British Gymnastics members can now apply for financial support through a special round of our Hardship Grants funding.
For some British Gymnastics members we know that the Coronavirus (COVID-19) has had a devastating impact on their livelihoods, making a return to gymnastics feel impossible. That’s why, as their partner charity, we’ve been working hard alongside them, to make extra funds available to those members that are most in need. Through British Gymnastics’ Step Forward Plan, those going through significant financial hardship can now apply to receive funding that will help to keep them in the sport they love.
Below are all the details you need to know before applying. You can also find out more and apply by heading to our Hardship Grants page.
What is a hardship grant and how long have I got to apply?
The Hardship Grants Programme is our initiative designed to provide financial assistance to British Gymnastics members, to help them continue participating in gymnastics through times of significant financial hardship. The programme has been running for over five years now and has helped over 300 members.
Due to the current crisis, we have worked hard to make more funds available for the Hardship Grant Programme, to deliver a special round of funding for participants, which supports members suffering financially in these difficult times. The grants can be used to help pay for the costs of participating in gymnastics for individual participants.
Applications are now open and will remain open throughout July and August. Applications can be made here.
Who can apply for a Hardship Grant?
In this special funding round for participants, the grants are open to current British Gymnastics members who are in significant financial hardship and are at risk of dropping out of gymnastics as a result of COVID-19.
Funding will not be awarded to any of the following:
– British Gymnastics members who are deemed to be financially capable of/or have the means to fund their involvement in gymnastics.
– Any person who has made a false claim in the past.
– Gymnasts in receipt of UK Sport Lottery funding.
– British Gymnastics staff members.
It is extremely important that you know we are here to support those most in need and at risk of dropping out of gymnastics completely. We will treat fraudulent claims very seriously and we strongly urge those who have the means to get back to gymnastics, to not apply. Doing so may result in charity funds not being available to support someone else who is in desperate need of our help.
Once I’ve applied, what happens next?
Throughout July, August and September, we will be working hard with British Gymnastics to review all applications for funding. We aim to review all applications and notify each applicant of our award decision within a month of receiving their completed application. We ordinarily run one Hardship Grant Application Panel each quarter, but for this special participant round of funding, we will run as many ‘Grants Panels’ as is necessary to review all applications.
There will likely be many more applications than usual, so please bear with us as we work through this. We will fully consider each individual case and we are committed to ensuring that everyone has the means to get back to gymnastics when it is safe to do so.