Sports Aid Eastern

Quick Stats

• Annual Income: £158,406 (2024)
• Grant Range: Up to £1,000 per athlete
• Decision Time: Nominations November-December, awards start April
• Geographic Focus: Eastern region of England
• Application Method: Nomination only (via National Governing Bodies)

Contact Details

Website: www.sportsaideastern.co.uk

Email: jane@sportsaideastern.co.uk

Phone: 07518 716260

Address: The Pinnacle, 170 Midsummer Boulevard, Milton Keynes, England

Overview

Sports Aid Eastern (charity number 1070957) was established in 1999 as a regional branch of the national SportsAid network. The charity has raised over £2.5 million to support young talented athletes in the Eastern region of England. With an annual income of £158,406 (year ending July 2024), the organization operates under royal patronage from HRH The Princess of Wales. Sports Aid Eastern's mission is threefold: to further the education of young people through sport, encourage those with social and physical disadvantages to improve their lives through sport, and enable those living in poverty to take advantage of sporting opportunities. The charity operates through 11 sporting lunch clubs throughout the Eastern region, which serve as both fundraising and networking venues. Since London 2012, the organization has supported over 10,000 athletes, with notable success including 11 athletes at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and 14 at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Sports Aid Eastern provides financial awards to talented young athletes through the national SportsAid framework:

• SportsAid Awards: Up to £1,000 per athlete per year (12-month award cycle)
• Backing The Best: Specific program for athletes from lower-income households (household income under £55,000)
• Awards are distributed through a nomination process managed by National Governing Bodies
• Approximately 1,000 athletes supported annually across the national SportsAid network

Priority Areas

• Young athletes aged 12-18 (up to age 35 for athletes with disabilities)
• Athletes competing in more than 60 different sports
• Unfunded athletes who are not receiving UK Sport funding or World Class Programme support
• Athletes demonstrating outstanding ability and potential as identified by their National Governing Body
• Athletes from families facing financial barriers to sporting participation
• Athletes primarily living and training in the Eastern region of England

What They Don't Fund

• Athletes already receiving UK Sport funding
• Athletes receiving support through World Class Programmes
• Athletes outside the Eastern region of England
• Athletes not nominated by their National Governing Body
• Organizations or clubs (funding goes directly to individual athletes only)

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Governance and Leadership

Sports Aid Eastern is governed by 8 trustees who receive no remuneration. The charity has no employees earning over £60,000. Recent and current leadership includes:

• Mark - Served as Chairman from 2017-2024, extensive experience in sports administration including work with the English Sports Council from 1995 and CEO of Leap from 2012
• Jane Horridge MBA FCMI - Appointed Director in January 2022, bringing corporate sector and Further Education experience
• Phil - Chair of Peterborough Sporting Lunch Club and trustee since 2016, former Fellow of The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
• Steve - Trustee since 2016, successfully operated Bucks SportsAid since its inception in 2011
• Adam - Partner at Taylor Vinters, became trustee in 2017
• Sally Purbrick - Trustee focused on raising profile and fundraising capacity

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

There is no direct public application process. Athletes cannot apply directly to Sports Aid Eastern or SportsAid. The funding process works exclusively through National Governing Body (NGB) nominations.

Steps for Athletes:

1. Check if your sport is supported by visiting the “Sports We Support” section on the national SportsAid website
2. Review the nomination criteria agreed between SportsAid and your sport's NGB, particularly age group and performance levels
3. Contact your National Governing Body's designated representative about nomination eligibility
4. If deemed eligible by your NGB, you will receive an email from SportsAid in November inviting you to complete a nomination form
5. Complete the nomination form through SportsAid's Online Nomination System (ONS)

Important Note: Meeting nomination criteria does not guarantee a financial award, as the charity can only distribute what it has fundraised.

Decision Timeline

• November-December: Nominations received from National Governing Bodies through the Online Nomination System
• April: Financial awards begin distribution for successful nominees
• 12-month cycle: Awards last for one year until the next nomination round
• September: Final distribution of financial elements for the award year

For specific sports, timing may vary slightly (e.g., some sports like badminton distribute awards March-June).

Success Rates

Specific success rate percentages are not publicly disclosed. However, key factors include:

• Approximately 1,000 athletes receive SportsAid awards nationally each year
• Not all nominated athletes receive the financial element of awards due to fundraising constraints
• The charity emphasizes that funding availability depends on amounts raised through commercial partnerships, trusts, charitable funds, and fundraising activities

Reapplication Policy

The nomination process is annual. Athletes can be re-nominated year after year by their National Governing Body if they continue to meet the eligibility criteria and remain unfunded by UK Sport or World Class Programmes. The 12-month award cycle means athletes need to be re-nominated each autumn to continue receiving support.

Application Success Factors

NGB Relationship is Critical:

Success depends entirely on being identified and nominated by your sport's National Governing Body. Athletes should proactively engage with their NGB, understand their talent pathway structure, and ensure their performances are visible to NGB selectors.

Financial Need Matters:

For the Backing The Best programme specifically, household income must be under £55,000. The charity prioritizes athletes who “might not get the opportunity to fulfil their potential without” financial support due to family financial circumstances.

Age and Status Requirements:

Most athletes supported are aged 12-18 (non-disability sports). Athletes must be unfunded and “rely heavily on their parents for support.” Those receiving UK Sport funding or World Class Programme support are ineligible.

Performance Standards:

NGBs nominate athletes “deemed as talented with potential.” Athletes must demonstrate they are “ranked amongst the most talented within their discipline” according to their NGB's assessment.

Geographic Connection:

Athletes must be “primarily living/training in England” for national SportsAid support, with Sports Aid Eastern specifically supporting those in the Eastern region.

What SportsAid Values:

According to the charity's EDI statement: “SportsAid believes that any athlete demonstrating the characteristics and ability required to succeed should have the opportunity to develop and fulfil their potential.” They look for athletes with outstanding ability who face financial barriers to accessing opportunities.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Note: Sports Aid Eastern funds individual athletes, not organizations. Grant writers working with sports organizations cannot apply on behalf of athletes. However, this information is valuable for those advising young athletes:

• NGB nomination is mandatory - There is no alternative route to funding; athletes must work through their sport's governing body
• Timing is crucial - Athletes should contact their NGB by early autumn to be considered for the November-December nomination window
• Financial need is assessed - For Backing The Best awards, household income under £55,000 is required
• Awards are capped at £1,000 - This is for training and competition costs, not organizational development
• Regional focus matters - Athletes must be primarily based/training in the Eastern region of England
• Success breeds success - SportsAid alumni won 154 medals at Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympics (53 of Team GB's 65 medals, 101 of ParalympicsGB's 124 medals)
• Beyond money - Award recipients also gain access to free personal development workshops, cross-sport learning opportunities, and potential mentoring or workplace experiences through funding partners

References

1. Sports Aid Eastern Charity Commission Register - https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/3954151
2. Sports Aid Eastern official website - https://www.sportsaideastern.co.uk/
3. Sports Aid Eastern About page - https://www.sportsaideastern.co.uk/about/
4. SportsAid FAQs - https://www.sportsaid.org.uk/faqs
5. “How are Athletes nominated to SportsAid?” - https://www.sportsaid.org.uk/node/66
6. SportsAid One-to-Watch Award 2024 announcement - https://www.sportsaid.org.uk/news-and-insights/news/sportsaid-announces-annual-one-watch-award-shortlist-2024
7. British Fencing - SportsAid and Backing The Best information - https://britishweightlifting.org/article/sportsaid-and-backing-the-best-funding
8. Companies House - Sports Aid Eastern overview - https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/03574841