Paddle Scotland has secured investment from sportscotland to support instructors and coaches working towards one of the regulated qualifications (SUP Instructor, Paddlesport Instructor, Coach, Performance Coach). 

sportscotland’s requirement is for the funding to be targeted at improving Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and for supporting those in rural locations. 

Therefore, applications relating to the following under-represented characteristics are particularly welcome. 

People:

• with a disability 
• from an ethnic and culturally diverse backgrounds 
• who are vulnerable or from a marginalised group, for example young carers, care leavers, estranged from family, refugee / asylum seekers 
• from a disadvantaged background, based on the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) or self declared low income (<£10,000/annum)
• from remote and island communities with an identified need for coaches 
• who are female 
• who are young, particularly under 18s 

The above characteristics may apply to either the instructor/coach or to those whom they will be coaching. 

Support is only available to Paddle Scotland members living in Scotland and who will be instructing or coaching in Scotland.

Application Process

• Individuals or groups may apply for financial assistance, providing information on the aspirant instructors/coaches, how they meet the criteria, who they (will) instructor/coach and the expected costs. 
• Application deadlines are 21st of each month.
• For group applications it is not necessary to list the names of all individuals if they are unknown, but there is an expectation to explain how the target audience meets the criteria. 
• Applications submitted after the start date of the course will not be considered. 
• All applications will be reviewed by an Paddle Scotland panel, assessing against the criteria to prioritise need and benefit. 
• An outcome email will be sent to the applicant shortly afterwards to confirm the level of funding, conditions and instructions on how to claim.
• Claims can only be submitted upon completion of the course 

How to apply

1. Log in to JustGo
2. Click on My Profile then Credentials
3. Click Add Credential
4. Search for 'subsidy' then next
5. Follow the on screen instructions to complete the application

What is SIMD?

The Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation is a Scottish Government measure across seven domains: current income, employment, health, education, skills and training, housing, geographic access and crime, providing an overall rank used to assess the deprivation level. 

To find out an SIMD based on postcode, visit simd.scot then enter the postcode.

The overall rank is displayed on a 10 point scale, with the focus being on the lower end of the scale, which is currently under represented not just in paddlesport but in sport and physical activity overall.