Leadership in Sport and Recreation

Scholarship Policy

The Aim of the Scholarship Scheme is to provide support to volunteers who either live in, or volunteer in the High Peak to enter into leadership for the first time, or to develop the skills of existing leaders so that they can broaden their skills, or progress up the coaching pathway.

High Peak Borough Council have target groups who will benefit from higher percentages of funding, due to under representation in leadership positions. These groups may change over time, and are detailed in each year's annual action plan for High Peak Sport and Recreation Development.

The Objectives of the Scholarship Scheme are as follows:

  1. To offer grants to individuals to enable them to access education and development opportunities, which may take place within or outside the High Peak.
  2. To offer grants to sports clubs, community groups and other voluntary organisations to enable them to organise education and development opportunities for their volunteers.

The Scheme offers various levels of funding:

  1. Up to a maximum of 100% of course costs for individuals who are part of the target group for priority under the current annual action plan.
  2. Up to a maximum of 80% of course costs for individuals who are not part of the target group for priority under the current annual action plan.

The following terms and conditions apply to the Scholarship Scheme.

  1. Applicants to the Scholarship Scheme must complete an application form, which will be assessed by High Peak Borough Council.
  2. Offers of scholarships are not guaranteed. The outcome and proportion of grant offered will depend on the following:
    • Whether the applicant is identified as part of a 'target group' for the current year.
    • The quality of the application and the assessment of the benefit to High Peak Sport and Recreation
    • The available budget for the Scholarship Scheme
    • The assessment of the 'need' for the Scholarship, taking into account other potential funding partners (eg. National Governing Bodies of Sport).
  3. Recipients of the Scholarship must sign the Scholarship Agreement, which commits them to good practice and a code of conduct as a responsible person involved in the delivery of sport and recreation activities for the local community.
  4. The recipient agrees to send a copy of the certificate gained on completion of the course to High Peak Borough Council for audit purposes.
  5. The recipient of the grant must be prepared to take part in monitoring and evaluation of the Scholarship Scheme, which will enable them to review the success of the programme, and make improvements. This will involve the completion of an evaluation form at a specified period following completion of the course.

Funding Restrictions:

We will not fund:

  1. Coaches/leaders who are operating commercial coaching companies, or for whom coaching is their paid employment (other than employees of High Peak Borough Council, who may be funded through training and development funds)
  2. Coaches/leaders who do not live in the High Peak. (Special dispensation may be given to people who are linked to a High Peak club or voluntary group).

High Peak Borough Council reserves the right to alter the terms and conditions of the Scholarship Scheme as part of it's review and evaluation processes which take place annually.