Athlete Travel Award Scheme

A successful application to the CnES Athlete Travel Award Scheme will demonstrate that:

• There is a need for the funding to support the athlete’s training and competition programme;
• The athlete is committed to their training and competition programme;
• The athlete’s plans are well thought out and represent value for money;
• The athlete’s expenditure can be fully accounted for;
• The athlete’s programme will meet the overarching aim and outcomes of this scheme;
• The athlete is committed to fulfil their long-term aspirations to further their sporting pathways within higher performing environments.

We can support an individual who:

• Has been a permanent resident of the Western Isles for over 12 months and will reside in the Western Isles for a minimum of 6 full months over the next funding period i.e.; 1st April – 1st October 2025
• Exemption - Further Education students going into their 1st year of study will be considered for support as long as they have been a permanent resident of the Western Isles for over 12 months prior to application.
• And is committed to their own development expressed through goals, aspirations, mind-set and dedication;

And is either:

• An athlete who is currently competing at a national or international level with the potential for competing as a professional athlete; or
• Part of a Western Isles squad in a team sport; or
• Part of a national training squad, working with experts in organisations such as sportscotland and UKsport; or
• Recommended by the relevant Sport’s Governing Body.

We cannot support:

• Whole squads or teams;
• Sports that are not recognised by sportscotland with the exemption of recognised Island Games sports;
• Funding for training or competitions that have already happened;
• Late applications that have missed the deadline.

Please note all eligible applicants must operate a bank or building society account in their legal name. Applicants under the age of 18 should use a bank or building society account in the legal name of their parent/guardian.

This round of applications will open on Friday 14th February 2025 and must be submitted by Monday 17th March (9am) 2025 and will be considered soon after for programmes commencing from 1st April - 1st October 2025

Please note we will not consider any funding for training or competitions that have already happened. 

We will consider funding for:

• Travel, accommodation costs and an adequate subsistence allowance for training and competitions off island;
• Travel, accommodation costs and an adequate subsistence allowance for an accompanying adult for athletes under the age of 18. 

We will not fund:

• Competition and training fees;
• Conferences and seminars;
• “In kind” non cash costs;
• Equipment and materials;
• Publicity and promotion costs

CnES Athlete Travel Award Scheme has a total budget of £12,000 for year five of the programme.

Each Athlete will have the opportunity to apply for up to £750 for each of the two applications. If successful with both, an athlete could be awarded a maximum of £1,500.00 for the entire 2024/25 period, based on their competition and training programme submission.

Please note that your application will have to evidence the requirement of your funding need.

In the event that there are more applicants for funding than money available, the panel will consider:

• The applicant’s potential to meet the outcomes of this scheme;
• The applicant’s commitment to their competition and training programme;
• The diversity of applications received.

CnES will issue a grant offer letter and acceptance form detailing the terms and conditions of the grant award.  Once you have accepted the terms and conditions of the grant and returned the acceptance letter a percentage of the grant will be paid directly into your nominated bank account. This will be dependant on your training and competition schedule submitted and the schedule of payment will be decided locally through the ATAS co-ordinators.

• You must comply with grant conditions and only use the funding for the purpose(s) as set out in your application form;
• You will be required to participate in an initial meeting with you local Facilitator, followed by a further review to assess your performance with the schedule agreed in your application.

We will contact you by the end of March 2025 to inform you of the panel’s decision. The panel’s decision is final but if you would like further feedback on the decision to refuse your application, then please contact the Sport and Health Service using the contact details listed below. The Comhairle's Comments and Complaints Handling Procedure can be seen on the complaints section of our website.

You read this guide

You complete an application form and send it to us

We need to receive your application by Monday 17th March (9am) 2025. This gives us time to assess your application and you time to send back any additional information we ask for.

We assess your application

We will acknowledge your application within 5 working days and will ask you for further information where necessary. Once your application is complete, it will be assessed by a panel from CnES, Local Volunteer Sports Representatives and sportscotland.  We might contact you with questions at any time during our assessment. Please note that if necessary decisions will be taken by a majority vote of the panel.

We tell you our decision

Once your application is complete, we will give you a decision by end March 2025.  If you are successful, you will receive a grant offer letter from CnES. You/your parent/guardian will need to sign the letter accepting the terms and conditions of the grant, including details of the account to receive the funds and return it by the date stated on the letter.  If your application is unsuccessful we will be in contact to tell you why.

You start your programme

You can start your programme when you receive our letter confirming the grant.  We cannot guarantee to fund any costs you have incurred before we have made a decision on the application.  We will not fund any costs you have incurred before you make your application.  You must acknowledge CnES and sportscotland on all publicity and marketing materials.  If you want to change the purpose of your grant from that specified in your grant application, you must first get our agreement in writing.

You finish your programme

You should complete your programme by 1st October 2025.  Reviews of your program will be ongoing through out the duration of the time period.
 

CnES is registered as a Data Controller in terms of the Data Protection Act 1998. The information provided by you will be stored by the CNES on a central electronic database, will be used by the Sport and Health section to process and evaluate the application and be used by the Council’s Finance Services to process your payments should you be successful. In addition your information will be shared with sportscotland as a member of the assessment panel and for national monitoring of participation in sport.  Please contact us if you have any questions about how your information will be used.  Please note that your information, should you be successful, will be stored by the Council for 5 years plus current year before being destroyed. The information for unsuccessful applications will be stored for 1 year plus current year before being destroyed.  Please note the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 gives any person the right to request certain information that we hold. The Council regularly releases information about grant awards and information regarding your application may be made available to the public. Any personal information provided will be processed in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998.