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Attracting a Grant to Fund Your Sports Club

By: Jennifer Lowe - Updated: 8 Oct 2024 | comments*Discuss
 
Funding For Sports Local Sports

There are grants available in all different forms, from equipment to scholarships, so it is worth checking out what you are eligible for.This sum of money is given to cover part of the costs involved in the sports project and in the majority of cases doesn't have to be paid back providing all the conditions are adhered to.

Grants Available & Where To Find Them

There are a variety of grants available from a range of sources, such as the government, the European Union, local authorities and agencies and even charitable organisations.The Community Investment Fund is the National Lottery funding available from the nine regions of Sport England (formerly Sports Council for England).

Sport England funds projects that help people get involved in sport and physical activity. The money received can be put towards refurbishment costs, the building of new facilities, or used to develop activities that improve help and education within local communities.

There is, however, a very complex application process for this form of funding, and the final decision is made by the Sport England Board. This is mainly because of the large amount of money being given, the minimum grant being £10,000.

Sports England is also committed to developing sports nationwide, and as a result of this, there is a national investment grant available to those who are eligible.The national investment is designed to inject funding into sports that are governed nationally, subject to a business plan, and have other investment partners.

Stages of Application

If you are thinking of applying for one of the grants from Sport England, then you should be prepared for a process that is broken down into two stages.The firstly stage is known as the Enquiry Stage, which looks into how the project conforms with Sport England's main goals.

At this stage you will be required to provide information about your project so that it can be compared to the criteria and objectives.Your project can be rejected at this stage if it does not meet these criteria. However, if it is accepted, then it will go on to stage two - the Full Application.

At this stage you will have a personal adviser that is there to help you through the process. They are also there to help with establishing key relationships with other bodies within the local area, such as the Community Sports Network.

SportsAid

SportsAid has a key role in the development of sports in the UK. As a registered charity for sports people, their aim is to help young athletes to succeed in their chosen sport on a professional basis. They are the first charity to offer this form of service to Britain's young sports people and, in particular, offer a helping hand to those families that find it financially difficult to support their child's sporting talent.

The main difference SportsAid has over scholarship schemes and national training schemes is that it doesn't go talent spotting. Instead, a persons mentor, coach or peers can nominate them for the award.

So, lets get down to business. Whilst SportsAid do offer some financial help, they don't have enough funds to allow the athletes to go full-time in there chosen sport. What they offer is a way to ease the financial pressure parents or legal guardians are facing when they have to provide their youngster with equipment or entry to various competitions.

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Hi I am new green keeper of Rosehill bowls cub in Sutton we want to improve our club by providing access for disabled people to use our facilities. Somewhere for the carers and helpers to sit under cover and watch the enjoyment they are having. We would like to install a disabled toilet if possible. We have just some visually impaired people join us from Sutton Vision. All our funds go to keeping club running moneyas we have to pay Sutton Council we hope that we can show the Council how much this club would benefit the community. I have only just taken over as the green keeper of Rosehill bowls cub. The club and I have no experience in applying for a grant if you can help it would be greatly appreciated hope to hear from you many thanks Eric
E - 8-Oct-24 @ 4:48 PM
Hi I am secretary of a bowls cub in South bristol we want to improve our club by providing somewhere for our supporters to sit under cover from the sun and rain but as our funds go to keeping club running money is tight we have only just taken over the club and have no experience of applying for a grant if you can it would be greatly appreciated hope to hear from you many thanks Malcolm
Mal - 19-Sep-24 @ 3:09 PM
Hi there, I am enquiring on behalf of the gliding club I belong to. We having a thriving membership of around 100 people with an age spread of 14 - 93 but we are lacking the opportunity to offer flying in gliders to disabled or more infirm people. We wondered if there are any suggestions how we could gain grant money to purchase a new sailplane with disabled controls to enable our club to offer this to a wider range of people. We are a community amateur sports club (CASC) but lack the expertise to gain grants for this sort of thing. Any advice welcome.
GS - 26-Sep-22 @ 2:09 PM
Hi, my Nephew has been selected as the 1st net minder for GB Para Ice. They have been told they will compete in the World Cup in December but each athlete needs to raise approx £1500.00 to cover costs. The sport has no funding at present. Can you advise me on where to go to get either individual or teams funding support. Thank you
Auntydad - 24-Aug-22 @ 9:21 AM
Hi I am the chairman of a junior league football club that are struggling to afford a place to train and play games it would be helpful as we don’t want to discourage the children from playing football and some of the children have played for the club for 5 years so it is a difficult time for us all right now thanks
A - 20-Aug-22 @ 5:09 PM
We are a lawn bowls club based in Haughley Suffolk. During lockdown we were burgled and most of our equipment used to prepare our green was stolen. We were insured and able to replace but our sheds used for storage have had to be replaced we have managed to obtain funding to do this but we now need to find a grant to install a modern security system
Pete - 14-Jul-21 @ 3:10 PM
our bowls club is on its knees through covid .we need a new lawn mower to service the green and the pavilion is leaking and falling to bits.i have been captain for 25 years and play all bowlers old disabled or whatever.We had a young bowler who has gone on to be an england internatuonal.We have etnic minority players deaf players and disabled players.All players play the same number of games i don't play any more than anyone else because i am captain.i do coaching am an international umpire having umpired the world championships & british isles championships.my aim is to get more 30-40 year olds playing to safe guard our club
grumpy - 13-May-21 @ 6:01 PM
Hi, To get back to netball meeting the covid 19 new rules and restrictions, we are looking for a fund of £350 to purchase additional equipment such as bibs, and balls as we are not allowed to share.Our club has suddenly had a massive influx of new people who are so enthusiastic to play, many for the first time since school, we don't want to discourage them.We are currently covering the costs of all the additional hand sanitiser, wipes and other paraphernalia etc that is needed to run the club. Do you know of how we can apply for any small grants to help towards these additional costs? Many thanks.
Millie - 23-Oct-20 @ 6:06 PM
I am the head tennis coach at a local casc registered sports club. During the corona virus our club shut for a while and there was no junior tennis. The seniors eventually got back and things slowly started to build. The down side to this was most of my work is schools work. So I found myself with no income and with nowhere to live I was registered as homeless for a while and eventuallyfound somewhere small to stay. My mental health was already suffering before and I had To get support. So the lockdown was very tough to be isolated and left me very vulnerable. The juniors I was coaching previously also had no provision For sport for 6 months as they were in lock down and not socialising. Around 60% have come to the club in the last 4 weeks which has made a big difference all round. After being in contact with the schools we gave agreed that the only provision the children can receive extra curricular at school would be via a link to the tennis club. This impacts 5 local schools. And around 100 children. The issue we have is we have no flood lights and with the dark drawing in the whole club program. Their provision for physical health will be greatly diminished. The back part is also the situation of the well-being of myself and returning to a position I was previously in of being low income and potentially homeless again. Because of the situation, the entire junior section have missed out on matches and their development. We have costed our portable floodlights as a way to keep the club going and the juniors and seniors going and open tennis during the next 6 months and beyond with a health and well-being session on pen to the wider community. We are looking to obtain a grant to of upto £10,000 to allow the club to purchase the portable floodlights. I know in the situation that I have described their are many different criteria and I have documentation to support said situations should a grant require it.
Ten men - 28-Sep-20 @ 11:13 PM
Hi, I've been in muaythai for 30 years and have fought at a high level winning British titles and a few others I started my own camp in a community centre to engaged the community and give what i had growning up. They ain't nothing for kids in the area so it means they hang around the streets and cause alot of bother then get into other things like knife guns and drug crime which unfortunately is happening alot. I've done this all my life and I belive it can put people on the right path and give people "somthing to do" It is perfect for socialising and keeping your mentality good and start making you feel good after exercise I wish to have some help on opening our own facility so I can grow and help bring families in to open it more like a actual gym instead of muaythai club for socialising and to get kids of the streets Thanks PMA
PRESCOT MUAYTHAI ACA - 13-Jul-20 @ 2:08 PM
I am fund raiser for my bowls club in Buckingham and I am looking for funding for major repairs to our clubhouse.The foundations and roof need urgent attention and I have been searching for funds to help cover the extensive costs.Are there any funds which would assist?
Hoppy - 3-Jul-20 @ 12:53 PM
Hi, I am the chairman of an adult Football Clubthat concentrates in keeping lads in football once they have left the under 18s and focuses on keeping them in the game by introducing them to full Amateur saturday league football. We have a new 2nd team and were looking for funding to help with those costs of a new 2nd team and we also have a project in mind to buy our own land and develop a local run sports club and join up with our local towns ladies team.
Sprucey - 3-Jul-20 @ 12:51 AM
Hi Mr Fraser, my name is Arthur Parker and I am a Committee Member & Vice President of Victoria Bowling Club Est 1887, Torrance, East Dunbartonshire. We would like to know where we could obtain a grant for making our full club facility wheelchair friendly including ramp entrances to the cluband rear ramp emergency exit. The rear access point would need repaved for safety reasons and to meet health and safety criteria. Lastly we need the installation of four ramps all around the green, we also would need especially adapted wheelchairs for lawn bowls. Looking forward to your reply. Kind regards, Arthur Parker Vice President
Victoria Bowling Clu - 21-May-20 @ 7:39 PM
Our bowling club which plays on a Council owned and maintained green have been informed that with immediate effect that maintenance of the green will now have to the be done by the club. This involves supplyingand applying fertiliser , moss killer, and arranging to having the green scarified, tinned, verticut and mowed. To do this we are looking for help to purchase equipment that can do these tasks. Can anyone suggest were I could apply for funding/grants
Ed - 12-Mar-20 @ 2:43 PM
Looking for funding to reconnect our clubhouse to the Uk national Electric Grid.The clubhouse is in need of an upgrade on the internal wiring as it is now some 6 years since the grid supply was removed.
Merv - 4-Mar-20 @ 2:54 PM
I am the secretary of a community amateur sports club (CASC). We have recently renovated a full time centre of excellence and have some sport England funding. We are looking for match funding to aid with improving the facilities. The venue is freezing as the landlord took the heaters out when we had the renovation.many students are refusing to return until heating is sorted. We also have an area where water is coming in below the roller shutters and following the two recent storms water is going our new gymnastics floor (which is made of wood and sponge). We are also looking for paint with sand in etc to stop the floor being slippery, a lockable cupboard for our sports equipment, lockers for students and a seating with storage underneath for parents to view classes.
Kungfulisa - 20-Feb-20 @ 10:04 PM
Hi, I am the chairman of Coventry and North Warwickshire Cricket Club, one of the oldest clubs in the Midlands. Down one side of our ground is a residential road with houses on the other side. About twenty years ago we erected new netting up to a height of about 35 feet above the perimeter fence to protect the houses from cricket balls. The netting runs for approximately 60 yards. The netting was generally ok but the two storms over the last couple of weeks have damaged it very badly. We are very concerned that some of the houses will now not be protected from cricket balls going over the fence. We would like to replace the entire length of netting with a modern long lasting net system. Can you let me know if there are any grants or help available? Thank you, Dave Robinson
Robbo - 16-Feb-20 @ 11:21 AM
I'm the chair of a bowling club playing in a park in Jarrow. The greens and buildings belong to the local authority and we must maintain the greens. Maintenance of the bowling pavilion is the responsibility of the local authority. The pavilion is in need of refurbishment and repair, installation of heating and an accessible toilet. Are there any grants available for this type of work.
Al - 11-Feb-20 @ 8:16 PM
Hi there I am a coach of a Thai Boxing Martial Art club. I am looking for funding to help my students to buy the safety equipment needed to enable them to take part in competitions around the world. This funding will these talented youngsters the opportunities that they are missing out on.
Tricia - 4-Jan-20 @ 8:25 PM
Hi, I am treasurer of a small artisan golf club. We have sports charity status. All the work to the course and clubhouse is carried out by our members.There 120 of us and we have provide a small golf course for the local community. Any standard of golfer is welcome.As we are on farm land we do not have main drains and our sewage system needs upgrading. We are seeking a grant of a maximum £10,000 to carry out this work.Are there any available to us?
Eileen - 10-Dec-19 @ 9:14 PM
Hello, I've set up a new club for my team as the club we was for was not being run properly. I've applied for some funding but not getting any luck. We have found a venue that has a pitch but they don't have the correct size goals. I need funding for the goals, kit and new ball's. Does anyone have any advice as the boys I'm coaching are eager to start matches again. We are located in Birmingham.
Bri - 22-Nov-19 @ 9:58 PM
Looking for advice regarding Funding opportunities for England Youth Loch Style Fly Fishing Team 16 tale 16 young anglers aged 12-17 travel a d accommodation costs are huge and becoming restrictingto families and entry to Sport - where can the Team get recognition / funding / support Would be good Nationwide as same struggles for ECh home Nation youth squads
Mickeygriff - 3-Nov-19 @ 1:34 PM
Hi I am secretary and qualified volunteer LTA coach at our local village club. We are all inclusive and not for profit community club. We rent the facility from Water Orton Parish Council and set up 10 years ago.In May this year we signed a new 20 year lease. We have two tarmac courts which are not floodlit and we have 120 members of all ages and abilities. From that 120 members 70 are juniors aged 5 to 16 years and the rest are adultsWe also welcome two schools to our facility every school term week from April to October for children with learning difficulties. We have done this voluntary for five years now and involves up to 35 children each week. We are now looking to get both courts resurfaced as they are breaking up quite badly in places. The original village club was there 53 years and then ceased to exist as no one wanted to run it. We as a club were operating three miles away at a multi sport facility where we could not get a lease so we moved in at this present location. The original club struggled as they had no coaching team an therefore few children as members.We have three volunteer coaches and two other youngsters ( 17 years old ) who we are training to be coaches already having passed their level one badges. We have several local teachers on our members list who we work with via their schools so we have a constant update of our junior membership groups. If you can suggest or point us towards funding opportunities where we would get support with this resurfacing project it would be much appreciated.We need to raise up to£20k in total to get this professionally do. Thank you Paul Messenger
Paul - 5-Oct-19 @ 6:55 PM
We are a afootball club in kyankwanzi Uganda supporting the youth through sports so far having a team 21members as per now but having a hope to add on talented,well disciplined,members that's where I call upon any one to support me
Mandela - 19-Sep-19 @ 11:05 AM
We are 11 football players at rural area in limpopo ( marble Hall), we are requestinghelp for sport attires and locks.
Funza - 4-Aug-19 @ 6:40 PM
Hello I'm an ex military service man and believe sport has helped me as an individual deal with stress in my life. My idea is to help young and old help them deal with stress through sport and appeal to all diverse and different backgrounds to help people intermingle in society.
Jordan Talbot - 18-Jul-19 @ 1:28 PM
Hi, I am a member of a Roller Derby team in Hereford. We're currently participating in British Championships and are level 2. We are a relatively small team, only 10 members currently, but are well respected as we are mid board against other teams who have double this number. Funding would help us to be able to train and to recruit more members in our local area.
Charlotte - 8-Jul-19 @ 2:07 PM
Hi there, where can I look for funding to help run a boxing club for my local community?
coach scott - 12-Jun-19 @ 7:23 AM
My son and his mate are running a teen scene dances one a month and are looking for funding to do a youth club for the kids which would involve exercise computers for after school work mentoring sport sessions and would like to know where he can get funding for this
Ladyeleanor - 21-May-19 @ 10:21 PM
Dear director , I am George from Uganda -East Africa , the manager of REAL STAR FOOTBALL ACADEMY , in Luwero District , which currently has 140 children both boys and girls who are passionate about foot ball careers. My coach and I struglefuly try to support these children with trainings and to provide the necessities of this academy to promote the sport talent of these children. But we lack some funding according to what is needed , we would have helped many others but unable because of the limited resources. Allow me inquire whether there is any opportunity forbeneficiaries in Africaof your grant , and the process to acquire the grant and any connection recommended to support us. Will be glad. George Real stars football academy -Luwero. Uganda
Manager - 28-Apr-19 @ 11:32 AM
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