Isle of Wight sport clubs and coaches are being invited to bid for grants of up to £500 as part of a project aimed at getting more children aged 5 – 16 into sport and physical activities.

Isle of Wight Council is running a scheme called Sport4Kids. As part of this, local clubs and coaches deliver structured courses lasting anything from 6 – 10 weeks. At the end of the course, there is then an activity where new participants can continue to take part in the sport or activity, such as a club training session.

Any sports clubs or coaches can apply for funding to deliver a Sports4Kids course. Each course should be provided by a qualified coach and must be a new activity to encourage new participants into the sport. The Sports Unit is especially keen to support new, innovative courses targeted to reach priority areas, such as Girls Only Groups or New Age Groups.

Isle of Wight Council’s Sports Unit is looking to fund over 15 individual Sport4Kids courses during 2009. Grants of up to £500 could be used to hire facilities, purchase equipment, pay any coaching fees and other resources to deliver the course.

Alan Wells, Isle of Wight Council Cabinet member for Children and Young People said

“Sport4Kids is a great scheme because not only does it benefit children and young people, it also provides incentives for local sport clubs and coaches.

The participants get to take part in physical activity which could be learning a new sport, while clubs can raise their profile and membership numbers, which could lead to increases in their revenue”

More details on how to become involved in Sport4Kids can be obtained by ringing Isle of Wight Council’s Sports Unit on (01983) 823818 or by emailing sports.unit@iow.gov.uk, alternatively visit www.iwight.com/sportsunit and click on ‘Clubs’.