary for the project development such as design fees or planning fees would be considered appropriate.

Expand Q: What happens if a university submits two individual applications?
A:
Each application will undertake the initial eligibility assessment.  If both applications are found to be eligible then they will be returned to the lead contact on each application.   Both lead applicants identified for each project will have to agree together which application they wish to proceed with for their university and which application(s) are to be withdrawn.     The University will have 5 working days to decide which application they wish to proceed with and inform Sport England in writing.   No additional work can be completed to either application and they cannot be amalgamated.

If one application is deemed to be ineligible following the initial assessment, the eligible project will automatically stay in the assessment.

Expand Q: Is planning permission required for the application submitted on 23 June 2010 (Stage 1)?
A:

Technically a project does not require planning permission at stage 1, when you submit your initial application.  However, if it is not in place, it will impact on the assessment scores in terms of your ability to deliver.  The project may be deemed as higher risk.   Active Universities is a competitive round and therefore the project may be in direct competition with projects which do have planning permission.  If a project does not wish to apply for planning permission, we would strongly encourage the applicant to speak to their local authority and seek their initial view (pre-application advice).

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