Funding Support

1. National Governing Body Funding:

The first place you should go in the hunt for funding is to the website of your own sports Governing Body. many of which operate funding streams designed to support the development of all areas of your sport.

2. Sport England:

Visit Sport England's 'Funding in the Community' web pages, for details of their full range of funding streams. Below are two very good one's for community sports clubs -

Small Grants Scheme - The Sport England Small Grants Programme has been set up to support local community sport projects which seek to increase participation, sustain participation or develop opportunities for people to excel at their chosen sport. Apply for between £300 - £10,000.

Sportsmatch - the government's grass roots sports sponsorship incentive scheme. The Scheme can match £ for £ a sponsor's new investment in a bona fide development programme.

For all Sport England funding applications, it is important to think about how you will help produce a world leading community sport system, by supporting Sport England's Grow, Sustain and Excel strategy. 

3. Big Lottery Fund:

The Big Lottery Fund is the largest distributor of Lottery money to good causes, giving out half of the money raised by the National Lottery. Awards for All (below) is one of the best funding streams available to community clubs, but for other funding streams please visit www.biglotteryfund.org.uk

Awards For All

Awards for All is a Lottery grants scheme aimed at improving the opportunitites and environment within local communities. Grants of between £300 and £10,000 are awarded in a simple and straightforward way.

4. Sports Aid:

SportsAid is the charity for sports people, helping the next generation of young British sportsmen and women to succeed. Funding is available for costs of training, travel and coaching incurred whilst preparing for major competitions.

5. Sports Relief:

Sport Relief was set up by Comic Relief and BBC Sport to use the power and passion of sport to tackle poverty and disadvantage. Its aim is to help people who are facing some form of disadvantage or social exclusion because of low income, rural or social isolation, age disability, race, sexuality or gender.

Grants range from £250 - £2000. In exceptional circumstances grants may be made up to £5,000. For further information visist www.sportrelief.com

6. Foundation for Sports and the Arts:

This organisation has around £8 million annually to distribute to sports and arts organisations and grants have been given to a wide range of projects. Criteria and further information is available from - Foundation for Sports and the Arts or call 0151 259 5505  

7. Local Investment Fund:

The Local Investment Fund is an English funding body that provides interest free loans to voluntary organisations in need of regeneration.

They also have a network of architects, accountants, solicitors, public relations and marketing specialists, IT consultants to provide professional and strategic support free to voluntary and community groups in their local area. For further information call 020 7680 1028.

8. Community Amateur Sports Club Scheme:

As of April 2002 local amateur sports clubs have been able to register with the Inland Revenue as a Community Amateur Sports Club (CASC) and receive multiple benefits:

• Registered clubs will receive at least 80% mandatory business rate relief. Local authorities can offer up to 100% relief to clubs at their discretion.
• CASCs have the ability to raise funds from individuals under GiftAid.
• Registered CASCs are exempt from corporation tax on profits derived from trading activities if their trading income is under £30, 000 pa.
• Profits derived from property income are also exempt for CASCs if gross property income is under £20,000 pa.
• CASCs whose income does not exceed the above thresholds will no longer be required to complete a corporate tax return on an annual basis.

For further information on how to become a Community Amateur Sports Club and the benefits that entail please visit:

The Inland Revenue or the CCPR website.