The Motor Sports Association invests significant sums each year in programme that support and develop the vital infrastructure of UK motor sport, its people and facilities.
 

The Motor Sports Association has long recognised the vital role that training of volunteers and officials plays in the safety management of motor sport and in the last ten years significant developments have taken place in this field.

In late 2009, the MSA was officially awarded the status of Regional Training Provider by the FIA Institute for Motor Sport Safety, acknowledging the great work undertaken not only in the UK but also with other governing bodies to raise standards internationally.

Licensed Officials are required to attend regular training seminars run specifically for them by an experienced team of senior MSA Licensed Officials.  Training programmes for an increasing range of officials have become evidentially based and capable of being accredited to national education standards.

A series of nationwide seminars are also regularly developed to representatives of MSA Recognised Motor Clubs, covering Event Organisation, Club administration and Regulatory elements. In a typical year, the MSA runs around 160 Seminars and Training days for volunteer officials, either directly or through its network of Training Instructors, attracting in excess of 5,000 participants (all at no cost to the individual).

The recent introduction of a Cadet Marshals grade, with appropriate safeguards in so far as supervision and range of duties performed is concerned, is proving popular with this age group, with over 167 having registered in the first few months of the scheme, and are currently undertaking a mix of formal and on-the-job training to develop their interest, and build skills and experience, in this important area of the sport.

Because of their high level of training and skill, the MSA’s registered marshals, numbering over 12,000 in total, are always in high demand not just in the UK but across the world, and a ‘passport’ system allows MSA registered marshals the authority to marshal at events outside of their territory, subject to certain conditions. 

British Motor Sports Training Trust

The BMSTT – the MSA's own registered charity – makes grants to support training projects, including marshals' training days, Advanced Trauma Life Support and medical training days for doctors and paramedics.

The MSA Club Development Fund receives around 60 applications from MSA Clubs to assist with the purchase of safety related equipment (radios, fire extinguishers etc) and venue improvement projects each year. Over the last 14 years since the Fund started, the MSA has provided grant aid of £636,983 to assist projects worth more than £3,000,000 to be undertaken to benefit the sport.

MSA Rescue Development Fund

Run as part of the Club Development Fund, the Rescue Development Fund enables enhanced funding for the replacement and renewal of rescue and recovery equipment to MSA specifications, and even to assist the purchase of new or replacement rescue units.

The MSA works closely with the Motorsport Safety Fund, a UK registered charity, in the development of a range of booklets, DVDs and other training resources, including First Aid, Rescue, Recovery and Safety guidelines, a number of which have been adopted by the FIA Institute for Motor Sport Safety and translated into other languages across the world.

Both the Club Development Fund and Rescue Development Fund are partnership schemes and – dependent on the nature of the application – grant aid can be provided in appropriate cases for either a percentage award or a fixed grant award. Application forms can be downloaded from this website and the MSA staff is available to provide advice on the effectiveness of any application.