CASC Campaign Event On 23 October 2007 almost 100 parliamentarians turned out in force to support the launch of CCPR’s ‘Subs for Clubs
campaign, which calls on the Government to increase the benefits of the CASC scheme by allowing registered clubs to claim GiftAid on junior subscriptions. Among the attendees were John Barnes MBE, Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe, shadow Sports Ministers, Hugh Robertson and Don Foster, Tessa Jowell, the Minister for the Olympics and former Sports Minister, Richard Caborn. For more information, please click here.
Gift Aid Survey A big thank you to all of you who either responded and/or helped promote CCPR’s Gift Aid survey. 400 clubs took part and their views were incorporated into CCPR’s response to the Government’s Gift Aid consultation. A key finding was that 97% of CASC and non-CASC sports clubs support the proposal noted above. A further 91% of Non-CASC respondents indicated the adoption of ‘Subs for Clubs’ would make them more likely to register as a CASC. To view CCPR’s response, please click here.
As noted in the last e-shot, HMRC estimate that only 10 per cent of CASCs are actually utilising the ability to claim Gift Aid on certain types of donations. Make sure your club is maximising the potential of Gift Aid by clicking here to read the Gift Aid guidance.
Since the last newsletter 145 new clubs have joined the CASC scheme, creating a total of 4,488 registered CASCs. According to Deloitte these clubs have claimed an estimated total cash benefit of at least £22.1m up to 30 September 2007. To view the latest update please click here.
On 25 September CCPR launched the results of its Sports Club Survey 2007. Conducted by Sports Marketing Surveys, the poll of more than 2,000 sports clubs examined a series of key issues affecting sports clubs, including finances, membership, participation and volunteering. The results provide a telling insight into the health and sustainability of sports clubs and represents essential reading for those involved in the development and funding of community sport. Richard Tacon, CCPR Research Officer, hopes that the survey will stand CCPR in good stead for its campaigning and lobbying work. “We are always called upon to back up our arguments with hard facts and the data gathered by the survey will help us to add to the evidence at our disposal,” he said. “Two of our current priority campaigns are around securing a legacy from the 2012 Olympics and promoting the Community Amateur Sports Club scheme and this research will help us campaign even more effectively.” You can read the full report here.
CCPR maintains a regular dialogue with the Low Pay Commission to keep track of national minimum wage issues. Following a meeting with the LPC in October CCPR has updated its NMW guidance for sports clubs. For more information please click here.
UnLtd are working in partnership with Comic Relief to run UnLtd Sport Relief, a UK-wide funding programme which is aimed at young people between the ages of 11 and 21, who want to use sport projects to address a social problem or conflict within a community. UnLtd support a vast range of sporting ideas that tackle wide ranging issues from gang culture to rural isolation and anti-social behaviour to teenage pregnancy. Alongside the funding Award Winners can expect a package of support such as development meetings, training and networking events. Awards are granted to the young people themselves who come up with an idea to make their community a better place. 11-16 year olds can apply for up to £500 (with the support of a mentor), 17-21 year olds can apply for up to £5000, with the average award size being £2500. The Awards are being run until March 2009 and decisions are made on a monthly basis by the UnLtd Sport Relief youth panel.
For further information visit www.unltd.org.uk/sportreliefawards or contact UnLtd on 0845 3670770 / sportreliefawards@unltd.org.uk.
