NEWS FOR FEBRUARY

Team Darenth Shows the Way

Team Darenth shows cycling clubs� youth sections how to benefit from EU council funding for education through sport

London, 25 Feb, 2003: Team Darenth, the Dartford based 'young cyclist's' club has founded an initiative for all similar clubs to attract funding from the Council of the European Parliament. EU financial support is to be made available for activities that promote the benefits of sport in the education of the individual and for �transnational mobility and cultural exchanges�.

Still in its early stages Team Darenth�s plan has come about through researches into the inner workings of EU funding and a happy coincidence. Team Darenth has made the decision to bring the information it has discovered to the notice of all other clubs in the UK and Europe before funding decisions come too close for the target year of 2004. It proposes that cycling clubs can work most effectively together in their effort to attract funding for sporting and cultural exchange and that this is the time to be structuring a formal bid for funds from the �11.5 million voted by the European Parliament.

The �11.5 million will fund initiatives right across Europe and not all the money will go to cycling but if no applications are made it�s certain than none of the money will go to cycling. Any club interested in furthering youth and education through cycle sport needs to read the Team Darenth proposal and make itself known in order to share its best observations on how clubs with youth sections can structure a bid together.

Team Darenth has made this lead and now it�s time for clubs to come together and share ideas (and the work) in anticipation of up to 50% funding of initiatives.

� Qualifying proposals must meet the European Parliament�s aims of making educational and sports organisations cooperate to develop education through sport.

� Approved programmes have to involve sporting endeavour and exchange leading to understanding of the individual�s development, team-work, solidarity, tolerance and fair play in a multicultural framework.

These were voted to be positives for sport in education where voluntary organisation and participation has a key role � something that cycling clubs and their sporting events routinely deliver. It�s up to cycle sport not to let such an opportunity to go by. If your club has a European visit planned and if you are in contact with clubs in EU or soon-to-be- EU states perhaps there�s something in Team Darenth�s proposal for you.

Team Darenth aims to build a network of like-minded clubs in search of funds for sporting and educational exchange. Email europe2004teamdarenth@btopenworld.com to make contact with Team Darenth.

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