Next round of Athlete Travel grants opens

A dedicated grant supported by sportscotland to help sportspeople in the Highlands and Islands with the costs of attending competitive and training opportunities is open again for applications from Orkney athletes.

The Athlete Travel Award Scheme is a partnership between sportscotland and the participating local authorities - Orkney Islands, Western Isles, Shetland Islands and Highlands Councils.

The Scheme helps ‘elite pathway’ athletes – athletes with potential to reach elite levels of competition and performance - from the Highlands and Islands gain better access to competition and training opportunities without having to relocate from their communities.

The 2021-22 scheme offered a more flexible application process to address ongoing uncertainty over the sporting calendar due to the pandemic, with two application rounds – the first took place in July, and the second round is now open, covering travel for the period January – April 2022.

Athletes who applied in the first round are eligible to apply to this current second round too - however the maximum any individual will receive in total for 2021-22 is £1,500.

Applications will open Monday 4 October and close Friday 29 October at 5pm.

Councillor Gwenda Shearer is Chair of Orkney Islands Council's Education, Leisure and Housing Committee: “We have seen in recent weeks eight local sportspeople awarded grants from the first round of this year’s funding – I’m delighted to see the second round now open and available to local athletes to support them in the early part of next year as they look to make the most of what has been a difficult and uncertain period.

“We’d thank sportscotland for their ongoing support for this scheme which levels the playing field for sportspeople in the more remote areas of Scotland, and helps our local athletes take advantage of opportunities and reach their full potential.”

Stewart Harris, Chief Executive, sportscotland, said: “We know that athletes in the Highlands and Islands can face challenges due to the additional travel required for competitions and training, which is why this fund was created.

“By working in partnership with Orkney Islands Council we can better understand those challenges, deliver services locally through the sportscotland institute of sport, and provide the necessary support to help talented athletes to fulfil their potential.

“In the current climate, flexibility in the way support is provided is essential, both for those who have already received funding through this scheme, and those who plan to apply in this second round. We hope it will make a real difference for athletes in Orkney.”

sportscotland has allocated each of the three local authorities £10k, with the Councils then required to top this up with £2k of their own funding plus the equivalent of £3k of management and administrative time.

The amounts received by successful applicants will be based on a number of criteria including their forecasted Competition and Training schedule, understanding of the Sports Performance Pathway and National Rankings. The application process also requires athletes to evidence how the grant will improve their performance, provide them access to quality training opportunities and improve their sports or club environment.

To find out more and download application forms, visit the Council website or email joanne.cairns@orkney.gov.uk.

Photo: OIC's Swimming Pools Team Manager Matthew Byers, pictured, was one of the local athletes to be awarded a grant in the last round. Read more in our press release announcing the eight local sportspeople set to benefit from the scheme.