Sport Ireland and The Wheel Launch New Collaborative Partnership
Sport Ireland is delighted to establish a new collaborative partnership with The Wheel which aims to provide technical support to the sport sector in Ireland in the preparation and delivery of EU funded projects in the areas of sport, physical activity, health and well-being.
The Wheel is Ireland’s national association of community and voluntary organisations and is leading a new Access Europe programme which aims to support all not for profit organisations to access EU funding opportunities. Access Europe is a three-year programme that is funded by the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs.
The EU offers a number of funding opportunities to all sporting organisations in Ireland including National Governing Bodies of Sport, Local Sport Partnerships as well as clubs and other sporting bodies working at community level.
One of the most significant and accessible funding programmes for sporting bodies is Erasmus+ Sport and there are three funding streams available under the programme at present including small and larger collaborative partnership projects and not-for-profit European sport events. In addition to the funding opportunities created by EU projects, this support can also assist organisation in profile building, developing international contacts and networks and also contributing to EU policy.
Sport Ireland CEO John Treacy welcomed the new partnership with The Wheel stating; “Sport Ireland are delighted to have agreed a new partnership with The Wheel and encourage all sporting bodies to engage with Sport Ireland and The Wheel to explore the various EU funding opportunities available over the coming years”.
All sporting bodies interested in applying for EU funding are encouraged to register their interest through the Access Europe website, ensuring they are kept up to date on funding calls or support workshops planned over the coming months. All EU’s funding programmes, including the Erasmus+ Sport programme, will open for applications again in 2021 and organisations are advised to start work early on the preparation of project ideas and partners for projects
Queries relating to EU funding can be directed to Sport Ireland Innovation and European Funding Manager, Cormac MacDonnell (innovation@sportireland.ie) or directly to the Access EU team in The Wheel.
