Funding for Clubs

Funding for clubs is available from a variety of sources; both locally and nationally.

Getting Started

There are a number of areas that your management committee needs to address in advance of starting to plan a bid for funding.

What do you want the money for?

Is the project solely for sport – will it provide training and qualifications which would enhance a person’s employability? Will it improve the health and wellbeing of individuals / a community? Will it provide diversionary activities for young people at risk of offending? These questions will influence which funding source you approach.

Can you deliver the project?

Targets, outputs and outcomes included in a bid need to be achievable. If you have indicated that you will provide match / in-kind funding – are you able to do so? In addition the club must have all the evidence of good management, relevant policies and documents in place already.

Who will manage the project?

The award of a grant can be the start of hard work. There needs to be someone in your club who is capable of maintaining records, being the point of contact for the funder, and submitting all required paperwork within set timeframes. Failure to follow funders’ requirements could result in you having to pay the money back.

Grant making / Funding Organisations suitable for Sports Clubs:

• Advice Services Transition Fund
  Grants between £50,000 and £350,000 available for providers of advice services to give vital help to people and communities in welfare benefits, debt, housing and employment
• Big Lottery Fund
  Awards for All, plus other grant schemes, although not specifically for sports
• Gift Aid Small Donations Scheme
  A new scheme launching in April 2013 enabling charities to claim Gift Aid on small donations (up to £20) where it would be difficult to obtain donors’ personal information (e.g. bucket collections)
• Hilton Foundation
  Grants made in support of projects for disabled or disadvantaged children
• Just Text Giving
  A completely free text donation service where registered charities can collect text donations
• Lincolnshire Community Foundation
  Comic Relief – Support for funding for sport and disadvantaged communities
• Lincolnshire County Council Grants
  Grants for community activities and facilities LCC grants team on 01522 782040
• National Prospectus Grants Programme
  Grants between £100,000 and £750,000 for voluntary and community organisations improving outcomes for children, young people and families
• Nesta Impact Investments
  Investment fund looking to invest in projects using technology to improve delivery or reduce costs and boost the health and wellbeing of an ageing population. Their minimum investment is £150,000.
• Santander Community Plus
  Grants up to £5,000 to support charities helping disadvantaged people across the UK
• Sport England
  A variety of sports funding including the Small Grants Scheme
• Sport England – Sportsmatch
  Grants from between £1,000 to £100,000 as match funding from up to five private sponsors
• Sportivate – Lincolnshire Sports Partnership
  Grants for clubs to run sports taster sessions for 14 – 25 year olds, £40 per head allocated
• Tesco Charity Trust
  Grants between £500 and £4,000 to registered charities and not-for-profit organisations who are working on local projects to support children, elderly people and adults or children with disabilities
• The Co-op Community Fund
  Grants of up to £2000 made to community-based projects
• Wakeham Trust
  Small grants made to registered charities in support of new community projects
• Young Persons Volunteering Fund Up to £100,000 for volunteering projects owned by 14 – 25 year olds
• www.telegraph.co.uk/sponsored/sport/disability-sports-funding/10001712/paralympic-momentum-programme-competition.html- Fifteen grants of £1000 are available for clubs that encourage participation for those with disabilities.

Other Funding Information Sources:

• Funding for Athletes
• Funding for Communities
• Funding Opportunities for Coaching Guide – Sports coach UK in partnership with the English Coaching Network and SkillsActive has updated this guide which contains information on funding available in England to support coaching.
• www.fundingcentral.org

• www.grantsnet.co.uk
• www.j4bcommunity.co.uk
• www.sportengland.org
• www.grantnet.com
• Library Service Local main libraries have the Directory of Grant Making Trusts available for reference only containing information on 2,500 grant making trusts
• Volunteer Centres: Lincoln, North Kesteven, West Lindsey
• South Lincs CVS: Boston, South Holland, South Kesteven, and East Lindsey
• Really Useful Stuff Handbook
• Lincolnshire Community Foundation
• Fanoogle East Midlands Funding Advice Monitor provides information on the organisations who are able to provide funding information to local groups
• Local Councils – District and County
• Lincolnshire Sports Partnership