Support for the physical activity sector

Those delivering sport and physical activity are experiencing many challenges due to the coronavirus pandemic. We're here to help and have collated all local and national guidance on how sport and physical activity can take place safely across the city-region.

On Monday 19th July, the country moved to step four of the government's roadmap out of lockdown. This next step saw most legal restrictions lifted, with some key protections in place and government advice to help keep ourselves and others safe. Read the government guidance on how to stay safe and help prevent the spread from 19 July.

If, after reading the information provided on this page you require further support, please contact us using the form at the bottom of this page.

What sport and physical activity can take place from 19th July?

Please ensure you keep up to date of all national guidance and your responsibilities to ensure sport and physical activity remains covid-compliant. England moved to Step 4 on 19th July, which saw most legal restrictions lifted.

  • There will be no set restrictions on how many people can take part in sport and physical activity, indoors and outdoors.
  • All forms of activity will be able to take place without set restrictions. We advise you to refer to your National Governing Bodies' guidance where relevant.
  • All sports facilities will be able to open, including ancillary facilities. There will be no indoor capacity limits, however venues may put in place some restrictions and guidance for enclosed areas.
  • Organised sport participation events such as (but not limited to) races, rides and organised walks will be able to take place outdoors with no capacity caps for participants or spectators.

View further detail from Sport England here

Please read the full government guidance here to remain up to date with all new restrictions

Government guidance

  • Government guidance for the roadmap out of lockdown can be found here.
  • Sport England guidance can be found here.
  • Government guidance on grassroots sports for safe provision including team sport, contact combat sport and organised sport events
  • Guidance for providers of grassroots sports and gyms/leisure providers here.

Support for clubs, coaches and instructors

  • The latest government guidance affects what sport and physical activity can take place as well as where and how many people can gather together. Please be aware of and adhere to the guidelines.
  • Sport deliverers should remain up to date with and follow the national governing body's guidance to ensure compliance with the government approved action plan. Find a list of all national governing bodies here.
  • Sport England have created a Return to Play briefing which shares the latest insight with some ideas on how it can be used to encourage people to return. Download it here.
  • Club Matters have created a range of resources to support clubs and organisations to get back to activity here.
  • Activity Alliance have shared the top ways to adapt activities to be inclusive of both disabled and non-disabled people. See how you can adapt your activities here.
  • UK Coaching Forum to support coaches where you'll find the latest news around available support, safeguarding and ongoing discussion. Find it here.
  • Special Olympics Great Britain have pulled together this Return To Activity Guide for athletes and families.
  • Free training available to enable workers and volunteers to return with confidence. Find out more about and register for the ReActivate Course here.
  • Sport Structures have moved their courses online to enable coaches to continue to upskill themselves virtually. View the courses here.
  • The NSPCC have created safeguarding advice and support for remote teaching and coaching. Access the support here.

How clubs are engaging their members during this time

Guidance for facility owners

  • Activity Alliance have created guidance to support and inclusive response to re-opening activity to ensure that disabled people are able to access physical activity.
  • Government guidance for the safe use of multi-purpose community facilities. Find it here.
  • Support for the safe operation of gyms, leisure centres and facilities is available from ukactive here.
  • Guidance from Swim England to support returning to pools. Find it here.
  • Guidance for managing gyms and outdoor playgrounds can be found here.
  • CIMSPA have compiled guidance to support the re-opening of facilities. Find it here.

Guidance specifically related to those working with children and young people

  • Government guidance on Protective measures for out-of school settings is available here.
  • Government guidance for parents and carers of children attending out-of-school settings can be found here.
  • Managing youth sector activities and spaces from the National Youth Association is available here.
  • Guidance for those from further education settings can be found here.
  • A framework for the safe delivery of children’s activity provision during social distancing from ukactive can be found here.

Funding support

  • Sport England Return to Play Small Grants fund - grants of between £300 and £10,000 to help sport and activity groups, clubs and organisations respond to the immediate challenges of returning to play in a Covid-19-safe environment.
  • Sport England Return to Play: Active Together - a crowdfunding initiative that can match fund, up to £10,000, successful Crowdfunder campaigns.
  • The Charity Excellence Framework have created the Covid-19 Funder Database which enables you to search for emergency funding.
  • The Volant Charitable Trust Covid-19 Response Fund for charities that demonstrate a strong focus on alleviating social deprivation and helping vulnerable groups who have been particularly impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. Find more information and apply here.
  • A number of National Governing Bodies (NGBs) have also made sport-specific funding available, view your sport's website to see if they have any funding available.

Business support

  • Government support for businesses and employers can be found here.
  • The National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) has created guidance and resources to support charities, voluntary organisations and volunteers during the covid-19 pandemic. Access the support here.
  • The GC Business Growth Hub are helping businesses across Greater Manchester navigate the latest government information and provide specialist advice. Find out more about what they can offer, including calls with advisors here.
  • The Federation of Small Businesses have collated a range of advice and guidance for small businesses and the self-employed including answering frequently asked questions and actions you can take. View the information here.
  • CIMSPA have created 'Stronger Together’ an online information hub with sector specific updates, advice and support offers. The support includes free and discounted services and products to help support the sport and physical activity sector – Find it here.
  • The Sport and Recreation Alliance have created the Governance Bites programme to provide additional governance support - Find it here.

Marketing Support

#KeepGMMoving

We have launched the campaign #KeepGMMoving to encourage everyone across the city region to keep moving. We've compiled a number of ways that you can keep moving online here. Share the work you're doing to keep your communities moving using the campaign hashtag, #KeepGMMoving, working together we will help keep Greater Manchester moving. If you want to help to #KeepGMMoving, you can access the free resource bank here with images and social posts.

Join The Movement

Sport England are doing a large amount of work to support the sector through this pandemic. View the full range of work happening here.

As part of their support, Sport England created the Join The Movement campaign, to encourage people to keep moving whilst staying at home and as lockdown restrictions ease.

Inclusive and Accessible Communications

Effective marketing and communications are essential and we are all working in new creative ways so we can reach and inform more people, including those with disabilities and with long-term health conditions. That’s why the key principles for inclusive and accessible communications are important to ensure your messages reach everyone. Activity Alliance have created a guide to support you to do this. Access it here.

Local support across Greater Manchester

Bolton

Bolton Community and Voluntary Services are a local charity set up to provide direct support to clubs and groups in Bolton.

  • Click here to sign up to their newsletters for updates on the latest Covid-19 updates, funds, training and support offers local to Bolton. 

Bury

Bury VCFA (Voluntary, Community and Faith Alliance) offer direct support to local clubs and groups in Bury. Click here to find out how they can help. Stay up to date on the latest Covid-19 updates in Bury with these newsletters:

Manchester

The MCRactive team are offering support across all club and workforce issues and are contactable on [email protected].

Manchester Community Central are here to support local clubs and groups in Manchester click here for their latest Covid-19 advice and resources.

  • Click here to sign up to their newsletters for updates on the latest updates, funds, training and support offers local to Manchester.

Oldham

Action Together is committed to providing support, information and guidance to clubs, volunteers and community groups, around COVID-19 - access the support here.

  • Click here to sign up to their newsletters for updates on the latest updates, funds, training and support offers local to Oldham.

Rochdale

Action Together is committed to providing support, information and guidance to clubs, volunteers and  community groups, around COVID-19 - access the support here.

  • Click here to sign up to their newsletters for updates on the latest updates, funds, training and support offers local to Rochdale.

Salford

Salford CVS are collating the support and services from people and organisations across Salford to support the community groups who need it most. Access the resources here.

  • Click here to sign up to their newsletters for updates on the latest Covid-19 updates, funds, training and support offers local to

Stockport

We are currently researching to find the best support local to Stockport community groups and residents. If you are aware of such support, please email [email protected]. 

Tameside

The Tameside Sport and Physical Activity Network and Active Tameside are still operating and offering support to local clubs during Covid-19. Head to their website here or get in touch by emailing: [email protected]

Action Together is committed to providing support, information and guidance to clubs, volunteers and  community groups, around COVID-19 - access the support here.

  • Click here to sign up to their newsletters for updates on the latest updates, funds, training and support offers local to

Trafford

Thrive Trafford are collating Guidance for Voluntary, Community, Social Enterprise (VCSE) and Faith organisations which can be found here.

They have also collated information on how you can give help or receive help which can be found here.

Wigan

Wigan Borough Community Partnership are a local charity set up to provide direct support to clubs and groups in Wigan which can be found here.

Contact Us

If you need further support for your club or community group during these difficult times, please contact us using the form below.

Please provide as much detail as possible so we can provide you with the support you need as quickly as possible