In June 2023 British Ice Skating announced a brand new funding source available exclusively to short track clubs, to support their growth and sustainability and help them to continue providing the best possible environment for short track skaters in the UK. The fund was designed to enable clubs to:
Buy equipment.
Introduce or plan additional camps.
Cover the cost for coaches to engage with coach development and learning opportunities.
Engage with or provide opportunities to communities who are underrepresented in Short Track and British Ice Skating pathways. (For more information please visit our EDI page).
Increase visibility of Short Track within your local area.
Seven clubs were successful with their applications, receiving between £300-£2000 each. As the anniversary of the fund's establishment gets closer, we're taking a quick look at the progress some of the clubs have made so far:
Mohawks Ice Racing Club
Solihull | Club Website
Fund usage so far:
Investment into promotional materials to help attract new members.
New safety pad covers have been purchased.
Trial sessions have been run which have attracted new regular members.
"The Growth and Sustainability Fund award has had a positive impact on The Mohawks Ice Racing Club. New ‘trial session’ skaters have come along, some have taken out membership and are now regular skaters."
Cambridge Ice Skating Club
Cambridge | Club Website
Cambridge only introduced short track at their club recently, and have done a fantastic job getting their sessions off the ground, along with help from across the wider skating community.
Fund usage so far:
Investment has largely gone into building a stock of personal safety equipment,
Sheffield Speed Skating Club
Sheffield | Club Website
Fund usage so far:
Investment into promotional materials to help attract new members.
10 new helmets purchased.
Introduced taster sessions which have increased accessibility to the sport, particularly for beginners.
Sheffield's number of skaters starting out on their short track journey has seen a big boost since the fund was awarded, going from just four regulars to 15! Their number of more experienced skaters is also up, and
"We are now of a size that we have had one interclub competition with Altrincham and have contacted the Nottingham club to arrange an interclub comp with their beginners/novices!"
Altrincham Speed Skating Club
Altrincham | Club Website
Fund usage so far:
Newly introduced taster session and subsequent word of mouth have attracted two new club members.
Investment into promotional materials to help attract new members.
Investment into coaching qualifications for club leaders.
New equipment, including two new mat covers (pictured!)
Ayrshire Flyers
Cambridge | Club Website
Fund usage so far:
Investment into a new stock of boots.
Investment into club members' coaching qualifications, which will allow more flexibility around training delivery.