Funding

We cannot supply you with pots of money; nor do we have the magic formula to guarantee successful applications. What we can do is offer guidance on where to look for funding and advice on some of the key principles to consider when submitting a funding application.

Key Principles

• There is no secret formula to funding or grant applications
• Try to match the grant to your project's need
• Clearly identify your project and its outcomes
• Identify how much money you need
• Be clear and to the point
• Plan the application process with the whole club

Planning Your Project

• When form-filling, be clear about your project giving a brief description
• Clearly identify the outcomes of your project
• How will you deliver your project? Establish an action plan with timescales
• Demonstrate sustainability - how will your project continue after the money has been spent?
• Identify any risks which might jeopardise the project if funding is given
• Look at how to minimise those risks
• Preparation and planning will help to minimise paperwork
• Most importantly - read the guidance notes which accompany the application forms

Key Funding Agents

Sport England

Listed below are some additional key funding agents and weblinks

• Awards for All England Awards for All England is a simple small grants scheme making awards of between £300 and £10,000. The Awards for All programme aims to help improve local communities and the lives of people most in need. To do this they want to fund projects that meet one or more of the following outcomes:
  • People have better chances in life - with better access to training and development to improve their life skills.
  • Stronger communities - with more active citizens working together to tackle their problems.
  • Improved rural and urban environments - which communities are better able to access and enjoy.
  • Healthier and more active people and communities.
  
  
• B&Q 'Better Neighbours' is the community support grant scheme launched by hardware and DIY giants B&Q. They are offering up to £500 worth of in-store products to help renovate your sports club. Any project that involves and benefits the local community will be considered. This could be a great way help smarten up the outside of your club, redecorate the bar or give the changing rooms a make over. The exciting thing about this funding stream is that they DO allow you to spend the money on renovations; something many funding streams do not permit. To qualify, you must be within 20 miles of the nearest store and you should write to the local store manager, address details can be found at www.diy.com
  
  
• Barclays Spaces for Sport helps to revitalise local communities through developing facilities and providing coaching kit and equipment. Their commitment includes expert guidance on sustainability to ensure local people benefit from the space well into the future and have the know-how and support to run it themselves. We're also helping teams by giving them the kit they need to practice in and we're helping communities come together to work towards a common goal.
  
  
• Big Lottery Fund hands out half the good causes money from the National Lottery. They are committed to bringing real improvements to communities and the lives of people most in need and through a number of programmes provide grants ranging from £250 to £500,000.
  
   

• BT Community Connections Awards

  BT Community Connections is an award scheme, which enables sports, community and charitable groups to get online and make use of information and communication technology (ICT). Groups can apply for a laptop and a year's free broadband connection if they can demonstrate how an award will benefit their work and the local community. If you know a group that may want to apply, simply signpost them to www.btcommunityconnections.com or if you don't have access to the Internet, call us on 0845 257 6792.

  
  
• Cash 4 Clubs - Sports Grants Scheme
  CASH 4 CLUBS is a scheme that gives money to grassroots sport. Any sports club that is registered with its sports' National Governing body or local authority can apply. They do not restrict entries to certain sports or certain activities. You might be looking for funding to help with coaching of young kids or you may be after a grant to help buy a new boat or help renovate your current facilities.
  The Cash 4 Clubs scheme has given out sports grants to many deserving causes and is committed to finding yet more sports clubs to help in the future. With awards of £250, £500 and £1,000 available, Cash 4 Clubs is giving away real money that can help your club. To get an application form or to find out more about Cash 4 Clubs visit http://cash-4-clubs.com/
  

• Caudwell Children Enable Sport Programme
  The Caudwell Trust is inviting applications for the Enable Sport Programme. This will provide specifically designed sports equipment to enable disabled children and young people to participate in sport. Applications must be made on behalf of a particular child who must be 18 years of age or under at the time of application.
  

• Central Council for Physical Recreation (CCPR) is an independent body working on behalf of national governing bodies and representatives of sport, along with voluntary clubs and participants. Whilst they do not award any grants or funding, their work is aimed at promoting and protecting the interests of sport and recreation and at supporting the organisations involved in their provision and administration.

• Capacity Builders is a programme of capacity building for the infrastructure of the voluntary and community sector, developed in partnership with the sector. The aim of Capacity Builder's investment is to catalyse the modernisation of infrastructure provision in order to improve its sustainability, quality and reach. Led by sector expertise, the new Capacitybuilders agency manages ChangeUp.Investment is made at national, regional, sub-regional and local levels, with the bulk of investment (65%) going through the regions to support sub-regional and local initiatives benefiting organisations on the ground.

   
  

• Coalfields Regeneration Trust is a key agency promoting and achieving social and economic regeneration in the coalfields of England, Scotland and Wales.  They run two grant programmes:  Bridging the Gap - for requests between £500 - £10,000 and Main grants - for requests between £10,000 and £300,000
  These funding programmes will both run for three years from April 2008 to March 2011.
  
  
• Comic Relief "Sport for Change"
  Comic Relief's "Sport for Change" programme opened on the 14th November 2010. The maximum grant size is £100,000 in total.

   The deadlines for submitting an initial letter of interest are: the 21^st May 2011

  
  
• Community Amateur Sports Clubs can assist which providing tax breaks for clubs. To be eligible the club must be properly constituted as a not-for-profit organisation, with no provision for payment to members during the life of the club or upon dissolution. It can be either unincorporated (ie an association of members with unlimited liability) or incorporated as a company limited by guarantee (not shares). Proprietary and private members clubs would not be eligible.
  
  
• Community Dividend. The co-operative's Community Dividend fund has already raised millions of pounds for all kinds of community projects. Since 1998, our members have donated £6.4 million to more than 5,000 local groups. You can get involved in this worthwhile cause simply by becoming a member and choosing to donate the odd pence from your 'share of our profits' to the Community Dividend.
  
  
• Community Foundations are charitable trusts that support local community causes. Their role is to manage donor funds and build endowment as well as make grants to charities and community groups, linking local donors with local needs. Created by and for local people they help donors express their long-term interest in an area and its needs. Community foundations have been active in the UK since the 1980s and a rapidly growing network of approximately 60 foundations is now established across the country. About 90% of the UK population has access to a community foundation.
  
  
• Community Spaces is a £50m grants programme that provides funding to community groups across England to improve or create green open spaces. The programme is funded through the Big Lottery Fund's Changing Spaces initiative and is managed by Groundwork UK. Although the majority of Community Spaces funding will go towards small and medium sized grants (under £350,000), the programme is also offering a limited number of large and flagship grants of up to £450,000. Grants of between £50,000 - £450,000 are only open for one round of application; deadlines have been set for January 2009 and are now fast approaching. If you are aware of a community group in your area that would benefit from a large or flagship sized grant and are able to get freehold or leasehold ownership of the land on which they want to carry out a project - then please encourage them to apply. To ensure applicants have sufficient time to put together an application before the deadline it is important that community groups begin to develop their applications as soon as possible.
  
  
• Department for Culture, Media & Sport DCMS website has a number of links around its development and support of 'better sport', 'more sport' and its Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS). Together with their sponsored bodies, they have launched and supported a number of high profile projects and initiatives to achieve their aims of access to sport at all levels. They invest in school sport and community facilities, as well as at elite level. They aim to ensure that everyone has the chance to take part, while focusing on special support for world-class sportspeople.
  
  

• Dickie Bird Foundation

  A new foundation which has the vision of assisting young people under 18 years of age to participate, to the best of their ability, in the sport of their choice, irrespective of their social circumstances, culture or ethnicity.  Funds individuals not groups.
  Grants are likely to range from £500 to £5,000.
  Further details from: www.thedickiebirdfoundation.org or Tel: 07759 767 489.
  
  

• easyfundingraising
  easyfundraising is a shopping directory listing some of your favourite online stores including Argos, Next, Amazon, Debenham, John Lewis, Toys R Us, HMV, and over 600 other top name stores.  Whenever you shop with any one of them using the links provided on the easyfundraising site, you'll generate a free donation for NAYBC of up to 15% off the purchase price every time!
  It really is that simple! It doesn't cost a penny more to shop and raise funds in this way. In fact you can even SAVE MONEY as may retailers give exclusive discounts, special offers and even 'e-vouchers' when you shop through the easyfundraising site.
  All you need to do is register for free at http://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/naybc and use easyfundraising every time you shop online.
  
  

• Football Foundation is a unique partnership funded by The F.A. Premier League, The FA and the Government. The Foundation is the UK's largest sports charity. With grants ranging from £100 to £1m, the Foundation can help with all your needs, whether it is a new changing room, community project, floodlights, pitch drainage or a football kit for your junior team. Clubs other than football can apply if they are linked with or affiliated to a football club.
  
  Football Foundation Grants
  
  Capital Projects Scheme funds applications with a 50% target level of grant support. The appropriate level for each individual project will be decided on the merits of the case but normally the applicant is required to provide matching contributions; in exceptional cases higher levels of support, up to a ceiling of 90% will be available. Funding is available to refurbish or construct changing rooms, grass and artificial pitches and clubhouses for community benefit across the country. The Foundation has a fast track system for schemes of under £20,000. Additional funding is available for maintenance equipment, specialist ground staff, coaching schemes or project co-ordinators. This funding is only available when linked to capital applications.
  
  Goalpost Safety Scheme provides funding for the replacement of unsafe goalposts that have been responsible for causing the death and injury of dozens of children. The Foundation will assist in the funding of 50% towards the cost of a pair of goals up to a ceiling of £1,500. Research conducted found that 42 per cent of mini-soccer goals, 50 per cent of five-a-side goals and 22 per cent of junior goals failed stability tests. The Goalpost Safety Scheme aims to replace goals, which fail to meet the British Standards safety requirements. Tel: 0845 345 4555 ext 4268
  
  Community and Education Scheme funds a maximum of £250,000 over five years, to increase participation and volunteering in sport and to encourage the adoption of healthy lifestyles by creating opportunities for all. Priority areas for community and education funding are disability projects, ethnic minority communities, young people, social inclusion and education.The maximum level of funding is 90% of project costs, but applicants are encouraged to secure as much partnership funding as possible. Tel: 0845 345 4555 ext 4285
  Community and Education Small Grants Scheme provides funding of up to £9,000 for projects with a cost of £10,000 or less. Funding is available for the introduction of new activity, which aims to increase participation and provides training for volunteers to support grassroots football. Tel: 0845 345 4555 ext 4271/4291
  
  Junior Kit Scheme funds applications up to £400 in the form of a voucher. This is awarded to Under 18 teams and adults with disabilities to be used for the purchase of football kit and/or equipment. The voucher can be exchanged with our nominated kit and equipment supplier - Nike. Schools may only receive one grant every three years. Clubs may apply for two vouchers every three years, as long as one application is for a girls' team, and the other is for a boys' team. Tel: 0845 345 4555 ext 4284
  
  Barclays Spaces for Sports Scheme is an exciting partnership between Barclays, Groundwork and the Football Foundation, providing £30m over three years to create or improve sports facilities in communities across the UK. Tel: 0845 345 4555 ext 4284
  For further information contact:
  The Football Foundation,                                           
  30 Gloucester Place,
  London W1U 8FF
  Tel: 0845 345 4555
  Fax: 0845 345 7057
  Email: enquiries@footballfoundation.org.uk 
  

• Inclusive Fitness Initiative promotes and supports opportunities for people with disabilities to take part in physical activities.
  
  
• j4bGrants is a free database for community groups to search for funding for sports projects.
  
  
• Kellogg's Active Living Fund will give small grants to fund projects and activities that directly lead to people taking part in sustained physical activity. The aim of the fund is to help remove the "barriers" which stop people being active.
  
  
• Lloyds TSB Foundation aims to support and work in partnership with charitable organisations which help people, especially those who are disadvantaged or disabled, to play a fuller role in communities throughout England and Wales. They are particularly keen to support small community-based charities where small amounts of money can make a significant difference to local people's lives.
  
  
• Lottery Funding  is a joint website which provides details of all the lottery funders in the UK and guidance on how to put together applications.
  
  
• O2 Its your Community offer grants of up to £1000 for ANY project that can show it is of benefit to the community! From a sports club's point of view this could cover, equipment or coaching costs for a new school-club link initiative, setting up a new age section or even putting a club coach on their next course! Your project could be successful if it will... 1) Bring together and benefit your community, 2) Have long lasting effects - that will keep going once the money has been spent, 3) Have real, tangible results that you can see and 4) Demonstrate fresh, bold thinking, which is innovative enough to inspire others. For more information please visit www.itsyourcommunity.co.uk and download the application pack. Funding is paid out to successful applicants every month so you will find out if your project has been successful in just 28 days - very rare in the funding world! This funding stream offers a great opportunity for sports clubs to get some help and as they are very open minded about what they fund you have a real chance of being successful.
  
  
• Reaching Communities During 2009 -2010 BIG Lottery Fund's Reaching Communities programme will remain open to applications. This is designed to act as a 'bridge' between our current funding programmes and our new Open Funding stream which will go live in 2010. The budget for Reaching Communities is £80 million, an increase of £20 million on the budget for 2009 - 2010.  Reaching Communities funds projects that help people and communities who are most in need, and can really make a difference. Projects can be new or existing activities, or be the core work of your organisation.

  We want to fund projects that respond to needs identified by communities, and those that fund projects that help those most in need including those people or groups who are hard to reach.
  
  

• Reciproc8™ are a recycling company that focuses upon the recycling of mobile phones, inkjet cartridges and toners. Through the schemes sports clubs, schools and community projects can gain FREE products and experiences for Sport, Education and Growing & Conservation.
  The range of rewards and further information on the schemes is available at www.reciproc8.co.uk or call 0845 194 8288. Setting up a scheme is easy, it's done on-line and only takes a couple of minutes. 
  They manage recycling schemes with sports clubs, education organisations, community projects and businesses throughout the UK. They seek to base their working associations upon the ethos of reciprocation with the relationships being mutually beneficial.
  At the heart of the schemes is the Reciproc8™ Rewards program that enables you to gain great benefits whilst having a positive impact environmentally. You gain Reciproc8™ Points for goods that you collect for recycling. You can then redeem these Reciproc8™ Points against the range of products and experiences in the Reciproc8™ Rewards program. You can also convert them into a monetary value or even a charitable donation. Businesses can support clubs, schools and projects by donating their points to the organisation of their choice.
  
  

• Sainsbury's Active Kids
  This year, Sainsbury's Active Kids is giving Clubmark accredited clubs the opportunity to take part in, and benefit from the Active Kids scheme. With 100s of pieces of equipment, resources and experiences on offer - from traditional sports equipment to more novel and cutting edge items - there's so much that your young club members could benefit from.
  From 17th February to 8th June 2010, Sainsbury's shoppers can earn Active Kids vouchers for every £10 they spend in a main store (or every £5 spent in Sainsbury's Locals), at Sainsbury's petrol stations or online at www.sainsburys.co.uk.

   These vouchers can be donated to your club for you to redeem for any of the products featured in the Active Kids 2010 catalogue. It's so easy to join in - register your club from 7th December 2009 by calling the Active Kids helpline on 0844 415 8440.

  
   

• Sports Aid helps young sports people all over the country when they're starting out. This is a critical time for young athletes and we can help them to advance to the next level. SportsAid can make the difference to sports people at a key time. SportsAid is also at the heart of the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS). This is a Government funded programme designed to bridge the gap in sport's talent development pathway, between junior representative sport and world-class levels, for our more talented 16-25 year-old sportspeople.
  
  
• Sporting Equals Funding - Funding information to support sports and physical activity projects for black and minority ethnic communities and much more - click here to download a copy.

• Stafford Groups Development Fund provides small start-up and expansion grants to newly-developing voluntary and community groups. The limited fund is given out in small one-off grants (max £500) to groups in the Stafford Borough area, to be used by those groups to start-up their activities and/or initially develop their services. Stafford District Voluntary Services hold and administer the fund thanks to Stafford's Local Delivery Board, and decisions on applications are taken by a Steering Group made up of representatives from Public and Voluntary organisations in Stafford Borough. SDVS have a 'key' role in assisting applicants to this fund. If you need help, please ask!
  
  
• Staffordshire County Council Young People's Sports Grant scheme aims to help young athletes achieve their 2012 Olympic dreams. Each year the scheme provides funding to support excellent young sportspeople who either live or go to school in Staffordshire. The money awarded is used to support the cost of training and participation in competitions, including expenses such as travel, equipment and accommodation. The closing date for Sports Grant applications is in February each year, with grants awarded in April. To find out more about the scheme, please visit http://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/leisure/2012/sportsgrant
  
  
• The Staffordshire Community Foundation provides help for clubs or community groups in Staffordshire. The foundation has over £350,000 to give away before the end of March 2009. The money is part of a three year long £130 million nationwide drive by the Government, to support thousands of groups and projects across the country, working to improve their local communities.
  If your community group is doing valuable work, but you're finding it hard to raise money for equipment, maintenance, or essentials that would help ensure the group's long-term existence, then we may be able to help. Grants are available up to a maximum of £5,000.
  
  
• Waitrose Community Matters
  Each month, Waitrose branches around the country will distribute £1,000 between three local projects, through its 'community matters' giving initiative. Through this scheme, Waitrose will allocate £1,000 a month to each of its 190 branches to distribute amongst three local community projects as chosen by its customers and employees. Staff and customers of Waitrose stores all around the country will be encouraged to nominate and vote for three local organisations/projects, including sports clubs, community groups or schools. To be considered for a donation, why not get in touch with your local Waitrose branch, www.waitrose.com/branches/index.aspx, and pick up a nomination form from the Customer Service Welcome Desk.

If you need any further guidance try your Local Authority, your sport's National Governing Body officer listed on our contacts page, or contact Naomi Bird at Sport Across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.

NEW!!

Can't find what you are looking for?

Sport Across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent can offer your club/organisation a new service by searching GRANTfinder to find specific funding providers for your project.

Simply download the SASSOT Grantfinder Project Search form, complete it with the details of the project you want funding for and return it back to Chris Turner, Club Development Manager on cturner@staffordbc.gov.uk

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