Sports clubs in the UK find their usual avenues of funding and revenue drying up as the cost of living crisis affects households and businesses. In light of rising costs, more and more local businesses consider sponsoring a local sports team to be a luxury.
Nonetheless, there are other avenues for funding, such as applying to grant-giving organisations.
Below are some examples:
The National Lottery Community Fund
The National Lottery Community Fund annually donates £600 million to UK communities. The National Lottery raises money through its players.
To be eligible for The National Lottery Community Fund, you must meet the following criteria:
- Is your club a place for people to come together and form strong relationships within and across communities?
- Can your club make a difference in communities’ places and spaces?
- Does your club support people at the earliest possible stage to reach their potential?
Depending on whether they meet the criteria, sports clubs can apply for sums up to £10,000 or sums over £10,000
You can find more information here.
Tesco Community Grants
Throughout the year, Tesco offers community grants to local charities and community organisations, including sports clubs. For the ‘blue token’ customer vote campaign, Tesco stores across the UK select three worthwhile local community causes every three months.
The eligibility criteria for the Tesco Community Grants are as follows:
- Sports equipment and youth team kit are eligible for funding depending on the project
Sports grants of up to £1,500 are available for local sports clubs and community organisations.
You can find more information here.
The Poundland Foundation
Kit for Kids grants has been reopened by the Poundland Foundation. To help children get active, 250 grants will be awarded to sports clubs.
Eligibility criteria for The Poundland Foundation are as follows:
- All team sports will be considered, including football, rugby, cricket, netball, hockey and basketball.
Grants of up to £750 are available to local children’s sports clubs.
You can find more information here.
The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Activity Fund
Sport and physical activity can be used to bring together communities and tackle inequality through the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Activity Fund.
Eligibility criteria for The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Activity Fund are as follows:
- The program provides funding for minor capital improvements, coaching, and facility hire costs
Funded by the National Lottery, there is a total pot of £5 million. Grants between £300 and £10,000 are available for eligible sports clubs.
You can find more information here.
The Sported Fund
The Sported Fund aims to provide financial support to increase football access at a grassroots level. Especially important is the inclusion and inspiration of girls and young people from lower socioeconomic and under-represented groups, including culturally diverse communities, youth with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ youth.
Eligibility criteria for The Sported Fund are as follows:
- The grant can be used for a variety of purposes, including venue hire, coaching costs, volunteer expenses, equipment, kit, marketing, training, and insurance.
- Applications can be made at any time from January 2022 to December 2024
- Grants of £500 are available.
You can find more information here.
Football Foundation
There are many grassroots football clubs in the UK that receive grants from the Football Foundation. To improve the quality of local football clubs, they offer a wide range of funding.
Eligibility criteria for the Football Foundation are as follows:
- A variety of small grants are available to fund new 3G pitches, 3G pitch maintenance equipment, grass pitches, new changing rooms and pavilions, the refurbishment of existing changing rooms and pavilions, and the improvement of small-sided facilities.
Sports grants of up to £25,000 can be awarded.
You can find more information here.
Free Sponsorship Proposal
We have been working in sports sponsorship both commercially and at club level for over 10 years therefore we understand what makes a mutually beneficial sponsorship agreement. To help grassroots clubs secure the funding they need we have created a free sponsorship proposal you can use to attract new sponsors.
Simply download the proposal and customise to your club then share with local businesses.
