Welcome to this month's CDS Newsletter,
Over the past month, a string of worrying statistics have been published, highlighting the precarious position sports clubs are currently in.
According to research, even before the pandemic, over 40 per cent of local community sports clubs were either in deficit or just breaking even. Now, a quarter find themselves at risk of permanent closure after a year of intense difficulty – from local football teams to athletics and tennis clubs.
We know many of these clubs are run by volunteers, who are often time-poor. This is why we started Club Development Scotland 5 years ago this month - to give community clubs a helping hand with the expertise we've gained within the sector to date.
Since launching CDS with the support of Motherwell FC's Keith Lasley (pictured below), we've helped a range of clubs with matters such as incorporation, legal structures, gift aid, funding, Community Asset Transfers and just general club development. To date, we've worked with over 40 different clubs, helping them increase their turnover by 25% on average.
We also know the pandemic has hit clubs hard, which is why we're offering free club development and fundraising reviews to sports clubs throughout April. Simply get in touch by emailing andrew@clubdevelopment.scot with a bit of background to your club including your current struggles (e.g. funding) and what your aspirations are for the future.
They take pride in doing things differently at Lewes FC, the small football club with big ideas. Read about their commitment to gender equality and community ownership.
A new study has called on sports properties to end their sponsorship deals with companies it claims are attempting to ‘sports-wash’ their role in the climate crisis.
The Chair of a charity which provides sporting competition to young people says sport can be the “secret weapon” in the battle to help them recover from some of the most negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Grassroots sports will struggle to return once lockdown measures are eased, MPs have been warned, with one organisation estimating 25% of their clubs will not come back from the Covid-19 pandemic.
The latest piece of research on the impact of Covid-19 on grassroots sports, carried out by Sported, has found that although 86% are confident their group will survive the next 6 months, they are most anxious now about getting support in funding opportunities (26%) and in keeping participants active/stimulated (14%).
Sport England has announced it is using a Social Impact Bond (SIB) for the first time to improve opportunities for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.
The 'Chances Programme', developed by the funding body in partnership with Substance, the Life Chances Fund and Big Issue Invest, will support more than 6,000 people aged eight to 17 across 21 locations in the UK over the next three years.
The OSS in partnership with The Scotsman has launched its ‘manifesto for sport’ calling on the next Scottish Government to put community sport at the centre of its post-pandemic recovery plan.
"We first linked up with Club Development Scotland through our partnership with My Club Hub to assist and progress our application to gain charitable status as a SCIO and HMRC registration for Gift Aid. The application process is quite a daunting task for any club but straight from the start the guys were first class, getting a real understanding of our club first of all and from there on in, it was a very streamlined and simple process which resulted in a successful outcome. Their expertise and honesty was evident. Real genuine guys and we can’t speak highly enough of the work of Club Development Scotland. We would have no doubts in recommending the first-class services provided"
- Kevin Stewart, Chair of Deveronvale Community FC
Clubs can look to raise significant capital for funding through their own independent fundraising methods but often there are funders who support community projects and may make suitable funding partners for your project.
Here are some of the newest funds your club may be eligible to apply for.
If you're looking for support with your fundraising, get in touch.
Made By Sport and Cash4Clubs are offering community sports clubs and organisations across the UK the opportunity to receive £2021 in unrestricted support, through the ‘Clubs In Crisis’ fund.
The fund will open in April, in line with the unlocking of grassroots sport in the UK.
The trust gives approximately £20,000 per year to organisations based in the West of Scotland working to improve recreational facilities for young people, older people and those who are unemployed. The trustees prefer to give towards specific items of equipment or projects and to organised clubs, groups and teams where many will benefit.
Fundraising is an important aspect of any club's success. Check out some ways you can raise valuable income here. If you're looking for support with your fundraising, get in touch.
Volunteering can be a busy and thankless task so whether it’s managing day to day duties or maintaining a compliant club, supported by nearly 250 design features, your time and effort needn’t be stretched with My Club Hub's membership and payment system. Get in touch for more information.
SNAP helps clubs promote sponsorship opportunities to a wider audience while sharing best practices when it comes to negotiating and securing sponsorship, all within one easy-to-use platform. Use the promo code "clubdevelopmentscotland" at checkout and enjoy 12 months of support for the price of 11 (+ keep 100% of your sponsorship)
Fantastic Fanatics (FF) is a great new way to raise funds for your club, at no extra cost, when you shop, eat out, book hotels and lots more.
Clubs can sign up to the FF platform here and start earning money straight away - don't forget to select Club Development Scotland as your governing body for an extra 10% income.
Small club lotteries are a powerful and sustainable way for organisations to raise funds for their core activities or larger projects.
Decades of experience in administration, commercial operation and technical knowhow of local lotteries is combined to support your fundraising activities on a bespoke Our Club Lotto portal.
Community shares can fund sports clubs, build new facilities and above all, build stronger, more vibrant, and independent communities.
Sports clubs and community groups need money to grow, in particular, to build better facilities to generate more money. The problem is that clubs are limited in what cash they can raise from fundraising, donations, loans or grants. Too many of us know that relying on loans from individuals or companies can be very risky for the club. Enter community shares. Check out our guidance here.
Many clubs in Scotland are unincorporated. This is a suitable setup for small members’ or amateur clubs with no significant assets, no interest in property and who do not employ staff, enter into contracts or other arrangements involving risk. However, unincorporated clubs have no “legal personality”. If your club owns property and is unincorporated, it will be owned in the names of certain members. Therefore, if the club closes owing money, or can’t meet it debts, a creditor can go after the individual members and not just the club’s assets. Check our guidance on incorporation and the options open to a clubs here.
