On 24 October 2018, the European Commission announced the latest call for proposals under the Erasmus+ funding programme. Alongside the call for proposals, the European Commission also released the 2019 work programme for the implementation of Erasmus+ in 2019.

Erasmus+ is the European Commission programme for education, training, youth, and sport, with the programme providing funding for European citizens, enabling them to engage with international opportunities. A total of €48.6 million is budgeted for the sport strand of the programme in 2019, the largest allocation for sport in Erasmus+ history. You can apply for funding from the sport strand of Erasmus+ in three related actions.

Collaborative Partnerships

This action offers the opportunity to develop, transfer and implement innovative practices in different areas relating to sport and physical activity between various organisations and actors in and outside sport. At least five organisations from five Programme countries must be involved in these projects. The maximum grant is 400,000€ and projects can last up to 36 months.

Small Collaborative Partnerships

Small Collaborative Partnerships will allow organisations to develop and reinforce networks, increase their capacity to operate at transnational level, and exchange good practices relating to sport and physical activity. At least three organisations from three Programme countries are required as partners in these projects. The maximum grants is 60,000€ and the project duration is up to 24 months.

Not-For-Profit European Sport Events

Not-for-profit European Sport events aim to support volunteering in sport, social inclusion through sport, gender equality in sport, health-enhancing physical activity (HEPA), as well as the implementation of the European Week of Sport (EWoS). For events related to the EWoS, the maximum grant is 300,000€, whereas for other events the awarded grant can be up to 500,000€. Eligible events are required to have participants from at least 10 different Programme Countries.

Also released in October was the 2019 annual work programme for the implementation of “Erasmus+”: the Union Programme for Education, Training, Youth and Sport. This document defines the implementation 2019 grants, procurements, financial instrument and other actions in the framework of the Erasmus+ programme.

Included within the document, an objective of the Erasmus+ programme is to develop the “European dimension in sport, in particular grassroots sport, in line with the EU Work Plan for Sport”.

In the field of sport, the specific objectives of the programme, which are also the funding priorities for the collaborative partnerships and small collaborative partnerships, will be pursued through actions that aim to:

• tackle cross-border threats to the integrity of sport, such as doping, match-fixing and violence, as well as all kinds of intolerance and discrimination
• promote and support good governance in sport and dual careers of athletes;
• promote voluntary activities in sport, together with social inclusion, equal opportunities and awareness of the importance of health-enhancing physical activity, through increased participation in, and equal access to sport for all.

Applications for Erasmus+ Sport funding are required to be submitted by 4 April 2019.