This article was first published on 12 May 2021 and has been updated to reflect the latest information on the Sports Resilience Package.
On 4 May 2021, the government announced that a close to month-long tightening of safe management measures (SMM) would be enforced from 8 May to 30 May 2021. On 14 May, the safe management measures were further tightened via Phase 2 (heightened Alert) measures. This came into effect from 16 May to 13 June 2021.
Read Also: Phase 2 (Round 2): Winners & Losers
Guidelines For Sports Facilities
When this happened, the Ministry of Health (MOH) press release stated that indoor gyms and fitness and health studios had to be shut as they tended to be hotspots for transmission. Such places typically see a high density of unmasked people.
However, a lot of confusion that ensued. In the same press release, indoor sports halls would not be affected.
Sports Singapore (SportsSG) also issued its guidelines for sports facilities only on 6 May. In fact, Sports Singapore issued at least two further guidelines between 6 May and 7 May to add to the original one.
Read Also: Closure Of Gyms And Indoor Fitness Studios (From 8 to 30 May 2021): What Is Allowed And Not Allowed?
More Support For Businesses And Self-Employed In The Sports Sector
The Sports Resilience Package itself is not a new scheme. In October 2020, the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) announced a $50 million Sports Resilience Package, which included existing measures worth $25 million and an additional $25 million for new and/or enhanced schemes.
On 11 May 2021, an $18 million enhancement to the Support Resilience Package (SRP) was announced by SportsSG. This was for businesses and self-employed persons affected by the closure of sports facilities from 8 May to 30 May 2021.
These enhanced support package include the: Sports and Fitness Operating Grant, Self-Employed Persons (SEP) Project Grant, Sports and Fitness Sep Support Grant, Continuing Coach Education (CCE) Training Allowance Grant.
#1 Sports and Fitness Operating Grant
$7.7 million would be set aside for businesses under the Sports and Fitness Operating Grant. This will provide more than 500 entities, in particular gyms and fitness studios, with a one-time cash grant of $5,000 to $100,000 for the three-week closure.
The actual amount disbursed will take into account your manpower sizing.
Businesses that can apply for the Sports and Fitness Operating Grant have to:
i. be under the SSIC code 93111: Fitness studios and gymnasiums;
ii. have received JSS support; and
iii. Sign a written undertaking on preserving jobs, compliance with SafeEntry implementation, and adoption of the SGClean Quality Mark., which will be included in the letter of offer provided to successful applicants for acceptance
On the website, it also states that businesses of a similar nature but have different SSIC codes can apply SportsSG’s assessment. Applicants can expect to receive a notification within 3-5 working days.
Note that the grant is only for 8 May 2021 to 30 May 2021, and does not include the latest updated information pertaining to further tightening measures.
#2 SEP Project Grant
Meant for individuals, the SEP Project Grant is an existing scheme that will be enhanced to $7.5 million from $2.5 million. Eligible participants must be registered with the National Registry of Coaches NROC), ActiveSG, National Instructors and Coaches Association (NICA) or Singapore Fitness Alliance.
This will support an estimated 300 projects (from 100 projects previously), to help self-employed persons collaborate with one another and develop projects to enhance the health and wellness of Singaporeans.
The implementation of the grant will be done through a hackathon, and self-employed persons may choose to work alone or in teams of up to five self-employed individuals to produce innovative video on-demand fitness content that can help Singaporeans stay active during this time. The content will be published on the ActiveSG Circle – a virtual sports centre offering classes, programmes, webinars, news and more.
This is not a new grant. Those interested can join its telegram group and apply for the hackathon itself (between 11 may to 14 May 2021). The first (of two) hackathon sessions will be held on 14 May 2021 (10am to 3pm) with the presentation of proposals on 17 May 2021 (from 9am) for self-employed persons to participate. The idea is to create innovative content within a compressed timeframe. SportsSG will guide participants through the entire process.
Each applicant may get up to $25,000 in funding per project.
#3 SEP Support Fund
A new support measure for self-employed individuals in the sports sector, the SEP Support Fund will provide a one-time cash grant of up to $400 for eligible self-employed persons who experienced at least 50% income loss during the 3-week closure period.
On its website, it states that more information will be available on 14 May 2021. However, no new information has been released as of 16 May 2021.
Read Also: COVID-19 Recovery Grant: Self-Employed Persons Can Receive $500 For 3 Months From January 2021
#4 Continuing Coach Education Training Allowance Grant
To encourage those affected to “continue” learning and upgrading their knowledge and skills during this period, fitness instructors can apply for the Continuing Coach Education (CCE) Training Grant.
Eligible instructors can claim $7.50 for each claimable hour for the CCE training/event up to a maximum of $300 per person until 31 March 2022.
Recognised training includes CCE courses facilitated by CoachSG, ExPRO Fitness on-demand online learning content and events, and courses offered under Union Training Assistance Programme (UTAP) endorsed by the National Instructors and Coaches Association (NICA).
You can check for upcoming classes on the ActiveSG website.
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