GSC ready to support Revive & Thrive

The Guernsey Sports Commission is looking forward to contributing to the States of Guernsey’s recovery strategy and being part of the plan for the Bailiwick to Revive and Thrive.

The government strategy was published last week and is due to be debated by the States shortly. It focuses on partnership working to achieve its vision. The Recovery Plan states:

“We will work in partnership to recover our economic prosperity, build on our inclusive community values and capitalise on our many strengths to make Guernsey a safe haven based on sustaining health, wealth and community.”

The plan goes on to confirm that Guernsey “should aim to take this opportunity to revive, renew and revitalise by working collaboratively with Islanders to develop and deliver the action plans for recovery.”

‘This is a great opportunity for the Guernsey Sports Commission to build on its work with the community and gives us renewed drive to push forward with the 8 key workstreams outlined in our 5-Year Action Plan,’ said Graham Chester, Operations Director.

‘It is heartening to see the health and wellbeing of our community as one of the main pillars of the Bailiwick’s Recovery Plan and we will do everything possible to support this.

‘One of our main workstreams is Inclusion – ensuring that sports are increasingly able to identify and overcome barriers to participation and competition. We know that sport and physical activity can support the mental health and wellbeing of our community and this particular workstream is ideally placed to deliver some real results,’ said Graham.

‘We are also keen to explore any additional opportunities outside of the scope of our Action Plan, including sports tourism or hosting sporting events which could also help boost the island’s profile and contribute to our recovery in the longer term.’

The Commission has been busy throughout lockdown ensuring the voice of its member sports and organisations was heard and that the difficulties being faced were clear and understood by those able to provide financial and practical support.

‘We’ve been working hard over the past few months to pull together our own Sports Recovery Plan, helping to get sport back up and running at the earliest opportunity,’ said Steve Sharman, Relationship Director for the Commission.

‘It’s been absolutely great to see more sports back playing and competing at the weekend. We were also delighted to hear that an application to the Social Investment Fund to help support our recovery Plan has been successful and that the Commission is in a strong position to be able to provide further financial help to sporting organisations as they count the costs of lockdown.’

The Commission applied to the Social Investment Fund Covid 19 Community Charity Appeal as a first phase of establishing a Sport Recovery Fund. The award of a £25,000 grant from SIF will be specifically used to support any immediate financial impact on member sports as a result of the three-month lockdown.

The fund will be used to offer grants to Member Sports and Clubs so that they can:

·        mitigate their losses,

·        prepare themselves to welcome back their members,

·        operate safely and within any necessary guidelines,

·        safeguard the future of their organisation, and

·        begin to re-build.

It is hoped the fund will grow as the overall impact on local sporting organisations becomes clear.

‘The Guernsey Sports Commission will be working with all Clubs and Organisations over the next 12 months to ascertain whether the impact of the Covid pandemic has had a more long-term effect on their ability to operate,’ said Steve.

Commissioner and President of the Committee for Education, Sport & Culture, Deputy Matt Fallaize, was delighted that the application for funding was successful.

‘This new investment in sport is timely,’ said Deputy Fallaize.

‘In some cases, it will help keep clubs and sports alive as they recover from lockdown. It is a great example of partnership working between third sector bodies supported by government. Sport and physical activity should be at the centre of the island’s plans to recover and thrive and they will be if the States back our Plan for Sport when it is debated later this summer.’

‘Member Sports and their Clubs have always played a significant part in the health, happiness and prosperity of Guernsey life,’ said Steve.

‘As we emerge from lockdown, the Commission believes there is going to be an increasing need for these organisations to be around to help our community get back on its feet physically, mentally and socially. We believe that if we can act now and support our Member Sports and Clubs, both financially and practically, we can continue to build a strong and high performing sector, hold it to account and support its continued development to the benefit of the wider Guernsey community.’

For further information about how to apply for support please contact Steve Sharman or read our simple guide