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Membership Services
BaseballSoftballUK and the British Baseball and Softball Federations offer a wide variety of benefits and services to the leagues, clubs, teams, players, umpires, coaches and scorers that make up the memberships of both sports. For more information on what we offer, explore the options below.
Publications and Communication
Insurance Provision
Club and League Development
Coaching and Coach Education
Umpire and Umpire Training
Fund-Raising, Sponsorship and Grants
Plus - Commercial Opportunities and Benefits for Members:
BaseballSoftballUK and Federation Websites
The BaseballSoftballUK website that you have currently accessed is increasing its news, information and interactive functionality all the time, and new features are constantly being added. The BSUK website is now regarded as one of best sites run by or for any sports governing body in the UK.
In addition to the various news sections and an On-Line Shop where you can purchase equipment, apparel and memorabilia, the BSUK website now includes functions that allow teams, players and coaches to register on-line; leagues to record results, tables and statistics; and anyone visiting the site to sign up for regular electronic Bulletins or e-newsletters with news from baseball or softball.
In addition to the BSUK website, the British Baseball Federation now has its own website on www.britishbaseball.org and the British Softball Federation will soon have its own website on www.britishsoftball.org. All three sites -- those maintained by BSUK, the BBF and the BSF -- are interconnected and some sections (such as the Youth section, the On-Line Shop and others) are common across all three sites.
Here are some of the other features available from all three websites that you might want to check out:
Team Finder: Locate baseball or softball teams anywhere in the UK.
Fantasy League: Join the fun in our own ever-growing MLB Fantasy League.
Downloads: A wide selection of useful information and documents is available for downloading. Further documents are available from the Baseball Resources section on the British Baseball website.
MLB in the UK: This section provides information on Major League Baseball in the US and on MLB operations, programmes and key staff in the UK.
Baseball on TV: A great many MLB games are now shown live or on tape-delay in the UK on terrestrial channel Five and on satellite subscription channel NASN (North American Sports Network). We list games on a monthly basis during the season.
Forums: The site features a number of interactive Bulletin Boards or Forums, some of which are open while others are restricted to various membership categories.
Help: If you have any problems using the website or need questions answered about either sport, this section can help you.
Monthly E-Bulletins or E-Newsletters from Baseball and Softball
While breaking news in baseball or softball is usually posted on the websites, longer-term information, analysis and commentary, articles of interest from other sources and a round-up of recent website stories are all published in regular electronic Bulletins or Newsletters. Anyone can sign up to receive these, which are sent out free either as downloads or e-mail attachments (your choice). The choices include:
Softball Bulletin: A comprehensive digest of news, information and analysis about British and international softball, published towards the end of each month.
Baseball E-Newsletter: Headlines, summaries and links to news, information and analysis about British and international baseball. These Newsletters will begin publication early in 2009, replacing the previous monthly Baseball Bulletin.
To subscribe to either Softball Bulletins or Baseball E-Newsletters, you need to register as a website user. If you are a new user, click on 'Register' in the lefthand menu. If you are already registered, login with your username and password in the top right corner and go to 'Modify my details' to tick which mailing lists you wish to be on.
Publications and Manuals
BSUK publishes a wide range of technical, informational and promotional material in print and video form on behalf of the British Baseball and Softball Federations. Some of these materials are available free, while others require payment. All can be ordered from the BSUK office and many are listed below. For a full list of publications, prices and instructions for ordering click here.
Baseball and Softball Handbooks
BSUK produces comprehensive annual Handbooks for Baseball and Softball in the UK, which are available on-line in the Downloads section of this website or can be ordered in hard copy from the BSUK office by e-mailing info@baseballsoftballuk.com.
Advice Notes
A series of Advice Notes on topics ranging from fund-raising to writing a club Constitution to running a tournament (and many more) are available as downloads on the BSUK website.
They can also be ordered in hard copy by e-mailing info@baseballsoftballuk.com.
Softball Starter Pack
Full of information for new or potential new teams, the Pack contains documents including an Introduction to Softball, How to Start a Team, Playing Guide, Safety Notes, a pitch diagram, Softball Warm-up Exercises, insurance details, a recruiting poster and more.
The Pack costs £3.00 and can be ordered by e-mailing info@baseballsoftballuk.com.
Idiot's Guide to Softball and Beginner's Guide to Baseball
These two booklets provide the ideal digest of softball or baseball rules and a brief rundown on how to play the game, aimed at beginning teams and players.
The Guides are free and can be ordered in hard copy by e-mailing info@baseballsoftballuk.com.
Softball Scoring Guide
A simple but comprehensive 16-page guide on how to score softball games, compute player statistics and extract valuable strategic information from scoresheets.
The Guide costs £2.50 and can be ordered in hard copy by e-mailing info@baseballsoftballuk.com.
How to Run a Softball Tournament
A comprehensive common-sense guide to planning and running a softball tournament with a minimum of blood, sweat and tears.
The guide is free and can be downloaded from this website under Softball Tournaments or ordered in hard copy by e-mailing info@baseballsoftballuk.com.
The British Baseball Rulebook
The official rules of baseball, adapted and presented specifically for baseball leagues in Britain.
The Rulebook costs £3.00 and can be ordered by e-mailing info@baseballsoftballuk.com.
Softball Drills Manual
Are your team's practices achieving what they should? This manual is the answer: a wide-ranging selection of softball drills for both beginning and experienced teams and players, complete with diagrams and presented in a ringbinder for ease of use.
The manual costs £10.00 and can be ordered by e-mailing info@baseballsoftballuk.com.
Skill Cards and Mini-Game Cards for Teaching Young Players
A superb set of 12 Skill Cards for teaching baseball and softball techniques to young players and 12 Mini-Game Cards to get them doing enjoyable drills and playing mini-games that will improve their skills. Both sets of cards feature diagrams and cartoon illustrations.
The two Card Sets cost £10.00 and can be ordered by e-mailing info@baseballsoftballuk.com.
Baseball and Softball Recruiting Posters
Superb colour posters, available in A3 and A4 formats, which can be used by baseball and softball clubs to recruit new players. The posters are available to affiliated teams or clubs at no cost, though there may be a limit on the numbers available.
To order posters (please specify numbers and sizes), e-mail info@baseballsoftballuk.com.
Slowpitch Softball Recruiting Leaflet
A colourful small leaflet (A4 folded in three) that gives quick facts about slowpitch softball in the UK and has space for local contact details.
These leaflets are free and can be ordered by e-mailing info@baseballsoftballuk.com.
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Membership of the British Baseball Federation or British Softball Federation is by team, and membership fees include the provision of some insurance for both sports. Other optional insurance is a provided through an extra charge.
Civil and Public Liability Cover
Civil and Public Liability cover is designed to protect players, coaches, officials and administrators from liability in the event of damage to members, third parties or property arising from the conduct of people playing either sport. A summary of the cover provided is given below.
The British Softball Federation (BSF) provides Civil and Public Liability cover for affiliated members within their membership fees. The British Baseball Federation (BBF) offers its members cover at an extra price on top of the affiliation fee. To affiliate, all members must have Civil and Public Liability cover, whether through the BBF or another provider.
Here is an explanation of exactly who is covered and what they are covered for.
Who or what is an affiliated member? Members of the BBF and BSF are affiliated teams or organisations. These can be adult or youth teams; schools; coach, umpire or scorer associations; or affiliated groups of teachers, youth leaders, Sports Development Officers and so on.
How are participants of groups or teams determined? A federation member is an affiliated team or organisation; individuals in those organisations are defined as participants. These include anyone who is rostered on a baseball or softball team or is verified as a participant of the team by the team captain - whether they are a player, coach or official. This can include occasional players as long as they are listed on the team roster submitted for affiliation purposes and are verified as members. Group participants are anyone who is a properly affiliated participant of the group.
What is the period of the insurance? Insurance cover runs from 1 December to 30 November each year. All fully registered members of the British Softball Federation are covered by Civil and Public Liability Insurance. The British Baseball Federation offers this cover to its members at an extra price on top of their affiliation fee.
PUBLIC LIABILITY COVER PROVIDES:
Member to Member Cover. This covers liability arising from loss of or damage to property or injury to fellow players, coaches, umpires or spectators while participating in any baseball or softball activity organised by a Federation member and/or sanctioned by the BBF or BSF.
Third Party Cover. This covers liability for damages or legal costs arising out of third party loss, bodily injury or property damage arising from any baseball or softball activity organised by a member and/or sanctioned by the BBF or BSF.
Please note that in the event of a sanctioned baseball or softball activity that includes members and non-members, the members are still covered for liability as described above.
Should someone on a member team sustain injury or damage caused by someone on a non-member team, however, insurance cover would not be in effect and the only recourse may lie through the civil courts.
CIVIL LIABILITY COVER PROVIDES FOR:
Breach of Professional Duty. This covers coaches, instructors, umpires or voluntary helpers, whose assistance has been requested by a member and who give an instruction that then results in an accident or injury that leads to a claim being made.
Negligence. Cover against negligence is provided for all members, including coaches, instructors, umpires and BBF or BSF Officers.
Error/Omission. This covers breach of duty in connection with baseball or softball activity by reason of any negligent act, error or omission.
Libel and Slander (or, in Scotland, Defamation). Cover is provided against these acts where committed in the course of baseball or softball activity.
Data Protection Cover. This is provided for members against any claims arising from violations of the Data Protection Act.
Goods Sold or Supplied. Cover is provided against claims arising from goods sold or supplied at BBF or BSF-sanctioned events, including refreshments.
Please note that a limited cover applies outside the UK but excludes North America.
The above is a summary; details may change during a particular season. For clarification, please contact the BaseballSoftballUK Office on: info@baseballsoftballuk.com.
Accident and Injury Insurance
Insurance cover for personal accident or injury is currently provided automatically to members of the British Baseball Federation but only to softball leagues and teams that opt to purchase it. This insurance is mandatory for baseball teams and is included in their affiliation fee, but optional for softball teams and is charged to softball teams in addition to team membership fees. Personal Accident insurance cover only extends to those member teams and players who are fully rostered and registered on the BSUK website.
SUMMARY OF COVER:
Death - £5,000
Loss of limbs - £50,000
Loss of sight in eye(s) - £50,000
Loss of speech - £50,000
Loss of hearing in both ears - £50,000
Permanent total disablement - £50,000
Dental - Up to £500
Broken bones (arm/leg) - £100 / £200
Hospitalisation - £30 per day / £750 maximum
Convalescence - £100
Aggregate Limit(s) of Liability:
Per event for Insured Persons whilst travelling in any one aircraft - £500,000
Per event overall - £500,000
The above is a summary; details may change during a particular season. For clarification, please contact the BaseballSoftballUK Office on: info@baseballsoftballuk.com.
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Recruitment Materials for Baseball and Softball
BaseballSoftballUK publishes a number of materials that can be used by softball or baseball teams to recruit new players or by leagues to recruit new teams. Most of the materials listed below are free, and can be ordered from the BSUK office. Please specify quantities when ordering.
SOFTBALL
Player Recruitment Leaflets: Colourful six-sided leaflets (A4 folded in three) promoting co-ed slowpitch softball as an easily-accessible fun sport for potential new adult players. These leaflets are free.
Corporate Recruitment Leaflets: BSUK has updated and reprinted a flyer encouraging companies to form softball teams and join a local league. This is an ideal tool for leagues that want to expand by approaching companies in their city or region to form corporate teams. These flyers are free.
Softball Recruiting Posters: These colourful posters are available in A3 or A4 sizes, and have space for local contact details. They make ideal recruiting tools when posted in libraries, colleges, gyms and health centres etc. These posters are free.
Other Publications: BSUK can supply a range of other useful publications for new softball leagues, teams and players. Some of the most popular are:
Softball Starter Packs for new teams (£3.00)
The famous Idiot’s Guide to Softball (Free)
Softball Scoring Guide (£2.50)
Softball Drills Pack (£10.00)
Set of 24 Skills and Mini-Game Cards for Young Players (£10.00)
BASEBALL
Baseball Recruiting Posters: These colourful posters are available in A3 or A4 sizes, and have space for local contact details. They make ideal recruiting tools when posted in libraries, colleges, gyms and health centres etc. These posters are free.
Summer Coach Programme
BaseballSoftballUK continues to bring experienced baseball and softball coaches to the UK each year from the United States, Canada and other countries where our sports are more established, with the aim of raising playing and coaching standards here. These coaches will be used to support development programmes across the country in both sports by working on development activities in priority regions and working with clubs and leagues who want to improve what they do.
The programme is supported by Major League Baseball's Envoy Coach Programme, CEB's (European Baseball Federation) Envoy Coach Programme and ties that BSUK maintains with a number of international and college baseball and softball programmes worldwide.
Club Accreditation (Club Mark)
BaseballSoftballUK's National Club Development Officer, Paul Wilkinson, is currently working to ensure that BSUK is licensed to deliver and assess its own baseball and softball Clubmark scheme. The scheme, which came fully online in 2008, is effectively a kitemark for sports clubs to demonstrate that a safe and organised environment is being offered. Increasingly, clubs and leagues that are Clubmarked will benefit from access to more local grants and will get priority in the booking of publicly-run facilities. Clubmark is also starting to be required by schools in order to establish school-club links.
BSUK will work with clubs that are currently accredited and will continue to support other clubs that are working towards accreditation as well as new clubs that want to begin the process.
Help with Club or League Development Plans
An important aspect of forward planning for baseball or softball teams, clubs or leagues can be the creation of a Development Plan, which sets out aims and objectives over time and the means by which those objectives can be achieved. BSUK can help clubs or leagues to develop such Plans.
Club Development Training
BSUK promotes a schedule of club development courses and workshops provided each year by the Central Council for Physical Recreation (CCPR), runningsports and Sports Structures aimed at improving administration, inclusiveness, recruiting and funding. BSUK will also promote opportunities on offer through County Sports Partnerships (CSPs). Many CSPs are offering subsidised access to local organisations for a wide range of development courses. Each CSP will publicise opportunities on its own website.
Welfare and Equity Training
BSUK has developed a comprehensive Welfare Policy, adopted by both the BBF and BSF, covering child protection and anti-harassment issues in our sports; and BSUK is also developing policies and action plans to promote equity in our sports for members of ethnic minorities, people with disabilities and others.
Basic training in these issues has been provided for BSUK staff members and members of the BBF and BSF Executives and a module on welfare issues is now a standard feature of coach-training courses offered by BSUK.
Beginning in 2009, BSUK hopes to access funding from Sport England or other organisations to deliver basic welfare and equity training to baseball and softball clubs and leagues on a regional basis. Watch for announcements on this website.
Play Ball!: a Youth Development Opportunity
Play Ball! is an award-winning, comprehensive and integrated youth development programme aimed at growing youth baseball and softball among children and young people throughout the UK. Originally developed by Major League Baseball but now run entirely by BaseballSoftballUK, the programme has been designed to encourage strong community participation and to maximise enjoyment for both boys and girls aged 9-13.
For more information on the Play Ball! programme, go to the Youth section of this website and click on Play Ball! in the left-hand menu.
The major component of the Play Ball! programme is the creation of a community-based baseball and/or softball league with a minimum of four teams. Participating children are usually drawn from a cluster of local schools within a community. BSUK provides a wide range of support mechanisms for these leagues, including equipment and uniforms, visits to local schools, coaching and coach-training etc. But the leagues themselves are usually run in the community over a six-to-ten-week period during the summer school term by members of local baseball clubs or softball leagues, sometimes with help from teachers at local schools or Local Authority sports development workers. A minimum of half a dozen adults is required to run a successful Play Ball! league.
These leagues provide an ideal way to create a local youth programme for baseball or softball that will eventually provide many more players for youth and adult teams.
If you are interested in starting a Play Ball! league in your area or want more information on doing so, contact Donald Morris-Vincent.
Help and Support for Other Youth Programmes
BaseballSoftballUK can provide advice and help with other types of youth development programmes for baseball and softball around the UK, though limited resources mean that we cannot necessarily support all initiatives.
BASEBALL: There is an existing network of Youth Baseball leagues operating at Rookie (6-8), Bronco (9-12) and Pony (13-16) age levels in Britain, concentrated mainly in the south and north of England (you can check locations on the Team Finder on this website). New teams are always welcome to join these leagues and can be given support to do so. For more information, contact Rob Rance from the British Baseball Federation.
SOFTBALL: There is an existing network of school and community-based girls’ fastpitch activity in the UK, concentrated for now in Greater London, Oxfordshire, Nottinghamshire and Norfolk, but expanding to other areas. These programmes cover girls aged 9-17, and BSUK is hoping to include boys as well over the next couple of years. New schools and teams are always welcome to join existing programmes or to form the basis for new leagues, and support can be provided to help this happen. For more information, contact Hayley Scott.
BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL ACADEMIES: BSUK runs Baseball and Softball Academies regionally in the North West, West Midlands, South East and London and a National Academy for each sport. These sessions are for promising young players and often lead to selection for Great Britain youth teams at Under-19, Under-16 and Under-13 levels. While most players who attend these Academies come from existing clubs or programmes, other players are always welcome. For more information, contact:
Baseball: Tom Gillespie or John Mills.
Softball: Hayley Scott.
SCHOOL PROGRAMMES: More than 17% of schools in the UK are currently playing some form of baseball and/or softball and BSUK is building close links with a large number of schools and School Sports Partnerships. The Play Ball! Schools Programme is targeted directly at school provision, and a wide range of supporting materials, coaching manuals, class workbooks and school-specific equipment is available. For more information, contact Donald Morris-Vincent.
Help with Facility Development
There is an acute shortage of dedicated playing facilities for baseball and softball in Britain, and BSUK is keen to encourage the development of more. We can provide:
--Advice on elements of field construction.
--Advice on sources for grant funding and help with applications.
--Support for relationships with local authorities or other landowners.
Another helpful source for information is a 36-page booklet published in 2004 by the International Softball Federation (ISF) called A Very Basic Guide to Making a Softball Field, written specifically with “developing” softball countries and limited budgets in mind. Much of the material contained in the Guide could apply to making a baseball field as well.
You can access the guide from the Download section of this website under Softball.
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During 2007 and 2008, a comprehensive review of the BSUK Coach Education Programme took place in order to align our qualifications and training with the UK Coaching Certificate (UKCC). A number of coach education opportunities are on offer, mainly during the off-season from October through April each year. Information on courses will be promoted through this website and through Softball Bulletins and Baseball E-Newsletters.
BaseballSoftballUK arranges or provides coach-training courses for either or both sports at Levels 1-4; arranges certification, licensing and CRB checks for coaches; provides coaches or coach-trainers for player clinics, school sessions, coach-training and Coaching for Teachers courses; and provides resources for coaching issues.
If you would like to arrange a course or book a place on one, please contact Donald Morris-Vincent.
How to Access Coaches for Player Clinics or Coach-Training Courses
BSUK's Regional Coaches-in-Residence will be organising a number of clinics for players and coaches throughout the year. Information on these clinics will be available on this website and in Softball Bulletins and Baseball E-Newsletters.
Coach-Training Courses and Qualifications Available from BSUK Coaching
BSUK provides a complete range of coach-training courses and qualifications at different levels for both baseball and softball. Contact info@baseballsoftballuk.com for information on courses, when and where they are being run, or to arrange to host a particular course.
Most coach-training courses in baseball and/or softball are run during the closed season between October and the start of the new season the following April or May. Many courses are requested and hosted by regions, leagues or clubs, though some courses are set up by BSUK regional development staff. Course schedules appear in the news section of this website.
Coach Education Materials Available from BSUK
Materials available include: Foundation Level Pack, Level 1 Pack, Level 2 Baseball Coaching Manual, Level 2 Softball Coaching Manual. These materials will be provided for trainees on official coach education courses.
Coach Registration
All coaches, including teachers with BSUK qualifications, are expected to register annually on the Coach Register, which can be accessed through the Personal Options section of this website (once logged on). Qualifications last for three years and can be revalidated on expiry provided activity is current and an assessment is undertaken.
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Contact the Baseball and Softball Umpire Associations
There are separate organisations providing umpiring and umpire training services to the British Baseball Federation and British Softball Federation. They are:
BASEBALL
Amateur Baseball Umpires Association of Great Britain (ABUA-GB)
Umpire-in-Chief: Darrin Muller(darrin.muller@britishbaseball.org)
Website:www.abuagb.com
SOFTBALL
British Association of Softball Umpires (BASU)
Umpire-in-Chief: Jes Sandhu (jes.sandhu@baseballsoftballuk.com)
Training Officer: Tony Soteriou()
How to Access Baseball or Softball Umpires for League Games or Tournaments
Contact ABUA-GB or BASU.
In baseball, ABUA-GB generally assigns umpires to National League games (North and South), to some games in the lower divisions and to baseball tournaments – but contact them if you need an umpire for a game or event where assignment will not be automatic. Rates for umpires can be obtained on request.
In softball, umpires for league games (who may or may not be BASU-qualified) are generally arranged for and provided through local leagues where independent umpires are used. Umpires for tournaments are provided (where possible) by BASU on request. BASU will establish a Crew Chief for each event where a request is made and his or her job will be to recruit sufficient umpires and then to schedule and supervise them at the event. Rates for umpires can be obtained on request (fastpitch and slowpitch rates differ).
Umpire Training Courses and Qualifications Available from ABUA-GB and BASU
Most umpire training courses in baseball and softball are run during the period between the beginning of the year and the start of the season in April or May. Courses are listed on the Calendar on this website.
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Fund-Raising Advice
Here are some ideas for local fund-raising projects for your club, team or league:
Supermarket Bag Packing
Many youth organisations approach their local supermarket or superstore and ask to have their players stand at the end of tills packing bags. The club supplies collection tins that are placed at the end of each till. This activity can typically raise £300+ over the course of a day and is also very good for recruiting. Supermarkets are keen to show support for the community.
There are examples where a relationship has been built between the local organisation and the supermarket which has resulted in sponsorship the following year.
Raffle Ticket Sales
Many organisations provide each player with raffle tickets to sell as a way of reducing their fees. Sales of £20 per player seems the norm. The club gets to keep 50% of the money collected. This also reinforces the idea that all players should play their part in helping raise money for the club.
200 Club
This is a relatively new idea to baseball and softball but not to sports clubs in general. The organisation sets up a monthly draw where winners can win money or prizes (donated to the organisation) based on their number being drawn. The organisation sells 200 numbers at £1 each per month (£12 in one go or direct debits of £1 per month).
Players are asked to sell 10 numbers each (at £1 per month or £12 for the year) and the draw for the winner(s) is made monthly by having a number or numbers chosen at random. This scheme has been very successful in getting local companies and friends and families of the team to buy a number for a year – £12 is a small amount for a company to pay per year.
One organisation made £2,000 profit over the course of one year by accessing prizes locally (all donated).
Merchandise Sales
Some organisations source caps, T-shirts, sweatshirts etc with team or league logos and sell them to members of their organisation and friends to make a profit. This also helps establish an identity for the organisation in the local area.
BBQs
Some organisations hold regular BBQs at games or tournaments that act as fundraisers. Obviously, you need volunteers to run this, but it can be a regular source of income.
Corporate Softball Event
A number of leagues have run softball events where (for example) four companies are charged £150 each and a mini-tournament is staged for them. The local league staffs the event, providing equipment, coaching/umpiring and perhaps a BBQ.
4-on-4 Indoor Events
BaseballSoftballUK has devised a 4-on-4 Indoor Baseball/Softball event. The basic idea is to hire a local sports centre for an evening and invite 12 teams of four people each from local companies, with each company paying £60. The tournament is essentially a wiffle-ball competition run over the course of the evening. Your organisation can make a few hundred pounds as well as recruit new players and possibly teams. For more information or assistance with this idea, contact the BSUK Office.
Advice and Support for Awards for All Applications
Awards for All is a grants programme for small groups (those with less than £15,000 of income). It is supported by the bodies that distribute National Lottery funding, including Sport England (and Sport Scotland). The grants come from money raised through the National Lottery. The programme was set up to make it easier for small organisations to obtain lottery money.
Grants (now up to a maximum of £10,000 and with a minimum grant of £500) are available for small organisations for both youth and adult activities. The application process is relatively simple and generally has a reasonable chance of success.
What is it for?
The aims of Awards for All are to:
Support community activity.
Extend access and participation.
Increase skill and creativity.
Improve the quality of life.
Who can apply?
Any not-for-profit group can apply that has a constitution or set of rules, its own bank account with at least two signatories, can provide annual accounts (or budget for a new group) and that needs £500 to £10,000 and can spend the money in one year.
What can you apply for a grant to fund?
Putting on an event, activity or performance.
Providing training costs.
Setting up a pilot project.
Running a conference or seminar.
Special repairs or conservation work.
Start-up costs.
Publicity materials.
Professional fees (i.e., coaching session fees).
Research costs.
Equipment and materials.
Transport costs.
Volunteers’ expenses.
What can’t be funded?
General running costs for current activity:
Ongoing staff costs.
Fuel bills.
Routine repairs/maintenance.
Items which only benefit an individual, such as:
Prizes/scholarships.
Personal clothing/equipment.
Tickets for events.
Activities promoting religious beliefs.
Loan payments.
Second-hand vehicles.
Foreign trips.
How can you apply?
First of all, contact the Awards for All Hotline on 0845-600-2040 and ask for an Application Pack. The application form is pretty simple to complete. There are only 20 or so questions and several of them are along the lines of “What’s your name?” When you ask for a form, they’ll want some very basic details for their records. You can download a copy of the form from the website: www.awardsforall.org.uk.
The most important sections require you to explain:
1. How much you need and what it is for. You should obtain quotes and break this down. You can include coaches’ wages and costs, training costs (coaching courses, administrator training), umpires fees, equipment costs, facility fees, transport costs, publicity materials, newspaper adverts etc.
2. What your club is contributing. Put everything down here – any voluntary efforts (costed at no less than £10 per hour), any equipment donations/loans (costed), any facility use that there is no charge for.
3. How the grant will be used (for what specific purpose)?
4. How the grant will meet the specified aims of the scheme. These aims, briefly mentioned at the beginning of this note, are detailed in the Application Pack. Just read through them and try to work out how your activity will meet the aims. There is no doubt that you can answer almost every point.
Complete and submit the application. You may wish to work initially on a photocopy of the application form. The application will be assessed and you will normally be given a decision within three months. The money will then be paid into the specified bank account.
You can use BaseballSoftballUK staff as referees, and if you have any questions, contact BSUK (a href=mailto:info@baseballsoftballuk.com>info@baseballsoftballuk.com). If you would like BSUK to read through your application before you submit it or to help you get it together, we will be happy to do so.
What happens then?
You must spend the money within one year of receiving it. You must use it for what you have specified. If anything changes you must speak to your local contact at the Awards for All regional office. You will need to complete an End-of-Grant Report, which basically confirms you’ve spent the money on what you said you would. Since you may have to prove what the money was spent on, you should keep receipts for two years.
Dissolution Clause
Make sure your constitution has a dissolution clause (detailing what happens if the club folds) that says that the assets of the organisation will be given to other organisations with similar aims. If it says the assets are shared out amongst members, the application will fail. They don’t want organisations being set up to get hold of £10,000 that will then be shared out amongst individuals if the organisation goes belly up!
Remember: if you need any advice, contact BaseballSoftballUK.
Advice and Support for Other Grant Applications (Lottery, Local etc)
BSUK staff can offer help and give advice for other types of grant applications, including Lottery capital grants, Local Authority grants, the new Grass Roots grant scheme etc.
Contact the BSUK office on: info@baseballsoftballuk.com.
British Softball Federation Regional Development and Youth Start-Up Grants
The British Softball Federation distributes around £1500 annually in small grants to leagues, clubs or teams that are carrying out various forms of Softball development or are starting Youth Softball programmes.
Grants have been awarded in the past to help subsidise locally-based coaching or umpire courses, to hold local taster events or promote the sport in other ways and to start or run youth programmes.
In 2008, the British Softball Federation suspended this programme for one year only due to the cost of hosting the European Slowpitch Championships in the UK. The programme will resume in 2009.
In most years, applications need to be in by March 1 and decisions on grants are made within a few weeks of that date. The maximum grant awarded for any one application is usually £250.
Application forms are available as download on this website or from the BSUK office: info@baseballsoftballuk.com.
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