Fitness instructors, personal trainers, coaches and other self-employed physical activity workers in Wales are being given extra financial support through Sport Wales.

The grassroots sports body has reopened its Sport Freelancer Fund, which will offer individuals grants of up to £2,500.

The scheme will close at 5pm on Wednesday 3 February and for full guidance on who is eligible for the Sport Freelancer Fund, and how to apply, can be found at www.sport.wales/sportfreelancerfund

Sport Wales has widened the criteria for the funding, in a bid to help even more people.

To be eligible, applicants need to demonstrate how they’ve lost at least £2,500 in income from activities that should have taken place in Wales since the crisis began due to contracts being cancelled or restrictions halting their work.

Fitness and sports professionals can apply for the added support even if they’ve been awarded money from the government's self-employed income support scheme, but they won’t be eligible if they have received other COVID-19 related funding from another public body or an insurance payment for loss of income.

The Sport Freelancer Fund forms part of an overall £14m Sport and Leisure Recovery Package allocated by Welsh Government to Sport Wales so that sporting organisations, facilities and jobs can be protected.

Liz Terry, editor of HCM said: "The fitness industry in Wales is engaged and motivated – our current Parliamentary Petition to get gyms open first after lockdown has had the most votes from Wales since it launched last week, and it's great to see PTs and fitness professionals in Wales getting this support."

Sarah Powell, Sport Wales CEO, said: “This fund is the first of its kind in the UK for sport freelancers, and is another clear sign of the importance that Welsh Government places on sport and its ability to make a positive difference.

“There are so many hard-working individuals in Wales who make a living from coaching, running boot camps, teaching fitness classes, and doing a whole manner of other things to keep us active.

“We were delighted with the success of the first phase of this fund in November, when we prioritised getting funding quickly to hundreds of people who hadn’t received any form of financial support during the pandemic. We hope that the extension to the criteria will enable more people to apply this time around.

“As it’s been such a challenging time for freelancers, we are also pleased to be able to increase the grant amount to £2,500. We appreciate that £2,500 won’t cover all of the financial losses that many have suffered, but we hope that this funding will go some way towards helping to ensure that these individuals can stay in the sector, continuing to use their talents to enhance the lives of others.”

Tara Dillon CEO of CIMSPA said: "This has been an extremely challenging year for everyone in our sector, especially for the many thousands of freelance and self-employed professionals who have been impacted by COVID-19 but have been excluded from UK Government financial support.

“These are dedicated, hard-working professionals who provide an essential service to the public, and we are working with partners across the UK to find ways of providing them with some support. I am delighted that Sport Wales has been able to extend the Sport Freelancer Fund, and encourage any of our members in Wales who meet the criteria to visit the website and apply."

**** Please sign the Parliamentary Petition to get gyms open first after lockdown.