Who is Sport NI?
Sport NI is the leading body for developing sports in Northern Ireland and is based in Belfast. It receives funds from the exchequer and the National Lottery and distributes it to organisations across Northern Ireland to make sport more accessible for all.
What is the Sport NI Renewable Energy Fund?
The Sport NI fund is dedicated to providing essential funding for clubs across Northern Ireland. Its main objective is to reduce the environmental impact of sports clubs in Northern Ireland.
Alongside this, Sport NI also aims:
To reduce the environmental footprint of sports clubs.
To reduce carbon emissions at sports clubs.
To contribute to a more sustainable sports club network.
To create a ‘greener’ sports club sector.
To help clubs save on utility bills and reduce costs
What can the Sport NI Fund do for my club?
For many sports clubs in NI, the cost of running a club has increased in recent years which means more money spent on upkeep rather than on resources for the club.
Not only can the Sports NI fund help you provide sports facilities for those in your area, but it can also help you boost your sustainability, helping to create a greener, more eco-friendly future for your sports club.
For example, the Sport NI fund can help you switch to solar power to run your floodlights or heat the hot water for your showers - reducing energy bills as well as aiding with your carbon footprint.
How does the Sport NI Fund work?
The Sport NI Fund has been run in 2023/24 as a trial with no scoring system, and no applications will be evaluated. This trial run aims to educate Sport NI about different energy solutions, and their impact, and to inform future iterations of the Renewable Energy Fund, based on available funds.
The application stage of the trial is now closed and a list of selected clubs is now available on the Sport NI website.
The second stage of the trial is the 'Project Development' phase:
The clubs that have been selected will now need to hire an energy specialist to complete a 'building energy assessment' to identify any potential sustainability opportunities. The maximum value for this phase is set at £3,000.
The next stage of the project is called the 'Project Implementation'
In this phase, applicants will employ vendors and contractors to complete the installation of any sustainability projects outlined in the second stage. The upper limit for this stage is £30,000.
Who is eligible for the Sports NI Fund?
The Sports NI Fund is only open to those who own or operate sports facilities, and your club must be affiliated with a Sport Northern Ireland recognised governing body of sport.
What kinds of sustainability projects are applicable?
The following examples show the kinds of sustainability projects that Sport NI is looking to fund:
Solar Energy Setups (including related equipment).
Air Source Heating Mechanisms (and related gear).
Ground Source Heating Mechanisms (and associated devices).
Eco-Friendly Water Recycling Solutions.
Enhanced Floodlighting (Focusing on LED bulb replacements and grid connectivity).
This list is not exhaustive, and if your club's energy specialist offers other well-presented solutions, Sport NI might consider those alternatives as well.
How do I apply?
The initial trial application phase is now closed, but you can stay up to date with the latest progression of submitted applications on the Sport NI website.
