Governing Body Support Programme 2021-22

Frequently Asked Questions

 

 

 

09/02/21

 

Question

Have all applicants been allocated the same 3 scenario amounts in their proposal documents?

 

Response

Each applicant has been allocated a set of scenarios that is commensurate with the club membership details submitted within the Expression of Interest. The majority of sports have been allocated the same range of scenarios, although some will have a range that is different, reflecting higher membership. All scenarios are within the identified range of investment for the programme of £5,000 to £30,000.

 

 

 

 

09/02/21

 

Question

The guidance document indicates that applicants must meet the minimum threshold of 40% to be considered for investment. Is there sufficient budget if all applicants reach this threshold?

 

Response

Sport Northern Ireland has developed the various investment scenarios in order to provide a series of options to be brought forward in the Business Case for approval. There is sufficient budget secured to invest in all organisations who have progressed to the proposal development stage. However, it is important to note that all proposals will be subject to assessment and in order to receive investment organisations must meet the threshold of 40%.

 

 

 

 

09/02/21

 

Question

Other Sport Northern Ireland investment programmes have required applications to come through the grants portal. Is this a different approach?

 

Response

Yes, the nature of the information being submitted for the Governing Body Support Programme is slightly different, therefore all the requested documentation is to be emailed to sportingclubs@sportni.net by 4pm on Friday 5th March 2021.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

09/02/21

 

Question

Some of the documentation to be submitted is likely to require signatures. Given the current circumstances, are electronic signatures acceptable?

 

Response

Yes, electronic signatures are perfectly acceptable at this time. Applicants may also wish to keep emails of appropriate approval trails, where appropriate.

 

 

 

 

09/02/21

 

Question

Is Sport Northern Ireland in a position to act as a sounding board for ideas that applicants may have in regard to their proposals?

 

Response

Given the limited size of the team working on the programme and requirement for a fair and transparent assessment process to be conducted, it will be difficult for Sport Northern Ireland to provide guidance to applicants on an individual basis. However, applicants are advised to utilise the sportingclubs@sportni.net email address for all queries and where appropriate, Sport Northern Ireland will provide a collective response via the FAQ updates.

 

 

 

 

09/02/21

 

Question

Although a list of eligible expenditure has been included within the guidance document, it is still not absolutely clear which spend would be allowed. For example, some sports may wish to consider the development of virtual learning programmes to support their clubs and workforce.

 

Response

Applicants are advised to utilise the sportingclubs@sportni.net email address for all eligible expenditure queries and where appropriate, Sport Northern Ireland will provide a collective response via the FAQ updates.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

09/02/21

 

Question

We are the recognised umbrella body for our sport and will be applying on behalf of one of our disciplines? In regard to the requested information, do we submit membership and the workforce information specific to that particular discipline?

 

Response

Yes, umbrella bodies should submit membership and the workforce information specific to the disciplines involved in the Governing Body Support Programme proposal. Should the applicant be successful in receiving an award, all investment will be paid to and managed by the umbrella body. Applicants are advised to utilise the sportingclubs@sportni.net email address for all queries and where appropriate, Sport Northern Ireland will provide a collective response via the FAQ updates.

 

 

 

 

09/02/21

 

 

Question

Reporting accurate membership demographic (e.g. disability) data may prove a challenge for some applicants. How should this be approached in the proposal documents?

 

Response

Where an applicant does not collect data in relation to a particularly demographic, ‘no data’ should be recorded. Where an applicant does collect data on a particular demographic, they should include the information as it has been reported to them.

 

 

 

 

09/02/21

 

 

Question

Would it be acceptable for applicants to focus on capacity building, as well as, or as an alternative to, growing their membership?

 

Response

Yes, applicants may identify the need to build capacity within their sport and the governing body itself within their proposal, with a view to longer term sustainability and readiness for future investment.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

02/03/21

 

 

Question

In relation to the internal and external contributions referenced above, does Sport NI have any specific requirements around minimum % contribution and/or match funding?

 

Response

No, Sport NI does not have any specific requirements in regard to minimum % contribution and/or match funding within this particular programme. However, where additional contributions have been committed, it is important for you to include them within the form, as they may be relevant for the overall programme business case.

 

 

 

 

02/03/21

 

 

Question

If an applicant is only proposing to directly impact on one element (i.e. club membership or workforce) of the investment, should they still include information on both elements within their proposal?

 

Response

Applicants will not be penalised for focusing on one specific element of the investment and the assessment process has been designed to enable this to happen.

 

However, it is important for applicants to include baselines and projections for both club membership and the workforce within the Finance and Data excel document, even if they are only proposing to focus on one particular area within their proposal. This will allow Sport NI to have an overview of the sport and gain insight on its current position and future projections.

 

Should applicants choose to focus on one specific element of the investment, they should record ‘not applicable’ within the Proposal word document in either 3C (Club Support) or 3D (Workforce). This will allow your proposal to be assessed accordingly.

 

It is important for applicants to consider if an indirect impact may still occur within the other area of investment and, if so, they should detail this within their proposal.

 

 

 

 

02/03/21

 

Question

What score do applicants need to obtain during the assessment process to be considered for investment?

 

Response

All proposals will be subject to assessment and in order to receive investment organisations must meet the threshold of 40%.

 

 

 

 

 

 

02/03/21

 

 

Question

Which element of the workforce population should committee members be considered within?

 

Response

Committee members should be considered within the Volunteer element of the workforce population.

 

 

 

 

02/03/21

 

 

Question

Does Sport NI have a specific definition of disability for this programme?

 

Response

The Disability Discrimination Act defines a disability as a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effective on a person’s ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.

 

The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, in its Disability Code of Practice, provide clarification that the adverse effect must be substantial (that is, more than minor or trivial); adverse; and long-term (that is, it has lasted or is likely to last for a least a year or for the rest of the life of the person affected).  Physical or mental impairment includes sensory impairment.  Hidden impairments are also included (E.g. mental ill health, learning disabilities, dyslexia, diabetes and epilepsy).

 

 

 

 

02/03/21

 

Question

The financial section of the excel document refers to internal and external contributions towards the project. Can you clarify what these terms mean?

 

Response

Internal Contributions: Finance Generated by the Sporting Organisation (E.g. Membership Subs, Sales, Fundraising etc.)

External Contributions: Finance Secured from Funding Bodies & Sponsors.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

02/03/21

 

Question

Some of the data with our Finance and Data excel document may be incomplete, particularly around specific demographics. Where should we note this within our proposal?

 

Response

Where data has been included within the Finance and Data excel document but may be incomplete, please reference this in Section 2b) Membership Categories, within the Proposal word document.