Fermanagh and Omagh District Council: Events & Sponsorship Programme

Overview

The Council will support organisations/ event organisers who deliver various types of events including but not limited to niche, specialist, local, regional, national and international events and festivals within the district that;

• Benefit the local economy
• Attract visitors to the district
• Provide social benefits
• Delivers benefits to local communities
• Utilises media coverage to raise the profile of the Council and the district as an ‘Event Friendly’ destination

What is an Event?

Defining what an event is can be important for clarity and context. Fermanagh & Omagh District Council describe an event as: “An organised special occasion and activity of limited duration that brings people together for the primary purpose of participating in an uplifting community, cultural, recreational, sporting, artistic, or entertaining experience”. An event may be:

• Held every year, or twice a year but is not part of a more regular scheduled programme
• Can be either free or paid entry
• Can be either run commercially or on a not for profit basis
• Might be indoors or outdoors, or a combination of both
• Might be single venue or multi-venue

Events can take several forms:

• Signature / Major events is an event of international/national significance that attracts international / domestic visitors and international/national media coverage
• Large Event: An event which attracts significant visitor numbers and media interest to a destination
• Medium Event: An event of regional significance which attracts regional visitors and regional media coverage
• Small Events: An event that is of significance to the local community and attracts local interest and visitors who are already in the destination
• Community Events: Small events primarily attracting local audiences that enhance the quality of life of residents, celebrate local identity and culture, and provide a range of community benefits, including participation, well-being, and community connection

Sponsorship Eligibility

Each sponsorship application will be considered in relation to its own unique circumstance.

Eligibility for Sponsorship will include:

• The Council will actively support events that are aligned with its Corporate vision, values, and strategic priorities.
• Organisations and event organisers that demonstrate they have an appropriate governance framework and decision-making structures in place
• Applicants must provide financial evidence of need with deficit funding clearly evident
• Applicants must indicate how the event benefits the local economy,
• Provide social benefits, delivers benefits to local communities,
• Utilises media coverage to raise the profile of the Council and the district as an ‘Event Friendly’ destination,
• Applications must demonstrate the economic benefit to the area from the event, including evidence of how bed nights (where appropriate) will be generated, and how visitor numbers and visitor spend will be increased.
• Event organisers are socially and environmentally responsible,
• The event must take place in the Council area
• Events are open and inclusive to all to attend

What they what to know:

• Event type: This Sponsorship Scheme includes events for Event and Festivals including; New events that deliver significant economic benefits, Tourism, Sport and Recreation, Community, Niche, Arts & Culture or Agriculture.
• Event category: This considers the size of the event; Small, Medium, Large, Major or Signature. Please note that small hyper local events are usually supported by Grant Aid and not Sponsorship.
• Event profile: This will help demonstrate the size of your event, please select the most appropriate Tier in Guidelines
• Aim: what do you hope to achieve?
• Objectives: how are you going to achieve this?
• Outputs: what you expect to produce? i.e.: delivery of your event that includes 1500 spectators, 20 participants etc.…
• Outcome the difference your event will make to the local area, the economy, social benefits etc… tell us about the positive impacts.
• The post event evaluation is an activity that seeks to understand and measure the extent to which the event has succeeded in achieving its aims, objectives and outputs and therefore outcomes. It explores the impact the event has had on the those that attended, the participants and the area and how it meets the needs and improve the lives of local people.

Sponsorship Investment Criteria

Event sponsorship is a competitive process and assessment will be made against FODC sponsorship investment criteria to ensure consistency and fair consideration for all applicants.

The investment criteria covers five key areas within the application, the following information explains what they mean when they ask about social, economic, environmental and media impacts and if the event is a strategic fit with Council priorities.

• Social Impacts
• Economic Impacts
• Environmental Impacts
• Media Impacts
• Strategic Fit

See Guidelines for full descriptions.

Event Category, Impacts, and Sponsorship Range

• Small /Niche Events and Festivals (Examples of this event size are 5/10k runs, angling and cycling events and water-based activities)
  • Events that attract a small, local, niche audience/participation. The event delivers positive social and economic benefits to the local area. May attract local media coverage.
  • Attendance 50 -250 approx. and/or Participation 50 – 250 approx. £300 max Small hyper local events are usually supported through Grant Aid.
• Medium Events and Festivals
  • These events might attract visitors to the district and generate economic benefit and attract local and regional media coverage.
  • *Community events must deliver positive social benefits to the host community.
  • Events that extend the tourism season are particularly welcomed.
  • M-Tier 1. Attendance 251 – 1,000 approx. And/or Participation 251 -500 approx. £ 1,000 max
  • M-Tier 2. Attendance 1001 – 3,000 approx. And/or Participation 500+ approx. £ 3,000 max
  • M-Tier 3. Attendance 3001 – 5,000 approx. And/or Participation 500+ approx £ 5,000 max
• Large Events and Festivals
  • These events might attract visitors to the region and generate significant economic benefit and attract regional media coverage.
  • Events that extend the tourism season are particularly welcomed.
  • L-Tier 1. Attendance 5,001 – 6,000 approx and/or Participation 500+ approx. £ 6,000 max
  • L-Tier 2. Attendance 6,001 – 8,000 approx. And/or Participation 600+ approx. £ 8,000 max
  • L-Tier 3. Attendance 8,001 – 10,000 approx. And /or Participation 600+ approx. £ 10,000 max
• Major Events and Festivals 
  • Events that generate substantial economic and social benefits with increased numbers of visitors from outside the district and generate national and international media coverage. Requires longer lead time and may require a detailed business plan. (8 mths-1 Year)
  • 15,000 + attendance Max £15,000
• Signature
  • Events that generate substantial economic and social benefits with increased numbers of visitors from outside the district and generate national and international media coverage. Requires longer lead time and may require a detailed business case. (1 year)
  • 25,000 + attendance Business case Required

Guidance Notes contains further information.

Eligible costs

• Event Marketing and PR Costs
• Event Health and Safety Costs
• Event Production/Programming Costs
• Event Venue and Hire Costs
• Event Accommodation Costs
• Event Travel Costs
• Event Prize Awards and Trophies
• Event Security Costs
• Event Evaluation
• Event Performance fees