I Will if You Will invites communities to shake things up

The innovative I Will if You Will movement, aimed at getting Bury women and girls moving, is offering local groups the chance to bid for funding to run their own activities or events. 

A total of £50,000 is available and groups can be awarded up to £750 towards their proposal for things such as facility hire, equipment costs, coaching or publicity. 

All proposals from groups must support the concept of I Will if You Will by getting local ladies together and trying something new, doing something for themselves for a change and having a laugh while they do it.  Suggestions from groups will also be assessed on their potential to increase the number of women and girls aged 14+ taking part in sport or physical activity. 

Prority will be given to projects that:

·  are run by local volunteers who wish to improve the sporting activities they offer;

·  encourage involvement of local residents in improving, identifying and implementing sporting activities;

·  promote voluntary participation as well as community involvement and self-help;

·  do not duplicate an existing provision or service unless this can be explained and justified.

Councillor Jane Lewis, cabinet member for leisure, tourism and culture, said: “We want our communities to get their thinking caps on and come up with their own ideas for how they might support ‘I Will if You Will’.  We’re looking for ideas that will inspire our local ladies and girls to change their routine, get them enjoying a bit more ‘me time’ and being a bit more active. 

“As long as a proposal supports the concept of I Will if You Will and we think the activity or event is something that women and girls will want to give a go, then your group is in with a chance of being awarded up to

£750. 

“So come on Bury, let’s show ‘em how it’s done!  It’s easier when we do it together!”

Applications to the I Will if You Will community fund will be assessed initially by a panel of representatives from Bury Council, Bury Sport and Physical Activity Alliance and Health Watch with final approval being provided by Sport England. Successful applicants will usually be notified within six weeks and all projects approved for funding must be completed by 30 September 2014. 

To discuss a proposal or find out more, phone Liz Saunders at Bury Council on 0161 253 6357 or email e.saunders@bury.gov.uk. 

I Will If You Will is a movement to get the women and girls of Bury moving. With National Lottery funding from Sport England and being launched by Bury Council, it’s about women getting together and trying something new, doing something for themselves for a change and having

a laugh while they do it. Learning from Bury will be used by Sport England to potentially roll out the campaign elsewhere. For more information about the I Will if You Will movement, visit http://www.iwillifyouwill.co.uk/. 

ENDS

Press release issued: 17 February 2014.