Grant Directories

Sport England is a is a non-departmental public body that promotes and increases participation in sports and physical activity in England, by distributing grants from National Lottery funds and government funding. Through the Active Together Fund, Sport England provides up to £10,000 in match funding for Crowdfunder projects to help sport and physical activity organisations to move forward with priority projects and running costs that they might still be struggling with due to the ongoing impact of Covid-19, as well as the emerging energy, cost of living or other local crises such as adverse weather. Campaigns typically run for 28 days but take a few weeks to create.

The British Cycling Places to Ride funding programme supports the development of new or the improvement of existing cycling facilities in communities across England.  Through the programme, up to £15,000 in match funding is available for Crowdfunder projects that provide community-based, accessible cycling facilities and equipment to encourage people to cycle more regularly, regardless of gender, age, ability or ethnicity. British Cycling want to invest in projects that perhaps would not traditionally see British Cycling as a source of funding or indeed consider sport to be their main area of work. Campaigns typically run for 28 days but take a few weeks to create.

Love Rowing, British Rowing’s Charitable Foundation, provides grants to support rowing clubs, community organisations and charities that are working to make the sport of rowing more inclusive and to reach new and diverse communities across the UK. Grants of up to £3,000 are available to support organisations to get more people involved in rowing, create better awareness around the benefits of the sport, and make the sport more accessible. Preference is given to activities focused on children and the young, people with disabilities, ethnic minority groups, LGBTQ+ and socio-economically disadvantaged communities underrepresented in the sport of rowing. Rowing clubs must be affiliated with British Rowing.

The Cumbria Community Foundation exists to benefit disadvantaged people and communities by making grants to support relevant charitable or voluntary organisations, which make a difference within their local area. Through the Workington (Ashfield) Lawn Tennis Club Fund the foundation provides grants of between £2,000 and £4,500 to groups who promote or enable the provision of tennis coaching to young people. Funding is available to support the following types of projects: cost to employ a tennis coach; facility hire to enable young people to learn to play tennis; tennis competition-related costs such as referee fees and trophies.

The Football Foundation is the UK’s largest sports charity that helps communities improve their local football facilities through funding from the Premier League, The FA and the Government (via Sport England). Through the Grass Pitch Maintenance Fund, the Foundation provides tapered six-year grants of £3,200 to enhance pitches that are considered 'poor' or 'basic', or £960 to help them sustain pitches already at a 'good' level. All applicants must have the required security of tenure and have a pitch inspection before an application can be submitted. Funding must then be used to carry out recommendations provided by the Foundation which can include contractor works, and the purchase of materials and equipment. Applications can be made at any time.

The People's Postcode Trust is a grant-giving body funded by players of the Peoples Postcode Lottery. The small grants scheme distributes funds to small organisations, community groups and registered charities in the North of England, through grants ranging from £500 - £20,000. The Trust funds projects that: Improve mental wellbeing; Enable community participation in the arts; Support marginalised groups and promote equality; Improve biodiversity & green spaces; Enable participation in physical activity; Respond to the climate emergency & promote sustainability; Increase community access to outdoor space.

The Cumbria Community Foundation exists to benefit disadvantaged people and communities by making grants to support relevant charitable or voluntary organisations, which make a difference within their local area. Through the Russell Armer Fund, the Foundation provides grants of £3,000 to small voluntary and grassroots groups to enable them to support their local communities. Examples of projects supported include new first responder groups, inclusive play areas, and equipment for sports training.

The Community Foundation for Lancashire exists to benefit disadvantaged communities by making grants to support relevant charitable or voluntary organisations, which make a difference to their local communities. Through the Rossendale Community Fund the foundation provides grants of up to £750 to enable families and young people up to the age of 25 to flourish, learn and develop skills or knowledge. This includes education, training, sports development, arts and culture activities and also play provision for younger children. 

One Community is the Community Foundation for the people of Kirklees and exists to benefit disadvantaged communities by making grants to support relevant charitable or voluntary organisations, which make a difference to their local communities. Through the Davy Fund the foundation provides grants of up to £1,000 to voluntary and community organisations across Kirklees, to encourage the participation of children and young people in sport, with an emphasis on team sports and activities; in order to encourage positive development of that activity, and for the long term health and social benefits that results from such participation.

The Community Asset Fund is a programme dedicated to enhancing the spaces in local communities within England that give people the opportunity to be active.  This can include non traditional spaces such as canal towpaths, woodlands and open spaces – all with potential to be used and enjoyed as part of an active lifestyle.

The £3m Sporting Capital Fund provides unsecured loan funding of between £50,000 and £150,000 to a wide range of organisations to develop new projects, operations and revenue streams.  Organisations eligible to apply include community sports clubs to social enterprises, charities and profit-with a purpose to deliver sport and physical activity.

The Places to Ride Legacy programme will fund the development of multi-use facilities to engage with a broad spectrum of cyclists and to encourage people who have never cycled before to get on their bikes. This will also include a small grants fund for the improvement of existing cycling facilities and supporting opportunities to ride in communities across England.  Applications can be submitted at any time and decisions will be made every 12 weeks.  

The Yorkshire Cricket Board Emergency Relief Fund can provide grants of up to £500 towards the cost of emergency repairs, vandalism, theft of cricket equipment (i.e. machinery, cricket tackle etc) and help with insurance excess. Applications must be made no later than 4 – 6 weeks after the emergency.

Localgiving has teamed up with the Postcode Community Trust to provide the Magic Little Grants programme. The fund provides small charities and community groups with grants of £500 for projects that meet either of the following themes: Overcoming barriers to participation in physical activities in creative ways; Increasing social cohesion through developing access to sports and other recreational activities. 

Enovert Community Trust (formerly Cory Environmental Trust in Britain) is an Environmental body which supports community and environmental projects. The Trust awards grants under the terms of the Landfill Communities Fund (LCF), providing funding to a broad range of projects that have a positive impact on local communities. The Trust is committed to supporting community and environmental projects across the UK. These include improving community halls, the creation of new play areas and skate parks, and restoring green spaces. Fundraising by applicants is looked upon favourably by the Trustees. Applicants will need to secure a 10% third party contribution which will be payable to Enovert Limited prior to the project commencing.

The Football Stadia Improvement Fund (FSIF) provides financial support to football clubs in the Football League and The FA National League System down to step 7 who want to improve safety at their stadia and to enable them to satisfy the FA's ground grading requirements. Funded by the Premier league with an annual budget of £6.5 million, the FSIF awards capital grants to provide financial assistance towards a wide range of stadia projects, including the construction of new stands, installation of floodlights, turnstiles, or even relocating to an entirely new ground.

The Lancashire Environmental Fund's Main Grants programme offers grants of up to £40,000 to not-for-profit organisations, charities, trusts, community groups, parish or community councils or voluntary organisations, for a broad range of projects that, for example, improve community buildings and facilities, create or conserve wildlife habitats or provide better access to waterways or parks. All projects must be within 10 miles of a licensed landfill site and have full public access (minimum requirements are 4 evenings or 2 days every week, 104 days a year)

The Lancashire Environmental Fund's Small Grants programme offer grants of up to £20,000 to not-for-profit organisations, charities, trusts, community groups, parish or community councils or voluntary organisations, for a broad range of projects that, for example, improve community buildings and facilities, create or conserve wildlife habitats or provide better access to waterways or parks. All projects must be within 10 miles of a licensed landfill site and have full public access (minimum requirements are 4 evenings or 2 days every week, 104 days a year)

Millward Charitable Trust makes grants to organisations involved with community buildings, facilities and open spaces, social welfare projects, for the performing arts, medical research and animal welfare.

Staffordshire Community Foundation (SCF) is one of 48 community foundations across the UK. The Foundation's aim is to provide funding that will directly address the needs of Staffordshire's most vulnerable people and communities. Support generally falls under the broad heading of social welfare. Applications must demonstrate a strong case for support, have clear aims and objectives, and, wherever possible, the applicant organisation or project will be user led and make a real difference to people within the community. SCF is able to fund a wide range of project costs including capital purchases e.g. equipment, maintenance or improvement of community buildings, or revenue costs such as venue hire, promotional costs, start-up expenses, activities or training. Applications for core costs will be considered.

The Community Foundation for Tyne & Wear and Northumberland is one of 48 community foundations across the UK. The Foundation's aim is to provide grants and other support to groups and individuals by matching applications to donors' interests. The Foundation supports a wide range of people and causes across three broad themes: supporting people to overcome disadvantage, creating stronger communities and making the area a good place to live. The Foundation is particularly keen to help grassroots community groups and small-to-medium-sized voluntary organisations. Grants to large UK-wide charities are not normally made but may be considered where there are strong relationships in the Tyne & Wear and Northumberland area and the proposal has potential to achieve a substantial impact.

The Central Social and Recreational Trust (CSRT) is a grant-giving organisation who aim to improve the conditions of life for those under the age of twenty one and of all other persons who by reasons of poverty, social and economic circumstances are unable to obtain facilities for recreational or other leisure time occupations . Funding of up to £1,000 is available to clubs/organisations which are affiliated to their governing body (such as the Amateur Boxing Association of England, National Association of Clubs for Young People etc.). Funding can be used for equipment to be used by all members, and maintenance of the property as long as it is owned by the club or has a significant lease. The majority of people who benefit from the grant must be under 21 years old.

The Veolia Environmental Trust is a Distributive Environmental Body that awards grants as part of the Landfill Communities Fund. Constituted, not-for-profit groups within the vicinity of a qualifying Veolia site, can apply for grants for projects that support the natural, social and built environment. The type of activities that can be supported include Community buildings and rooms: such as community centres, village halls, community spaces within religious buildings, Scout/Guide buildings; Outdoor Spaces: e.g. public parks, nature reserves, community gardens, footpaths, or cycle-paths; Play and recreation: e.g. play areas, skate-parks, sports facilities.The maximum grant is £75,000 for projects with a total cost of under £250,000.

Educational establishments; Grassroots football clubs and professional and semi-professional Football Clubs and their associated community organisations can apply for grants of up to £10,000 through the Premier League and The FA Facilities Fund Small Grants Scheme. The Football Foundation is the largest sports charity in the UK and through the scheme funding is available for the provision of capital items, or to refurbish/improve existing facilities. The scheme aims to support the growth of football clubs and activity, prevent a decline in football participation and to make improvements to facilities to address any health and safety issues. Funding is available for replacement of unsafe goalposts; portable floodlights; storage containers; changing pavilion/clubhouse refurbishment; grounds maintenance equipment; pitch improvement works (natural and artificial surfaces); fencing. Routine maintenance cannot be funded.

The Medlock Charitable Trust makes grants to organisations is the areas of Education &Training ; Medical & Health/Sickness ; Disability & Special Needs ; Accommodation & Housing; Arts & culture; Sport & recreation; Environment, Conservation & Heritage; and Economic, Community Development &Employment. Both primary and secondary schools in the eligible areas are able to apply.

The Inland Waterways Association (IWA) is a registered charity that advocates the conservation, use, maintenance, restoration and development of all inland waterways for public benefit. In support of its restoration objectives the IWA makes grants from its Restoration Grants Fund to organisations promoting the restoration of navigable or formerly navigable inland waterways in England and Wales. Applications from bodies promoting new navigable waterway routes will also be considered. Grants of up to £5,000 are usually available, although larger grants may be made by the IWA in exceptional cases. Smaller grants of up to £3,000 are usually the norm and grants of up to £2,000 are assessed under a simplified procedure. The IWA will not normally fund 100% of the project costs.

The Football Foundation is the UK's largest sports' charity. Funded by the Premier League, The Football Association and the Government, the Foundation directs £30m every year into grassroots sport. The Foundation's Grow the Game Scheme provides grants of up to £1,500 for projects that use football to increase participation by both players and volunteers. Not for profit organisations can apply for funding for the creation of new football teams. 

The Bruce Wake Trust is a grant giving organisation that was established to encourage and assist the provision of leisure activities for the disabled. The Trustees will consider grant applications related to the provision of leisure activities for the disabled but favour particularly applications whereby the potential beneficiaries meet one or all of the following criteria. The potential beneficiaries are physically disabled wheelchair users; Improved access for wheelchair users is proposed; and a sporting or leisure activity involving disabled wheelchair users is proposed. The trustees meet quarterly to discuss applications.

Schools, charities and community organisations can apply for grants for projects that improve the quality and prospect of life for children and young people who are disadvantaged physically, mentally or socially including those Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET). The grants available include capital projects such as medical treatment and recovery centres, sports and activity areas, sensory rooms and gardens, playgrounds and hydrotherapy pools as well as revenue grants to support outreach programmes for children in their communities.

The Canoe Foundation is a grant making trust which aims to ‘positively change lives through canoeing'. The foundations purpose over the next few years is to support all to enjoy and benefit from the experience of paddling on our water in a sustainable manner. They aim to do this by: Facilitating suitable launching and landing points to water and providing more opportunities for a modern diverse community to enjoy canoeing with improved facilities; Promoting and supporting the conservation of inland waterways, rivers, oceans and the environment whilst allowing water users to have an enjoyable and readily accessible experience.To acheive this the foundation is looking to support projects with grants of between £500 and £10,000 which create new or improved launching points in urban or rural locations or as part of a water trail, such as steps or pontoons; Incorporate better accessibility or facilities at waterside locations which might improve the parking or changing aspects of a s...