Sports trust fund administration policy to be implemented as of this month |08 September 2020
The Sports Trust Fund (STF) administration policy established by the government in 2016 to be used towards the development of sports in the country and approved last year, will be implemented as of this month after approval for funding by the finance department.
The Fund provides assistance for sports related projects, activities and schemes for the benefit of youth from primary school up to 30 years of age, catering for the needs of emerging youth sports teams and clubs.
It is to note that the National Youth Policy defines youth from the age of 15 to 30 years old but it also makes provision for those below the age of 15.
It is a well-documented fact that youth who participate in sports are less likely to drop out of school and become involved in drugs and alcohol and other social ills.
Involvement in sports from a young age helps develop lifelong skills, helps them to socialise, get the required exercise, promotes mental wellbeing and also assists with academic achievements.
Hence, the sports related projects must have measurable results, aimed at enhancing the wellness of youth for a healthy lifestyle free from social ills.
The Trust Fund is to the amount of R400,000, and the maximum amount to be funded per project is R20,000 on a one off basis.
As for the project eligibility and criteria, the proposal must come under at least one of the five given criteria to be considered for STF funding.
It should include participants from the age of 8 to 30 years old, emerging youth sports teams and clubs with basic sporting equipment and related facilities and youth sports organisations in the implementation of and leisure activities for healthy living.
It should also encourage young entrepreneurs to innovate and develop sports related projects or schemes and also assist youth sports teams and clubs for local exchange sports programmes.
Projects that support STF priority areas may be given preference over other projects and all applications will be evaluated on merit with the intent of supporting those projects that provide the greatest benefit to the wellness and healthy lifestyle of youth.
The Trust Fund will be administered by a committee under the purview of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Local Government, Youth, Sports, Culture and Risk and Disaster Management and the STF committee shall be appointed by the minister for a term of two years and members shall be eligible for re-appointment.
The STF committee shall include a private sector individual who has retired from sports (athlete or official) as chairperson, a public sector individual who has retired from sports (athlete or official), the principal secretary of youth and sports, a representative of the National Sports Council (NSC), a representative of the finance department, a representative of the Seychelles National Youth Council (SNYC), a representative of youth and sports department (committee secretary – non-voting member and administering the secretariat of the STF).
All applications shall be addressed to the STF secretariat, youth and sports department, by the chairperson of the youth group/organisation or the manager of the sports team or club.
Projects submitted for funding under the STF must meet the requirements as specified in the application form, including the define name of sports team/club, title of project, clear description of project and how it relates to the criteria of the STF, the clear objective to be achieved by project, define target group with age range, the priority area, a detailed work plan, a set key performance indicators (for the monitoring of the project), the measurement of success ‒ identify short (one year) and long-term achievable results (goals) expected from the project.
Roland Duval