Ulster Hockey are delighted to announce the launch of the new Small Grants Programme which is available to all clubs in the province.
The purpose of Ulster Hockey is to inspire involvement, build capacity and sustain clubs to achieve our key strategic vision to ‘increase participation, support excellence and develop a sustainable game for the Ulster Hockey family’.
Ulster Hockey currently has a framework of 6 strategic outcomes:
- Financial Sustainability
- Safe & Sustainable Clubs
- Participation Growth & Diversification
- Athlete Centred Talent Pathway
- A Recognised & Valued Brand
- Responsive & Effective Leadership
Our member clubs play an integral part in ensuring Ulster Hockey achieves its strategic outcomes, ensuring the sport thrives and achieves its potential.
Ulster Hockey is aware that clubs face many financial barriers, therefore we are pleased to announce the Club Grants programme has been launched and open for applications. We feel that it is essential that Ulster Hockey reinvests resources into member clubs, providing targeted investment to assist clubs to Inspire, Build and Sustain.
Speaking on the launch of the programme, Ulster Hockey CEO Marc Scott said:
“Sustainable and successful clubs are fundamental to Ulster Hockey achieving its strategic objectives around the growth of the sport in Ulster.
Ulster Hockey are delighted to launch this programme which is designed to support our clubs to increase participation, support excellence and develop sustainability in our game.”
About the fund
The Club Improvement Fund provides grants of £250 to £2,000 to support clubs to develop their capacity or provide initiatives to grow the sport and ensure the sport of hockey thrives at club level.
We are particularly interested in club projects that focus on one or more of the points below;
- Recruitment and training of new volunteers, coaches or supporting the development of your existing workforce to add capacity or enhance member experience. This may include coach development, umpire development and safeguarding training.
- Building capacity of club Committees or members such as governance, communications or finance training.
- Provide opportunities to new participants in the sport to engage with your club.
- Equality and inclusion initiatives including, but not limited to targeting under-represented groups* and Hockey ID.
- Improving your online presence to support communication with existing members and welcome new ones.
The grants programme, which again will offer affiliated clubs funding of up to £250 – £2,000 is open throughout the year. However, we do have a limited amount of funds and once this allocation has been granted the fund will close for the year.
All applicants must be an affiliated club and must also commit to achieving ‘bronze’ standard Clubmark accreditation within an agreed period of receiving the grant.
Please note that clubs can only apply for one grant in the calendar year.
We will not fund:
- Ongoing club running costs such as training pitch hire, matchday travelling expenses, utilities
- Club coaching costs for existing teams
- Facility development costs
- Equipment costs – unless this is for specialist or essential equipment to support eligible initiatives noted above
Apply
To apply for the fund, fill out the application form, which can be found here
The closing date for any applications is set as Friday 28th February 2025.