Originally set up in 2020, The Return to Play: Active Together fund is a partnership between Sport England and Crowdfunder to match-fund up to £10,000 for not-for-profit organisations that raise funds via the crowdfunding website with Crystal Palace Triathletes one of the organisations to benefit so far.
The club, where Olympic gold and silver medallist Alex Yee first experienced triathlon, were impacted by Covid-19 like many other sports clubs around the country.
Having had to cancel their 2020 Crystal Palace Triathlon, which is a large source of income for the club, Crystal Palace Triathletes set out to crowdfund £20,000 to help keep the club going through the pandemic.
Having undertaken numerous fundraising activities and seeing donations from across their membership and wider community, they were given a boost when Sport England matched £8,000 of their raised amount to support them in reaching their target.
Audrey Livingstone, Chair at Crystal Palace Triathletes, said of the funding: “Our income collapsed in 2020 because we couldn’t host the annual Crystal Palace Triathlon which was our main revenue stream.
“I had heard of Crowdfunder before but didn’t know there is match funding available through Crowdfunder. We raised more than £20,000 including match funding from Sport England, money that will keep us going. Crowdfunder supported us in many ways.
"They gave us a coach who helped us with lots of advice on setting up the page, the contents and how to maximise the fundraising through rewards etc. If your club is struggling financially help is available, you need to go to www.crowdfunder.co.uk/sport.
“As well as coaching, our club provides advice, friendship, a sense of belonging, we lend, swap, and share equipment and so much more. We will use the money so the club can remain open and self-sufficient for years to come.
"We have put on training days during the summer holidays for those new to the sport and we plan to buy bikes so those with low incomes can join the club and expand the club's membership. I want to make the club as diverse as possible and make it affordable and accessible for all.”
In September 2021, Sport England pledged an additional £5m of National Lottery funding into the campaign to help grassroots organisations recover from the impacts of Covid-19. To find out more about Crowdfunder and criteria for Sport England matched funds, click on the buttons below.
