Sports

Community sports clubs contribute a great deal to the health and wellbeing of the local community. However finding funding may be difficult as there are a limited number of funders for sports. Therefore in addition to the relevant websites, we have included details on tax breaks for Community Amateur Sports Clubs (CASCs)

Sport England  Sport England is the national development agency for sport and a good starting point in the search for funding. Their main website is: www.sportengland.org

Sport England's Small Grants Programme  They will fund work that supports recognised sports with a clear sporting outcome to grow and sustain themselves. Their list of recognised sports currently includes 36 sports, but is increasing all the time, so it is worth phoning them to ask if they can fund your sport. Sports clubs, voluntary and community organisations, local authorities and education establishments can apply. You can apply for between £300 and £10,000. They will fund things like the purchase of sports equipment, getting more coaches qualified, running coaching activities etc. For more information visit: http://funding.sportengland.org/funding_programmes/small_grants.aspx or phone 08458 508508

Sportsmatch offers pound for pound matched funding to investments made to community sports organisations and groups by businesses, trusts and individuals. So if an individual gives you £5,000 you could apply to Sportsmatch for £5,000. For more information: http://www.sportengland.org/funding/sportsmatch.aspx or phone 08458 508508.

Devon Funding News  Devon funding news has a full supplement on funders for sports. You will need to register as a user first at http://www.fundingnews.co.uk/  

Tax breaks for Community Amateur Sports Clubs (CASCs)  As a registered Community Amateur Sports Club (CASC), you can take advantage of tax breaks. For more information, please look at: www.hmrc.gov.uk/CASC/casc_guidance.htm and http://www.sportengland.org

Devon Playing Fields Association grant (Community Council of Devon)  If you would like information on a Devon Playing Fields Association grant, please visit: http://www.devonrcc.org.uk

Recreation and leisure support  The Gilbert and Eileen Edgar Foundation have grants of about £500 available for recreation and leisure support for smaller registered charities where this limited grant would be of real value. Many successful support schemes are funded for a number of years. For more information: 01189 524700

Caudwell Children  The Caudwell Children Charity and Barclays Wealth have launched a programme to fund adapted sports equipment for gifted and talented disabled children to participate in competitive sport. They will provide the equipment itself rather than the money. For more information: www.caudwellchildren.com or phone 0845 3001348

Sporting Funding:  The Peter Harrison Foundation has grants available to registered charities. The charities must wish to support sporting activities or projects which provide opportunities for people who are disabled or otherwise disadvantaged. Grants will often be ‘one off’ grants for capital projects. For more information: http://www.peterharrisonfoundation.org/  or phone 01737 228000

Sports clubs: Cash 4 Clubs has funding available to sports clubs that are registered with their sport’s National Governing Body or local authority. Grants are up to £1,000 and can be used to improve facilities, purchase new equipment, gain coaching qualifications etc. For more information: www.cash-4-clubs.com

The Rowing Foundation has funding available to community groups and organisations who aid and support young people (under 18 or still in full time education) and the disabled of all ages through participation in sport and games, particularly water sports. For more information e-mail p.churcher@sky.com or phone 0208 878 3273

The Wells Foundation provides grants to grassroots sports clubs to help increase participation in sport both now and in the future. They also have a team of world class athletes who can visit schools and sports clubs to inspire them. For more information visit: http://www.wellssportsfoundation.org or phone 01524 590600

Heart Research UK have grants of up to £10,000 to support innovative projects designed to promote heart health and to prevent or reduce the risk of heart disease. Community groups, voluntary organisations and researchers can apply. For more information visit: www.heartresearch.org.uk/grants.htm or phone 0113 297 6206.

The Torch Trophy Trust provides funding to help volunteers improve their skills as coaches or officials in youth sport and sport for the disabled. A bursary will cover 50% of the costs up to £1,000. For more information: www.torchtrophytrust.org

FUNDING FOR SPECIFIC SPORTS

The Swimathon Foundation has funding available of between £300 and £2,500 to community groups and organisations that intend to encourage more people to enjoy swimming or improve accessibility for swimming. For more information visit:  http://www.swimathon.org/page.php?page=Foundation or phone 0845 4599016

The Green Loans Scheme have loans available for up to £4,000 for affiliated bowls clubs and county associations. These loans are to help them maintain and improve their bowling surfaces such as lawnmowers and refurbishment work. For more information email: arnold.goad@ukonline.co.uk or phone 01926 612280

Mountaineering and climbing: The Andy Fanshawe Memorial Trust funds projects that give disadvantaged young people the opportunity to experience the great outdoors. Project costs are funded including hiking trips, Outward Bound courses, climbing walls etc. For more information visit: www.andyfanshawe.org

Disabled Tennis  The Dan Maskell Tennis Trust has grants of up to £1,000 available to help disabled people play tennis in three main areas; wheelchair tennis, deaf tennis, and tennis for people with learning disabilities. For more information phone: 0208 4877119

Support for rowing clubs  The British Rowing Foundation is a good source of guidance and advice for funding for rowing and may even have grants available themselves.. Individuals are not funded. For more information: http://www.ara-rowing.org/

Water sports and music  The Angust Allnat Charitable Foundation has grants of between £250 and £1,000 available to support organisations which provide music or water based activities for young people aged 13 to 25. Apply in writing to Marian Durban, The Angust Allnat Charitable Foundation, c/o 2 The Court, High Street, Harwell, Oxfordshire OX11 0EY.

Football foundation  The Football Foundation’s mission is to “improve facilities, create opportunities and build communities”. You can  find out more about seeking funding from the Football Foundation at: http://www.footballfoundation.org.uk/seeking-funding.

Energy opportunities for cricket clubs  The English Cricket Board has various grants available to cricket clubs affiliated to ECB via their County Cricket Board, and can also provide help and advice. For more information: http://www.ecb.co.uk/development/facilities-funding/ or e-mail chris.whitaker@ecb.co.uk

Youth Cricket  The Lord’s Taverners has grants of up to £6,000 available to organisations directly involved with youth cricket for the installation of non-turf pitches, practice ends and nets. For more information: www.lordstaverners.org

The Rowing Foundation has funding available to aid and support young people (under 18 or still in full time education) and the disabled of all ages through participation in sport and games, particularly water sports.  For more information email p.churchen@sky.com or phone 0208 878 3723

Further advice and assistance
If you need further assistance or advice, please contact: Jamie Buckley, Engagement and Funding Officer, East Devon District Council. Telephone number: 01395 517569  email: jbuckley@eastdevon.gov.uk

Page last updated on 5 January 2012