Grants for sports clubs: where to look and how to apply

Checked against official sources in November 2026. Rules change, so follow the links before you act.

A grant can do in one go what years of raffles can't: new goals, a refurbished changing room, a programme to get more girls playing. But grant funders want to see a clear need, a sensible plan and a well-run club. They also take time, often several months from application to decision.

This guide covers the main national funds open to grassroots clubs as of November 2026, the county Active Partnerships for Surrey, Hampshire, Sussex and Berkshire, and how to write an application that gets read properly. Funds open and close often, so always check the funder's own website before you start writing.

Sport England Movement Fund

Sport England's Movement Fund offers grants or crowdfunding pledges from £300 to £15,000 for community physical activity projects. With a pledge, Sport England covers half of what you need if you raise the other half from your community through Crowdfunder. It's a rolling programme with no deadline. Apply at least 12 weeks before you start or spend money. Decisions usually take 6 to 8 weeks, and projects can run for up to 12 months. Priority goes to projects that reach inactive people and tackle inequalities, so a project to get new people playing is likely to score better than replacing existing kit.

To apply, your organisation must be not-for-profit, such as a sports club, community group or charity. You need a formal governing document such as a constitution, and at least three committee members who aren't related and don't live together. Organisations that have received £15,000 from the fund in the last 12 months can't apply. See who can apply. Sport England's funding helpline is 0345 8508 508.

On the crowdfunding route, the pledge appears on your Crowdfunder page once the campaign reaches 25% of its target with backing from at least 25 different supporters, and is only paid if you reach 100%. The pledge lapses if you don't launch within 12 weeks of the award agreement, according to Crowdfunder.

National Lottery Awards for All England

National Lottery Awards for All England gives £300 to £20,000 for projects lasting up to two years. Constituted sports clubs can apply, but sports projects must show they strengthen the community beyond general health benefits. Think about how your project brings people together, reduces isolation or helps people who wouldn't otherwise take part.

The programme is open with an ongoing deadline. Decisions take up to 16 weeks, so apply at least 16 weeks ahead. You'll need at least two unrelated committee members, two unrelated UK-based contacts and a bank statement from the last three months.

Football Foundation

For football clubs, the Football Foundation is a major funder of pitches and facilities. As of November 2026, its Grass Pitch Maintenance Fund is closed and will reopen in spring 2027. It gives six-year tapering grants to carry out the recommendations of a PitchPower report, for example £3,200 a year in years 1 and 2 for an 11v11 'Enhance' pitch. The Home Advantage Programme expression-of-interest window is also closed.

We couldn't confirm an open Football Foundation fund for small clubs at the time of writing. Check the Foundation's funding overview for what's currently open, and talk to your County FA.

Your county Active Partnership

Active Partnerships are the county organisations that help clubs with funding advice, training and support. They may not have their own grant schemes, but they know what's open locally.

• Surrey: Active Surrey supports clubs with funding advice, club and coach workshops, safeguarding resources and listings on its activity finder. It also points clubs to Sport England's Club Matters. Its funding page doesn't list a grant scheme of its own, and you can send funding enquiries via the contact there.
• Berkshire: Get Berkshire Active offers funding guidance, one-to-one mentoring and funding webinars with Our Community Enterprise. Its funding page names a Workforce Development Grant (up to £300 for coaches and leaders) and a Safeguarding and Welfare Fund (up to £1,000 per club). The page says it's being updated and doesn't say whether either fund is open, so check with Get Berkshire Active before applying.
• Sussex: Active Sussex, the trading name of the Sussex County Sports Partnership Trust, offers advice and support to sports and activity organisations, Sport Welfare Officer support, funding signposting and an eNews. We couldn't confirm the details of any Active Sussex fund, so check its website or sign up to its eNews for current funding news.
• Hampshire and the Isle of Wight: Energise Me is the charity and Active Partnership for the area, and its website includes information on sport-related funding, according to Hampshire County Council, which also lists other funding sources. We haven't confirmed any Energise Me grant scheme of its own, so search for Energise Me and contact them about current funding.

Other places worth checking

• Your district or borough council: many have small community grants or ward councillor funds.
• Local community foundations, which manage grant funds for their county.
• Your governing body and county association, such as your County FA, county cricket board or rugby union.
• Local businesses' community funds, including supermarkets and housing associations.
• Sport England's Club Matters, which has free guidance on income generation. England Athletics described the pages when they launched. If a link has moved, search for Club Matters.

We only list schemes we could confirm in November 2026. Amounts and opening dates change often. Always read the funder's current guidance before applying.

Set-piece practice: writing a good application

Funders read hundreds of applications. Make yours easy to say yes to.

• Read the criteria twice and answer the questions they ask, in their words.
• Start with the need, backed with evidence: waiting lists, a growing girls' section, a pitch that floods every winter.
• Say who will benefit, how many people, and who you'll reach that you don't reach now.
• Give a clear budget with quotes, and say what you'll contribute yourselves.
• Explain how you'll keep it going after the grant ends.
• Get your paperwork in order first: constitution, committee list, recent bank statement, safeguarding policy and accounts.
• Ask someone outside the committee to read it before you submit.
• Apply well ahead of when you need the money, and don't start spending before you have a decision.

Committee questions

Sources

• Sport England: Movement Fund
• Sport England: Movement Fund - who can apply
• Crowdfunder: Sport England Movement Fund - eligibility
• The National Lottery Community Fund: National Lottery Awards for All England
• Football Foundation: Grass Pitch Maintenance Fund
• Football Foundation: Home Advantage Programme
• Football Foundation: Looking for funding
• Active Surrey: Support for Surrey sports clubs
• Active Surrey: Funding
• Get Berkshire Active: Supporting clubs & organisations
• Get Berkshire Active: Funding
• Active Sussex: Clubs and activity providers
• Hampshire County Council: Other sources of funding and advice
• England Athletics: New Club Matters webpages on raising funds