Funding available for colleges to start to play water polo

AoC Sport is offering funding to help colleges introduce students to the exciting sport of water polo.

Delivered in partnership with Swim England, the project aims to support Swim England’s Water Polo 2020-2025 strategy and its key aim to double the number of registered players in the next five years.

Colleges are a vital part of this strategy, so the project will support selected colleges from across England with funding to deliver a sustainable water polo programme. The funding is flexible and may be used to offset any aspect of the costs of setting up a water polo group/activity – this could include pool time, balls, hats, goals, swimming teacher or coach hire, or some combination of these and other expenses.

Swim England can provide advice and support on setting up a water polo team, as well as ideas of other colleges or club teams to play against in your local area, and clubs for participants to join if they wish to take water polo further. Advice can also be given on sources of equipment, coaches etc.

Water polo is included in the A-Level PE syllabus, so now could be the perfect time for your college to introduce water polo to a new group of young people.

To apply for this funding please complete this application form by Friday 10 February 2023. If you have any questions about the project please contact charlotte.greenwood@aoc.co.uk.

Selection process

Following applications closing on Friday 10 February, all applications will be reviewed by a selection panel and the following criteria will be considered:

• Impact of funding – the number of participants engaged through the project in the college.
• Workforce development – the number of college staff upskilled.
• Sustainability of the project – how the sessions will be maintained after the first funding cycle.
• Partnership engagement – the links to be created with local teams/clubs to provide an ongoing progression pathway for the players.

Successful colleges will be notified in the week commencing 20 February.