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Headlines magazine - Issue 66



    Applicants are asked to carefully read this guidance

    before completing and submitting their application

    Aims of the Scheme

    1. The HASSRA Development Scheme aims to provide financial assistance to individual members (not teams) who want to develop their skills and this would involve an expense that they might find difficult to meet. There are three criteria:

      a. Personal development - to enable you to develop your potential to serve HASSRA or your local community

      b. Sport - to develop skills in your chosen sport, or,

      c. if you consider yourself to be disabled or disadvantaged, to help you take up or develop your skills in sport, a pastime or recreational activity.

    2. The scheme is administered by the HASSRA Awards committee who are allocated funds annually from the Association to make awards for criteria a) and b). Those two criteria are open to all HASSRA members subject to the conditions described below. Criteria c) is funded by the Civil Service Widows and Orphans Fund (CSWOF), one of HASSRA’s business partners, and their condition for granting an award is that this aspect of the scheme is only open to people who consider themselves disabled or disadvantaged.

    Conditions for applications

    3. The following conditions apply to all three criteria.

      • You must have been a HASSRA member for at least one year.

      • You must provide evidence demonstrating how you support or participate in HASSRA activities, locally, regionally or nationally.

      • Evidence is also required, where possible or appropriate, to show your willingness to pass on skills and experience to others.

      • If granted an award, you are asked to tell the Awards Committee about your progress so that they can monitor the success of the scheme but use your story for publicity purposes to encourage other members to apply, particularly where the award has helped with your personal development.

    4. One additional condition applies to criteria a) and b):

      • Evidence of some achievement and the potential for development.

    Awards Committee considerations

5. The Awards Committee (AC) exercise discretion and do not apply rigid rules but the following general tests are applied.

      • Personal development applications: the AC will consider whether you have already shown an aptitude in the area you are seeking to develop and have the potential to develop further. They will look at what you have achieved and the area in which development would take place. This might be within HASSRA or in the local community.

      • Sport development applications: AC will consider whether you have already achieved success at good club level and show potential to compete above that level by selection and not self-nomination. Participation alone is not enough,

      • In recreational activities enthusiasm alone is not enough. AC will consider whether you have already achieved some success and show potential to perform with special distinction at a higher level.

      • If you are seeking to acquire qualifications, e.g. as a coach, judge, umpire, etc, the AC will consider what qualifications you have already gained, in particular a first level qualification, and whether you have potential to move to a higher level.

      • Help is not given to purchase equipment normally needed to pursue a sport or recreational activity but help towards the purchase of an expensive or specialist item of equipment or clothing can be given if lack of that would hold back your development. In such cases the other criteria should also be satisfied.

      • The AC has regard to the estimated annual cost of participation as well as the specific costs for which assistance is requested.

      • If you receive sponsorship from other sources the AC will look at the whole cost situation to ensure any award they make is not duplicated by another source. It is also to ensure the aims of the Development scheme are adhered to as awards are not normally paid to those engaged in their sport or pursuit in a professional or semi-professional capacity, who are able to earn prize money, or gain other substantial rewards for their efforts.

      • Awards are not normally made where the sole objective is to raise money for a charitable cause e.g. by taking part in a sponsored run. However, if you do this as part of your ongoing development you may apply for an award. Each application will be judged on its merits.

      • Normally, not more than one award will be made to the same member in any twelve month period and regard is given to the total amount of development money a member has received.

    Application process

      • All applications must be on form HDS 1.

      • The form is published on the HASSRA website and can be completed online. Members working in DWP will also be able to submit the form electronically, but non-DWP staff should complete the online (word version) form, save and print it, then post to the address shown on the form. Under Departmental security rules it should not be emailed because the form contains personal information and should not be faxed because the fax machine is not secure for the purpose.

      • Applications will be acknowledged within 5 working days of receipt.

      • The Awards Committee will make a decision on your application within 4 weeks from the date of acknowledgment.

      • If you have a specific date(s) by which a decision is needed this should be made clear in the appropriate space on your application form.

      • If successful, you will be paid the award by BACS. We will contact you for your bank details.

      • The award will be made within 7 workings days after the BACS details have been provided.

      • The decision of the Committee is provided in writing. This decision is final and correspondence will not normally be entered into.

    Contact details for queries:

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