Dorset Spotlight CIC
Dorset Spotlight CIC is a free bi-monthly digital magazine bringing the Dorset community together through sports, health and wellness and supporting local charities. My aim is to give back to self-funded high-performance athletes who compete for England or Team GB or who are on the pathway to compete at that level, with small grants up to £250 towards their competition entry fees and kit.
Why are we crowdfunding?
Dorset Spotlight CIC, is run by me Dawn Exley. I am on a mission to raise awareness of the financial struggles athletes face, as most are self-funded. I run Dorset Spotlight CIC in my spare time, when I am not working, but I have recently realised that I can't do it all by myself, this is why I have decided to reach out and crowdfund. We live in a world where knife crime is on the rise and children need to be inspired. I have been connecting with the local schools and we are starting to collaborate, showcasing their athletes and spreading the word. I have also been working alongside Bournemouth University showcasing their SportBU teams and their high-performance scholars, this partnership is thriving and we are looking to celebrate local athletes with a High-Performance Sports Awards at the end of the year. When I started the magazine I truly couldn't believe how many athletes are self-funded and must pay for their competition entry fees, kit, travel, accommodation, food, federation fees, coaching fees, for and support services such as physios and other expenses. I also couldn't believe that theses athletes who sacrifice so much time and energy to their sport, then go on to achieve greatness by representing their country have to pay to enter competitions, and pay for their kit... I still can't get my head around that! Some athletes were given their kit, then had to give them back after the event. For some athletes who don't come away with a medal, their kit is a memento of their experience, so to take that back from the athlete, in my opinion, is not on! I have met athletes with dual nationality who decide to to switch and longer represent Team GB and chose their other nationality, as the other country pay for much more for the athlete. It's sad times. The cost-of-living crisis has also affected athletes and some are having to decide whether to continue, even though they are at the top of their game, as they simply can't afford it. A mum of a young gymnast at Christmas received a letter to say her son had been selected to represent Team GB, she said, on one hand she was elated, and then her heart sank when she saw how much it was going to cost for the privilege. Dorset Spotlight CIC has the potential to be National and to help so many athletes, but I have to start small and my hometown of Dorset is where I begin. I am hoping you see the potential too and will help in my bid to support local athletes.
How we’ll spend the money raised
I aim to help at least five athletes this year with small grants up to £250 to contribute towards their competition entry fees and kit. To give you an idea of the people already needing help - a young GB Tumbler, a para surfer and a young powerlifter. I ask every athlete to compete an application form, they must supply their selection letter and proof of entry to a competition. Cheques are made payable to the athletes sporting federation, or kit will be purchased by Dorset Spotlight CIC and it will be handed over to them.
Community impact
We have so many talented athletes in our community and my mission is to make our community known for good - for sport. To encourage more people to participate in sport, to stay active and healthy, preventing our hospitals from being overwhelmed from diseases that can be prevented. To encourage teenagers to get off their computers and to socialise with their peers, and highlighting that if you're not good at school, you could be good at sport. To show that hard work and dedication can reward you with a good life playing sports, having a healthy lifestyle or becoming a critical member of an athletes team.
How you can play your part
There are three simple ways to help us reach our target, and make this project a reality.
1. Make a pledge. Don’t delay if you’re going to support us because momentum is key to our success!
2. Spread the word. Share our project on your social media pages and tell the world to get behind us! The more people we reach, the more support we will get.
3. Fundraise for us. If you want to run your own fundraiser – maybe a sponsored activity or similar – use the 'contact project' button at the top of our page to let us know. Setting up your own page only takes a few minutes and you won’t need any bank details. Just a fun idea!