Sport England funding opportunities
The Return to Play: Community Asset Fund
Sport England has revised the Community Asset Fund to focus on enabling people to return to play during the pandemic. The maximum level of funding available is £50,000 (minimum £10,001).
Your project must be about addressing the challenges you're now facing because of coronavirus and linked to a return to play. Sport England will not be funding general capital works.
Eligible projects include:
- Adapt the way you use a place or space to meet return to play guidance, e.g, improving ventilation.
- Convert an existing space to help meet social distancing requirements, such as additional changing accommodation.
- Make improvements to a building or open space to enable activity to take place as a temporary arrangement, such as a vacant warehouse, shop or community centre.
- Cover an outdoor area or install temporary floodlights to enable activity to take place.
For further information please head to Sport England's Return to Play: Community Asset Fund page below:
Return to Play: Small Grants Fund
Sport England have now launched their Small Grants Programme. The programme is looking to support projects which will provide sport and physical activities for people who may be less physically active through providing National Lottery funding.
Awards between £300-£15,000, will be available to not-for-profit organisations. Multiple applications can be submitted; however organisations can only have awards of up to £15,000 in any 12-month period. Awards are based upon helping inactive and less active people become more active. Awards will be prioritised to projects supporting those living in more disadvantaged areas defined by the Indices of Multiple Deprivation areas 1 to 3.
Funding can be used for capital and usage e.g. coaching, volunteer training, equipment, and minor facility alterations. However funding cannot be used for revenue usage e.g. general running costs, recovering project costs prior to award, and replacement of equipment.
Projects should be ready to begin within six weeks of award (unless able to provide adequate explanation as to why more preparation time is needed)
The closing date for applications is 30 June 2023.
For more information please head to the Sport England page on the Small Grants Programme below:
See Small Grants Programme info
Return to Play: Active together
A £2.5 million fund, with up to £10,000 in match funding, as part of a support package to help clubs and organisations set up and run crowdfunding campaigns related to Covid-19.
Crowdfunding is a great alternative if you don’t meet any of the priority groups on our Return to Play: Small Grants or Community Asset Fund funding options, or if you’re seeking to raise funds because of a loss of income due to the coronavirus pandemic.
For further information please head to Sport England's page on Active Together below:
Here are case studies on how Manor Park Tennis and Eccleston Park Tennis Club ran successful campaigns.
Sport England have also produced guidance on other ways to generate funding – available below: