IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT

Improvements to Sportsmatch application rules - Without Prejudice Permission

We are making a change to the rules governing Sportsmatch applications to give greater flexibility to applicants and to bring Sportsmatch in line with other Sport England programmes.

Previously those wanting to be considered for a Sportsmatch award were not allowed to begin a project until the application had been reviewed at a Panel meeting.

From now on Sport England will consider requests for Without Prejudice Permission. This means we may grant you permission to start work on discrete elements of your project before the Panel meets to make a decision.  Please be aware that this does not commit Sport England to give any financial assistance to the project.

You should submit your application to Sportsmatch via the online application portal.  If you wish to be granted Without Prejudice Permission, you must demonstrate a genuine reason(s) for your wish to make an immediate start on the project and we must be satisfied that you have the financial means to complete the discrete elements of the activity you want to undertake immediately. For example, any expenditure incurred should be covered by your sponsorship funding.

Without Prejudice Permission may be granted only where the project appears to satisfy Sportsmatch eligibility criteria. It will not be granted where the activity is unlikely to be supported on technical grounds or for reasons of priority. 

Without Prejudice Permission must be issued to you in writing before the work can begin. Our letter will specify the elements of the project for which Without Prejudice Permission has been granted.

We will also write to you if we decide not to grant Without Prejudice Permission, setting out why we have declined the request for work on your project to start before the application has been reviewed at a Panel meeting.

General considerations

• Each Without Prejudice Permission request will be treated on its own merits. 
• Granting Without Prejudice Permission does not, in any way, commit Sport England to award any financial assistance to the project.
• Applicants will proceed entirely at their own risk and Sport England will not be liable for any costs or expenses incurred.
• Where the applicant has committed itself and Without Prejudice Permission has not been granted the application will be made ineligible.
• In all Without Prejudice Permission requests, Sport England’s decision is final.

For information on how to apply for a Sportsmatch award please contact us on 08458 508 508.

 

For media enquiries only please contact the Sport England press team on 020 7273 1593 or email mediateam@sportengland.org

 

9 September 2008