Sport England have recently launched their new Return to Play fund, which will financially support groups, clubs and organisations that have been impacted by coronavirus restrictions, to safely return to regular sessions once restrictions have been lifted and it’s safe to do so.

In response to Sport England’s announcement, Kate Moss, Boccia England’s Head of Development said:

“Sport England are offering fantastic financial support to clubs and organisations to ensure they are able to return when it is safe to do so. The pandemic continues to have a real impact on our sport, but with this fund clubs can apply for funding to ensure they have what they need for when they reopen.”

Part of this fund includes the Return to Play: Small Grants fund. Through the Return to Play: Small Grants fund, boccia clubs and groups which deliver boccia in England can apply for small grants of between £300 - £10,000 to support them to respond to the immediate challenges of returning to play in a Covid-19-safe environment.  Return to Play: Small Grants can be used to provide support with covering additional costs which clubs may incur to return safely to training sessions, including; printing additional signage, having the correct hygiene and safety equipment (hand sanitizer, facemasks/ coverings, cleaning products) and purchasing additional boccia equipment to ensure that Boccia England’s Back to Boccia Return to Training guidance can be followed at all times during sessions.

Sport England’s Return to Play Fund will especially seek to support those groups and organisations working with audiences which have been identified as finding it more difficult to be active at this time. These include; disabled people and people with long-term health conditions, Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities, people on lower incomes, those disproportionately affected financially as a result of the crisis and those who are experiencing a greater burden of care responsibilities since the pandemic began.

To find out more about Sport England’s Return to Play Fund and how to apply for a grant, please click here.

If your boccia club or group decides to apply for any part of Sport England’s Return to Play Fund, please could you make Boccia England aware and we will be able to support you with your application. Alternatively, if you require financial support which is less than £300 then please contact Boccia England and we can signpost you to other sources of funding.

For further information about Sport England’s Return to Play fund and how it can support your boccia club, please contact George Bollands, Development Officer (Clubs and Safeguarding) via [email protected] / 07809 336 321