SportsAid is THE charity for sports people, helping the next generation of young British sportsmen and sportswomen to succeed.

 

SportsAid, previously known as SportsAid Foundation (SAF), was founded in 1976. Its principal function was to raise funds from the private sector to provide financial assistance to Britain's amateur sportsmen and sportswomen. The aim was to help them prepare for competitions against better-funded, overseas athletes.

 

From 1983 until 1997, SAF was a major source of funding for most of Britain's leading athletes, both able-bodied and disabled. Since 1997 - when lottery funding for sports was established - SportsAid has focused on giving awards to youngsters aged 12 to 18 from around 50 able-bodied and 25 disability sports. These athletes compete in national squads and the SportsAid awards, generally worth around £1,000, help with costs such as travel, training, accommodation, competition fees and equipment.

 

SportsAid is the first organisation that says "yes" to a talented young athlete, offering help at the start of the journey when, more often than not, Mum and Dad are the solitary sponsor. At that stage, independent recognition and financial assistance makes a huge difference.

 

Since 1976, SportsAid has distributed around £30 million and now gives 3,000 awards per year.

 

 

Participation in the junior national team programmes is the most important phase of player development and the SportsAid awards have been invaluable in helping players and families meet the associated costs.

 

 

In November each year SportsAid allocates a quota to each sport, which is the number of athletes that can be nominated for a SportsAid award. England Basketball works closely with SportsAid to identify which elite players are eligible for a funding award.

 

Players are nominated in accordance with the SportsAid criteria:

• Performing at the elite level of junior basketball, i.e. member of U16 or U18 national team at the last FIBA European Championship or projected to be selected for the next European Championship
• Aged 12-18
• Living and training in the UK
• Not in receipt of other Pathway funding including TASS or Lottery

Currently the SportsAid quota to basketball does not quite cover all of the eligible national team players, so priority is given according to the ranking of players by position within their national team squad.

 

 

There is some provision for players who fall just outside the nomination process.

 

SportsAid invites England Basketball to provide a list of 'extra' players. If any of these players can be matched with additional funding that is identified by SportsAid during the course of the year, they will be contacted directly by SportsAid and invited to complete an application form.

 

Historically, these extra awards have been for lesser amounts, however they are still of benefit to the receiving players and a number of players have successfully applied for them.

 

 

Players who are part of GB squads could be eligible for TASS funding.

 

The TASS selection policy provides more information. In 2012/13, TASS allocated 10 basketball scholarships.

 

Further details are available on the GB basketball website.