Fitness instructors, personal trainers and coaches are among the sport sector’s self-employed and freelance workers who can apply for a new Covid-19 support package from Sport Wales.
A new £3m ‘Sport Freelancer Fund’ has been set up to provide some financial help for the many workers in the field who directly deliver activities that get the nation moving.
Funding of £1,500 is available, and applicants will need to demonstrate how they’ve lost at least that amount in income since the crisis began due to contracts being cancelled or restrictions halting their work.
Support package for sport’s freelance workers
Applicants will have a short window in which to submit their claims - applications open via the Sport Wales website at 12 noon on Thursday 26 November and will close at 5pm on Wednesday 9 December.
Full guidance on who is eligible for the Sport Freelancer Fund, and how to apply, can be found at www.sport.wales/sportfreelancerfund.
The £3m funding forms part of an overall £14m Sport and Leisure Recovery Package which has been allocated by Welsh Government to Sport Wales so that sporting organisations, facilities and jobs can be protected.
Sarah Powell, the Chief Executive of Sport Wales, said: “This fund is the first of its kind in the UK for sport freelancers, and is another clear sign of the importance that Welsh Government places on sport and its ability to make a positive difference.
“There are so many hard-working individuals in Wales who make a living from coaching, running boot camps, teaching fitness classes, and doing a whole manner of other things to keep us active.
“Working as they do, in the heart of communities, they make a significant contribution to the sporting sector. But, like everyone else, they’ve been hit really hard by the pandemic.
“We appreciate that £1,500 won’t cover all of the financial losses that many have suffered, but we hope that this funding will go some way towards helping to ensure that these individuals can stay in the sector, continuing to use their talents to enhance the lives of others.”
Sarah added: “Because we want to get payments out to successful applicants as quickly as possible, particularly with Christmas approaching, the window for applications is quite short. Therefore, we urge applicants to read the guidance on our website carefully to ensure that they include all of the required information with their application.”
The £1,500 is available for freelancers and self-employed workers in Wales whose work directly supports people to be active, such as sports coaches, personal trainers, fitness instructors and dance instructors. It is not available for other freelancers working in the industry such as sports writers, commentators, photographers, sports therapists and nutritionists.