Active Leeds Sports Club Resources

Leeds Sports Club & Individual Equipment Grant 

The Leeds Sports Equipment Grant is now open until Sunday 5th November 2023

*Please note clubs and individuals can only apply for 1 grant in each financial year starting 1st April.

Introduction

The Leeds sports club and equipment grant is intended to support Leeds sport clubs with the purchasing of essential equipment that is necessary for growing their sports & activities, as well as increasing membership and participation. The grant also supports individuals from the city of Leeds who are currently representing their country in their chosen sport (England or Great Britain)

The grants are administered by LCC Active Leeds, the grant panel currently consists of a small panel of LCC, Sport Leeds and local sport representatives. Please note, this grant is the  replacement for the previous ‘Leeds Sports Grants’ that were administrated by Leeds Sports Federation.

The total funding pot is small and demand is likely to be high therefore, priority will be given to clubs and individuals who are located in areas of higher deprivation or those clubs who are offering activity that helps to increase participation of under-represented (in physical activity) including those with a disability, of a BAME community, and females – within these groups, young people will also be prioritised. (Clubs can apply for up to £300 of support, individuals to a maximum of £250) 

Leeds Sports Club Equipment Grant - ELIGIBILITY

Who can apply?

Non-profit making sports clubs located within Leeds City Council administrative boundary

Who cannot apply?

Educational establishments (schools, colleges, universities)

What will we fund?

Grants of £100-300 for essential sports equipment only 

What won’t we fund?

Items other than sports equipment such as: administration, kit, coaching/staffing, venue hire or operational running costs.

Club Constitution and governance 

Eligible clubs must operate an open membership system.

Clubs working with young people and/or vulnerable adults must have safeguarding policies in place.

Applications will only be considered from clubs who are affiliated to their national or regional Governing Body and/or are a bona fide club. Applications will not be accepted from leagues. 

All Sport England recognised sports are eligible but the Grants Panel may consider other sports, at its discretion. 

Leeds Sports Club Equipment - GRANT CRITERIA 

• Priority will be given to applications seeking to increase physical activity participation in underrepresented groups. This includes clubs located in areas of higher deprivation, people with a disability, of a BAME community, and females – within these groups, young people will also be prioritised
• Evidence of need for a grant must be submitted by telling us about how your club will use the equipment to develop participation
• Financial information: demonstrate why your club needs this funding and forward the following to: sport.club.develoment@leeds.gov.uk   

Include one of the following:

1. Copy of most recent audited accounts 
2. Bank/building society balance (showing latest income and expenditure)

• Grants will not be awarded if the panel consider the applicant to have sufficient other sources of funding or reserves of income unless there is a clear reason for this, which must be explained in the supporting information.
• The Grant awards of £100 minimum and £300 maximum. 
• Where applications are made by clubs, the grant award will be deemed to have been made to that club. In no circumstances must the equipment granted be transferred to another club unless with the express permission of the Grants Panel.
• Only one grant will be awarded per financial year (1st April to 31st March).
• Clubs account details must be provided (personal accounts will not be accepted).  
• No application will be considered if the applicant has already incurred the expenditure that constituted the grant claim.
• Purchase of equipment must not be made until notification of grant award. If granted, recipient clubs must provide receipts / evidence of all purchases which must not pre-date the date of grant notification when requested
• Application Forms are available and to be completed online, together with the required financial information.
• Incomplete applications will not be considered.
• Applications should be received no later than the closing date as shown on the website.

To Apply For The Sport Club Equipment Grant :

Complete your online application form here: Club Support Grant: Application Form

*Please also send a copy of your current bank accounts to sport.club.development@leeds.gov.uk  as supporting information for your application.

Individual Equipment – GRANT CRITERIA & ELIGIBILITY

• Individuals requesting assistance must be currently representing their country (England or Great Britain) at junior or senior level. Applications must be accompanied by a confirmation letter from the relevant National Governing Body.
• Applications from individuals will only be considered for specialist sports equipment or costs associated with representing their country in international competition.
• Grant awards for individuals will not be for more than £250 per applicant. 
• Where there are several applicants from one club for attending the same event then the maximum award per club will be £500.
• No application will normally be considered if the applicant has already incurred the expenditure that constituted the grant claim.
• All Sport England recognised sports are eligible but the Grants Panel may, in exceptional circumstances, consider other sports, at its discretion.

To Apply For The Individual Equipment Grant:

LEEDS SPORTS GRANTS: APPLICATION FORM FOR INDIVIDUALS

*Please also send a copy of your NGB confirmation letter to: sport.club.development@leeds.gov.uk  as supporting information for your application.

If your club would like to strengthen your existing playing membership, develop new activities and teams or even start a new alternative sport within your club, then we can help. Our officers have a wealth of experience in identifying funding, setting up and sustaining new sports programmes. This includes sports camps, school-club links, formal and informal sessions to a variety of targeted groups.

If you would like to discuss your ideas with one of our officers, or be entered into the mailing list please contact: Sport.Club.Development@leeds.gov.uk.

Capital Funding For Your Facilities

Our officers can provide advice* to your sports club in developing a successful funding application to help upgrade and maintain your facilities. We can advise your club on identifying the correct funding stream, attaining tenure of land, updating constitutions, providing sport development and business plans, as well as how to meet the various criteria required by funders when developing a successful application.

*Please note our priority will be to support clubs based in and servicing the more deprived communities in the city.

If you are planning a capital project and would like support and advice from our officers, please contact Sport.Club.Development@leeds.gov.uk

Funding Leeds

The free and easy way to find funding

Funding Leeds is a public and third sector partnership - helping the voluntary, social enterprise, and community sectors in Leeds find the funds to achieve their vision.

www.fundingleeds.co.uk

Quick Guide to Funding

Active Leeds Sport Club Development

 A Quick Guide to Funding

 A guide to local, regional, and national funding schemes to support the development of sport, physical activity and recreation in Leeds

The table below provides a quick reference guide for local sports clubs, not for profit groups and other community-based organisations that are involved, or would like to be involved in developing and actively promoting sport and recreation opportunities for people of all ages and abilities. 

This could be improving facilities such as grass and all-weather pitches, changing rooms or multi use games areas (Capital Funding), recruiting and training more coaches and volunteers, purchasing kit and equipment, setting up a new team and organising sporting activities for young people and adults, particularly groups who are traditionally underrepresented in sports such as women and girls, disabled people, black and ethnic minorities. Some funding organisations are also keen to support projects in the most disadvantaged areas of the city, where there is a clear lack of facilities and opportunities to take part in sport and recreation. 

This list is by no means exhaustive, as there may be other funding which specifically support projects for things such as volunteering, children and young people etc. but the aim is to provide organisations, both large and small with a starting point, when looking for project funding to support capital and revenue projects, where sport, physical activity and recreation is the main focus. In the first instance, potential applicants should look at the funding websites (where applicable) to find out more about the schemes and which ones are most likely to match their project ideas and/or call the funder to see if you are eligible to apply and that the scheme is still running.

For further information or advice, or for general funding enquiries please contact Active Leeds on: sport.club.development@leeds.gov.uk / chris.gott@leeds.gov.uk 

Active Leeds Sport Club Development Governance for Sports Clubs 2020

Sports Clubs come in all shapes and sizes. They can be hundreds of years old, with hundreds of members or set up last summer by a few friends or like-minded people.

Naturally, those in charge of running the club often focus on things like getting more members, better coaches and improving or finding facilities. But what’s often forgotten is the actual structure of the club – how it is legally set up?

Do you know how your club is set up in the eyes of the law? Is your club set up in a way that suits it best? Here are a few options available to sport clubs and the advantages and disadvantages.

*All potential funders will need to understand what type of governance you have, as well as what type of dissolution clause (winding up arrangements) you have in place.

Unincorporated Associations: https://www.gov.uk/unincorporated-associations

If your club has not taken any steps towards setting up a company, or getting any special status, you are most probably one of these. Often called a private members’ club, unincorporated associations are, simply put, a group of people bound together by the constitution (or rules) of the club.

This means that, to the law, the club is not a legal entity in its own right and so any contract the club enters into must be done so by a member of the club. This is normally a member, or members of the committee.

So what are the advantages of being an unincorporated association?

•Very little admin – no need to file annual returns and there is no outside scrutiny of the club’s actions. 

•Lots of flexibility – the constitution (rules) of the club can be whatever the club wants, and can be changed at any time by the members. 

•Eligible to be a Community Amateur Sports Club (CASC) – more on this later.

But what are the disadvantages of being an unincorporated association?

•Ownership issues – the club wouldn’t have a separate legal identity from its members. This means it can’t own any assets like land or property. Instead its members do, and if those members leave the land has to be transferred back to someone else in the club. 

•Members will be personally liable – because the members have to enter into contracts in their own name, and not as the club, if something goes wrong or the club breeches a contract, a claim can be made against that member. This risk is particularly apparent in personal injury claims. Members are also jointly and severally liable for claims. This means one member could be forced to pay all of the clubs debts if the other members can’t pay.

Companies Limited By Guarantee: https://www.gov.uk/limited-company-formation/setting-up

By registering your club as a company limited by guarantee, your club gains a separate legal entity from its members. This means that the constitution (or rules) of the club become its articles of association and that the club can enter into contracts and hold land. Each member also guarantees to pay a small amount of money if the club becomes insolvent (often £1) but no shares are issued as the club is owned by its members. A club cannot distribute any profits it may make to members, but if any claims are made against the club, the members will only have to pay the amount of money they have guaranteed.

So what are the advantages of being a company limited by guarantee?

•Limited liability – because it’s the club and not members who have entered into the clubs contracts, members are not personally liable for the full amount. Members only have to pay the amount that they guaranteed when setting the club up – provided they haven’t broken company law.

 •Eligible to be a Community Amateur Sports Club (CASC), again more on this later.

But what are the disadvantages of being a company limited by guarantee?

• There is more admin – now clubs have to file annual accounts, an annual return and directors’ details at Companies House. Every time a director is appointed or removed that also has to be filed and fines are made for late filing. Because the club is now a company, directors (i.e. the committee members) have duties and responsibilities according to company law.

  Companies Limited By Shares: https://www.gov.uk/limited-company-formation/setting-up

  A club that becomes a company limited by shares is often favoured by semi-professional or professional clubs. And it is exactly the same as a company limited by guarantee except it’s owned by shareholders.

  So what are the advantages of being a company limited by shareholders?

  •Shares can be bought and sold – depending on any restrictions that you may have put in your article of association; shares can be bought and sold. Investors can more easily invest in the club and dividends can be paid.

  But what are the disadvantages of being a company limited by shareholders?

  •Membership share issues – every time a member joins a share has to be issued and each time a member leaves their share must be transferred to someone else or redeemed. Shares cannot be advertised and sold publicly.

  •Controlling the club – if anyone gains 50% of the shares then they can control the board of directors. If they have over 75% they can change the clubs constitution. 

  •Not eligible to be a Community Amateur Sports Club (CASC) – more on this later.

  Social Enterprise: https://www.gov.uk/set-up-a-social-enterprise

  You must choose a business structure if you’re starting a business that helps people or communities (a ‘social enterprise’). If you want to set up a business that has social, charitable or community-based objectives, you can set up as a:

  Community interest company (CIC) If you’re setting up a small organisation like a sports club or a voluntary group and don’t plan to make a profit, you can form an ‘unincorporated association’ instead of starting a business. A CIC is a special type of limited company which exists to benefit the community rather than private shareholders. To set up a CIC, you need to apply to Companies House, and: include a ‘community interest statement’, explaining what your business plans to do create an ‘asset lock’- a legal promise stating that the company’s assets will only be used for its social objectives, and setting limits to the money it can pay to shareholders Charitable Incorporated Organisation The main advantage of a CIO is the limited liability afforded by an incorporated form, alongside the lower administrative burden associated with being regulated by the Charity Commission alone, and not by Companies House. (see details below)

  Community Amateur Sports Club (CASC): https://www.gov.uk/register-a-community-amateur-sports-club/overview

  Since 2001 community-based amateur sports clubs have been able to take advantage of tax reliefs by registering as a CASC. A club is eligible to become a CASC if it is: open to all of the community, amateur and non-profit making, given to a sport’s governing body, another CASC or charity if it is wound up.

  So what are the advantages of being a CASC?

  •Gift Aid can be claimed on donations from individuals – which means the government adds 28.5p to every £1 donated. However, this can’t be applied to membership fees. 

  •Eligible for Business Rate Relief – Local Authorities can give relief of at least 80% and some up to 100%. 

  •Tax exemptions – lots of tax exemptions and reliefs and CASCs also do not pay tax on interest earned in bank accounts.

  So what are the disadvantages of being a CASC?

  •Permanence – after registration with HMRC, CASC status can’t be undone. Open membership – Clubs have to allow anybody to be a member and have equal opportunity to use club facilities – unless the level of facilities means there is no more room for members or it can be proved members would be disruptive. Fee levels must also be low enough so everyone has the opportunity to join. 

  •Players must be amateur – expenses can be paid but nothing more. 

  •No social members – all paying members must be playing members. 

  •Extra administration if annual income is above £5000 – clubs must register with the Charity Commission and submit annual accounts as well as comply with charity law.

  Charitable Incorporated Organisations (CIOs) What is a CIO? https://www.gov.uk/guidance/charity-types-how-to-choose-a-structure

  Charitable Incorporated Organizations or CIOs are a relatively new legal structure available for groups that wish to be incorporated. It can be chosen instead of registering ad a charity and then as a company as well. CIOs have been designed to allow groups them register just once with the Charity Commission as an incorporated form of charity which is not a company. Therefore cutting out the need to register with and report to Companies House. Reduced administrative burden is proposed as just one of the benefits of becoming a CIO. In addition to this, the CIO would have its own legal personality and so can enter into contracts in its own right rather than in the name of individual trustees. Trustees will also have limited liability. CIO members still have key rights in law and under the Constitution and trustees are still responsible for managing the organisation (note that trustees for CIOs will only be trustees, they will not have the dual role of Company Director).

  Pros	Cons
  Need only register with Charity Commission	Not as straightforward as running an unincorporated association or a charitable trust
  Need only comply with Charity Law	Not as suitable for charities wanting to issue debentures
  Limited liability for trustees and members	Does not come into existence until registered with the Charity Commission – therefore you cannot open a bank account etc. in its name until it is fully registered
  Legal personality - enabling it to conduct business in	Cannot be an exempt charity
  its own name, rather than the name of the trustees	Submission of accounts and registers - for groups under £5,000 may involve a lot more work
  Suitable for small to medium sized organisations which employ staff and/or enter into contracts - simpler than establishing a charitable company	May not be suitable for large/complex charities
  Charities can transfer the ownership of any trading subsidiary company to the CIO.	CIO legislation makes no provision for the maintenance of a register of charges - may make more it difficult to borrow.
  Flexibility, for example, CIO constitution can allow for decisions at meetings to be by consensus	Members of a CIO will not have rights to receive accounts, call meetings, vote by proxy, demand a poll and remove a trustee unless the constitution expressly provides them.
  Smaller CIOs can prepare receipts and payments accounts (under £250,000 annual income), while smaller charitable companies must prepare accounts on the accruals basis.	CIO can only change its written constitution with a written members resolution unanimous vote rather than 75% as a company
  Regime for electronic communications with members is also less rigid than the regime that applies to charitable companies’ i.e you can email all members without receiving permission first.

  Type	Legal Status	Required	Documentation for Legal
  Unincorporated Associations
  Private members clubs with a committee – may have a set of rules and a constitution	None – the committee and/or members cannot enter into land transactions / contracts or hold assets on behalf of the club Trustees are required – at least 2 – to hold the land/assets or enter contracts on trust for the club.	Retired or deceased trustees must be replaced by the committee appointing new trustees. Club rules & constitution	Full names and addresses of the trustees Copy of the trust deed
  Incorporated Associations
  Company Limited by Guarantee	Company is a legal entity and can contract / hold assets in its own name. Articles of Association must be checked to ensure company has capacity to enter into the transaction concerned (e.g. to buy, sell or lease land)	Articles of Association Director(s) Registration at Companies House	Articles of Association Company Name (in full) Company Registration Number Company’s registered address Contact at company with correspondence address
  Company Limited by Shares	As above	As above	As above
  Community Interest Company	As above	As above	As above
  Charitable Incorporated Organisation	CIO is a legal entity and can contract / hold assets in its own name.	As above although registration will be with Charities Commission rather than Companies House	As above although registration will be with Charities Commission rather than Companies House
  Other
  Community Amateur Sports Club	May be incorporated or unincorporated – see above for information	If incorporated – see company information If unincorporated – see trustees information	If incorporated – see company information If unincorporated – see trustees information
  Charities	May be incorporated or unincorporated – see above for information	Registration with the Charity Commission	Charity Registration Number Charity’s registered address Contact at charity with correspondence address PLUS company information as above if incorporated

Leeds City Council can provide discretionary rate relief for your sports club, based on a sport development criterion. We can also advise your club on the benefits of becoming a Community Amateur Sport Club (CASC) as well as on other governance models for your club.

If your club would like to apply for DRR, or to be a CASC please contact: Chris Gott chris.gott@leeds.gov.uk

You can easily access all the latest updates and information to help develop your club on Twitter External link opens in new window@LCCSportDev. If you would like to receive our e-newsletter please leave your email address at Sport.Club.Development@leeds.gov.uk​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​