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Support Scheme for Individuals Qualifying to represent Jersey in Off-Island Competitions (P.82/2024): amendment

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STATES OF JERSEY

SUPPORT SCHEME FOR INDIVIDUALS QUALIFYING TO REPRESENT JERSEY IN OFF-ISLAND COMPETITIONS (P.82/2024): AMENDMENT

Lodged au Greffe on 6th December 2024

by the Minister for Sustainable Economic Development

STATES GREFFE

2024  P.82 Amd.

SUPPORT SCHEME FOR INDIVIDUALS QUALIFYING TO REPRESENT JERSEY IN OFF-ISLAND COMPETITIONS (P.82/2024): AMENDMENT

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1 PAGE 2, PARAGRAPH (a) –

After the words "to establish a permanent support scheme" insert the words "through Jersey Sport"

 After the words "to a maximum of" for the word "£500,000" substitute the word "£300,000".

After the words "per annum," insert the words "for sporting associations or other appropriate bodies"

For the words "to provide subsidies of up to £2,000" substitute the words "to provide travel grants of up to £1,000"

"After the words "for costs related to off-Island participation in sports", delete the words "arts, academic"

Delete the words "for which a qualification or selection process is required".

After the words "to fund relevant travel, accommodation", delete the words "related uniform or equipment".

2  PAGE 2, PARAGRAPH (b) –

After paragraph (b) insert the following new paragraph –

(c) to undertake, before the end of January 2025, a review of the associations, individuals, or organisations eligible for this funding with a view to ensuring that a wide range of those representing Jersey are in scope of this funding.

 MINISTER FOR SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Note:  After this amendment, the proposition would read as follows –

THE STATES are asked to decide whether they are of opinion

to request the Minister for Sustainable Economic Development –

  1. to  establish  a  permanent support  scheme  through  Jersey  Sport, funded through the Arts, Heritage, and Culture budget, or other relevant sources, to a maximum of £300,000 per annum, for sporting associations or other appropriate bodies to provide travel grants of up to £1,000 per individual per year for costs related to off-Island participation  in  sports  or  other  similar  competitions  for  those representing Jersey, with such subsidies to be accessible to fund

relevant travel, accommodation, competition fees, and associated costs for a responsible carer to accompany a participating minor or an adult with care and support needs; and

  1. to  commence  the  subsidy  scheme  in  the  first  quarter  of  2025, according to feasibility and existing resources, with a view to full development and implementation of the scheme before the end of 2025.
  2. to undertake,  before the end  of  January  2025, a  review of the associations, individuals, or organisations eligible for this funding with a view to ensuring that a wide range of those representing Jersey are in scope of this funding.

REPORT

The Council of Ministers are supportive of the principle behind Deputy Kovacs ' proposition. Recognising the limitations in the current grants provided for off-island travel, the Government requested Jersey Sport to undertake a review of travel grants in consultation with sports associations and bodies earlier this year. This has resulted in an updated sport grant which will be in place from 2025 and will provide tiered support according to the size of membership, numbers of travelling athletes, necessity and impact of travel. Payments will be distributed to sporting clubs and associations who will then have the autonomy to distribute funds to their members as they see fit. The proposition is amended accordingly.

Ministers believe that sporting organisations are best placed to provide specific travel grants of up to £1,000 per individual per year, instead of this being undertaken by central Government. It is recognised, however, that there may be instances where an individual feels they do not have reasonable access to a sports club or association, or are not receiving  appropriate  support  with  travel  costs  for  another  reason.  In  such circumstances, an individual athlete can discuss this directly with Jersey Sport.

Under the current sport travel grant, 3484 trips to 398 events were supported during 2023. This is separate from the additional £50,000 Games Association grants which are provided to support Islanders participating in the Island Games and Commonwealth Games. To be clear, the reference to "representing Jersey" in part (a) will be taken to include those who are part of sport associations and bodies in Jersey, and participating in sport for that purpose. This is not restricted to representing Jersey at a national level.

This Amendment to Deputy Kovacs ' proposition would seek to build upon Jersey Sport's new travel grant structure by more than doubling the amount of funding available to £300,000. It would also seek, in part (c), to review the associations, individuals, and organisations eligible to seek to widen the range of applicability given the  increased level of funding. This  will be  important for those individuals who participate  in  sporting  activities  through  clubs  which  are  established  as  private businesses, which currently includes a number of island dance schools. It should be noted that, at present, funding is available for such individuals through various Arts grants, and this will remain available. Whilst the proposed £300,000 figure is lower than the  £500,000 put forward in the original proposition, it nevertheless  represents  a significant  uplift  while  also  narrowing  the  scope  to  focus  on  sporting  activities specifically.

In  narrowing  the  focus  of  the  proposition,  the  Government  has  also  taken  into consideration the views of Jersey Sport who have expressed concern at the prospect of managing grant applications for artistic and academic travel, both of which already have grants in place to facilitate travel, such as the Rivington Fund.

Government also provides a range of grant funding for sport both in Jersey and for athletes travelling off-island to compete and these are set out on gov.je at Sport facilities, grants and funding.

In addition, a new Jersey Sport Access Fund of up to £40,000 will be launched in 2025. This fund will ensure access to sports for those who otherwise could not participate for a range of reasons, including financial reasons. It could, for example, assist with meeting the cost of equipment, kit, uniform or other fees. It is important to recall that uniform

for Commonwealth Games and Island Games teams is already provided to qualifying athletes. In addition, £120,000 will be available for a Performance Sport programme which will, for the first time, provide Government funding directly to Jersey's most talented athletes. The Performance Sport programme will provide tailored support to best meets the needs of individual athletes. This includes increased funding for travel, uniform, related kit and equipment if needed.

Financial and staffing implications

No additional funding is required to meet the commitment made in this proposition. The Government will need to consider its existing commitments within the 1% Culture, Arts and Heritage budget, which is the identified source of this funding.

Children's Rights Impact Assessment

A Children's Rights Impact Assessment (CRIA) has been prepared in relation to this amendment and is available to read on the States Assembly website.