Aquatic Club Development Fund

AQUATIC CLUB DEVELOPMENT FUND

Why we are launching the fund

As aquatics continues its post-pandemic recovery, the energy and cost of living crises provide new challenges across Wales and the UK. Many pools are experiencing energy price rises of over 300% and these increased costs are often passed on to consumers. Swim Wales is launching this fund to help clubs build a foundation on which they can thrive in the future.

What is the fund?

The fund will provide financial support to the sum of £250-£2,500 for a range of club projects. A contribution of 10% of the overall project cost will be required from clubs.

Applications are open from Saturday 21st October until the deadline on Sunday 3rd December and are limited to one per club.

Swim Wales will release 90% of their contribution upfront and the final 10% at their discretion (throughout or on completion of the project) based on progress.

The total value of the fund equals £50,000.

Project Timeline

October 21, 2023

Fund launch

October 21, 2023

December 3, 2023

Application deadline

December 3, 2023

January 17, 2024

Application decisions communicated to clubs

January 17, 2024

January 19, 2024

90% of monies released to clubs by this date

January 19, 2024

March 29, 2024

Remaining 10% of monies released by this date in-line with project progress

March 29, 2024

Application and Guidelines

To apply, clubs must ensure they meet the eligibility criteria (as described in the information pack below), complete the 2023 Swim Wales Club Audit and upload a completed application form (available below) to their JustGo page. Full information on how to apply is available in the ‘how to apply’ document below.

Aquatic Club Development Fund Information Pack – English Download

Pecyn Gwybodaeth Cronfa Datblygu Clybiau Dyfrol – Cymraeg Download

How to Apply – Aquatic Club Development Fund Download

Sut I Wneud Cais – Cronfa Datblyg Clybiau Dyfrol Download

Application Form – English Download

Ffurflen Gais – Cymraeg Download

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Is the 10% club contribution on-top of the amount we are applying for?

A. No, the 10% club commitment is a contribution to, rather than an addition to, the overall sum of the application. For example, if a club applies for a £1,000 grant from this fund, the club will be expected to provide £100 alongside £900 provided by Swim Wales.

Q. Why are Swim Wales not releasing 100% of the grant money immediately?

A. In-line with standard practice for funds of this nature, Swim Wales will release the majority of funds (90%) upon approval of an application; the remaining 10% will be released throughout the completion of the project. This is done to ensure the funding is used correctly and effectively by clubs.

Q. Our club does not currently have a full management committee in place – can we still apply?

A. Incidents of this kind will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis. As a general rule, clubs who do not have a full management committee in-place at the time of application must have a clear plan for vacant positions to be filled as soon as possible. Please seek specific support if your club is in this situation by contacting [email protected].

Q. Our club has not yet completed the Club Audit – where can we find this?

A. The Club Audit was shared with your Management Committee on Tuesday 17th October 2023. You can also access the audit using this link: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=tsc5zVjH80iVhqhoFsFqAx-xdsEPp3ZChGqs0OIUkuRURFpTQVBZT0xHTFZXUlU1WEpVMThLTzMwVC4u

Q. What documents need to be submitted as part of an application?

A. Completed application form; screenshot of bank account or bank statement; proof of outstanding applications with other funds if applicable.

If your query has not been answered above, please contact [email protected] for further support.