Tuesday, 29 June 2021
Following the success of the first Tackling Inequalities Fund, which aided 21 centres in the summer of 2020, British Equestrian has been granted a further £150,000 of funding from Sport England to support riding centres that are facing financial hardship as a result of the ongoing pandemic.
The fund is specifically targeted at riding centres and groups delivering activity for participants from lower socio-economic groups or diverse ethnic communities, or those with disabilities or long-term health problems. These centres will have been affected by COVID-19, but have been unable to secure funding or financial support from other sources during this difficult time.
Eligible organisations include centres who have had to close at short notice and are facing ongoing costs around maintenance and utility bills, as well as voluntary and community sector organisations who deliver or enable sport and physical activity. The fund is designed to complement other sources of funding from the government, such as funds targeted at small businesses, and grants are available from £300 to £10,000.
“We are very grateful to Sport England for granting us this additional funding. COVID has had a significant impact on the ability of people across the UK to be physically active, but research conducted by the Sport and Recreation Alliance shows that its effects have been most keenly felt by certain social groups and communities,” commented British Equestrian’s Head of Participation, Mandana Mehran Pour. “Our hope is that the Tackling Inequalities Fund will help to support the riding centres who deliver to these communities, thereby allowing more people to enjoy the immense benefits of being around horses.”
The funding has been awarded as part of Sport England’s Tackling Inequalities Fund, which aims to address inequalities in sport and activity levels by working with its partners to reach those most in need. The funding and support offered by Sport England and British Equestrian will enable community groups working with target audiences to continue to exist and engage with their communities with a view to keeping them active during the period of gradual unlocking and up until March 2022.
Applications for the fund are open from today (Tuesday 29 June 2021), and are set to close no sooner than Monday 26 July. The online application form can be accessed here, and full guidance and the list of questions is available in the document below. Further information or queries can be addressed to participation@bef.co.uk.
Guide to submitting your Tackling Inequalities Fund application