Minutes:
Boxing Action Plan 2017/18
The Committee considered the following report:
“1.0 Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues
1.1 The purpose of this report is to provide Members with an update on the support that the Council will provide to boxing for the remainder of the strategy period.
2.0 Recommendations
2.1 Members are asked to:
(i) note the update provided;
(ii) agree that in the financial year 2017/2018 a proportion of the Support for Sport grant is prioritised for boxing; and
(iii) further work is undertaken to identify how funding can be established to support the remainder of the Boxing Strategy.
3.0 Main Report
3.1 Members are reminded that the Council developed a 10 year amateur boxing strategy for the city in partnership with Co Antrim Boxing, Ulster Boxing Council (UBC), Sport Northern Ireland (SNI) and the Irish Amateur Boxing Association (IABA). The final strategy including an action plan was agreed by the former Parks and Leisure Committee in March 2013. It was also agreed that a fund of £200,000 per annum would be allocated for 3 years on a non-recurrent basis for the implementation of Phase 1 of the strategy and this would include funding to put in place a Sports Development Officer (appointed in December 2013) and two community based coaches (appointed in April 2014). Due to the delay in appointing staff there was a significant underspend in Year 1 and this was used to finance the implementation of Year 4.
3.2 The agreed financial support for the implementation of the Amateur Boxing Strategy is coming to an end on 31st March 2017. Whilst this will mean that the direct support through the strategy will end, boxing clubs and the governing body will still be able to access the support that is available to all sporting clubs through the Leisure Development Unit. This support includes:
· Assistance in the completion of club development plans.
· Support in sourcing and completing funding applications.
· Assistance in helping club preparing for clubmark assessments.
· Providing clubmark accreditation and associated financial awards (bronze, silver, gold)
· Providing opportunities to get involved in community/school taster days etc.
· Recognising achievements of local clubs via annual sports awards ceremony
· Delivery club development and coach education training.
3.3 Boxing clubs are eligible to apply for up to £9,000 per annum via Support for Sport funding (small, large and hospitality grant), via a competitive process which is open to all sports clubs in the city.
3.4 A fund of £600k was allocated to support the Boxing Strategy, (£200k over 3 years on a non-recurrent basis). The implementation of the strategy did not expend significant funds in year one and it was therefore agreed to extend the delivery to year four. An average of £150k has been spent each year with approximately 50% of this allocated to staffing costs and the remainder to programme delivery. Of the amount allocated to programme delivery, approximately £35k supported events across the city.
3.5 Members will be aware that there is a strategic review of grant-aid underway. In this context, it is proposed for 2017/18 that 15% of the total support for sport grant fund (up to £24k) is allocated to support delivery of the Boxing Strategy programme, to be applied for through existing partnership arrangements by way of an agreed action plan and subject to appropriate due diligence i.e. assessment of strategy outcomes, deliverability and value for money. It is envisaged this will support city wide events such as the very successful Belfast Boxing Day.
3.6 When the strategic review is completed, further work will be undertaken to establish funding arrangements for the Boxing Strategy.
3.7 The IABA, boxing’s governing body, have also been successful in obtaining funding through the Everybody Active programme. They have been awarded up to almost £100,000 over 4 years to deliver a programme which aims to:
1. In the first instance to enhance club capacity (via free coach ed./club dev. training)
2. Provide mentoring support/after care to newly qualified coaches.
3. Utilise newly qualified coaches to deliver female boxing classes within the local community and in clubs.
3.8 These activities will build on the support that was provided to boxing through the phase 1 strategy funding.
3.9 IABA have committed to recruiting resource to provide ongoing support for delivery of the Boxing Strategy in Belfast.
3.10 Financial & Resource Implications.
The support outlined will be met through existing resources.
3.11 Equality or Good Relations Implications
The strategy has been equality screened in line with the Council’s equality process.”
The Committee adopted the recommendations.