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Get Funding

Most sports clubs need to raise extra funds from time to time, either through fundraising events or through funding applications to other organisations, for example Sport England.

This page describes the key things clubs and other organisations should consider when developing ideas for funding, and the main sources of funding for sport.

This is not an exhaustive list and funders can open, close or change their programmes at any time.  The Partnership tracks funding opportunities for sport and physical activity and publishes news weekly through the e-newsletter.  If you are not already signed up to this you can do so by completing the short form at the top right of this page.

Funding basics

Fundraising is about helping to create or maintain a viable and strong organisation which is able to sustain itself in the future.  There are many ways of doing this, for example:

• Developing a network of supporters
• Organising fundraising events
• Developing income generating schemes
• Applying for external funding including loans and grants.

In reality many clubs will pursue more than one of these avenues, and indeed a club that is proactive in raising funds from its own resources can often present a stronger application for a grant from an external funder.

Funding applications should be based on a clear plan for delivery.  It may help to consider the following questions before starting to look for funds:

• Does your club have an overall development plan or strategy which supports your project?  Is the club’s committee and membership behind the project?
• Do you have the supporting documentation need for an application ready and up to date?  Most funders will ask for:
  ·         Club constitution
  ·         Most recent accounts / recent bank statements
  ·         Annual report and business plan
  ·         Relevant policies – e.g. child welfare policy, equity policy
  ·         Copy of Lease (particularly for capital projects)
• Can you clearly define and describe your project on one sheet of A4 (or 250 words)?  Could someone completely unfamiliar with your organisation understand it?
• Is there evidence that the project is needed and wanted?  Sport England and other organisations have produced research and information that can inform projects.  Have you carried out any community consultation or spoken to key stakeholders or partners?
• Do you have clear targets in terms of how many people will benefit / number of sessions that will be delivered as a result of this project?  Are you able to monitor and report on this?
   

The above list is not exhaustive but shows the preparation needed to develop a funding application

Project Development support

If you would like help with any aspect of external funding or project development please contact one of the Business Development Managers:

Graham (Mac) Macpherson   
graham.macpherson@shropshire.gov.uk     
01743 255086 or 07582 003520

Alison Evans         
alison.j.evans@shropshire.gov.uk   
01743 255079 or 07582 003518 

Mac and Alison can help with the following:

• Advice on Sport England and other funders.
• Grantfinder searches for specific projects.
• Evidence of need, research and key facts on sport in Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin.
• General advice and guidance on developing sport and physical activity projects.
• Information about other support available, including key partners or organisations related to the project.

If your project is in Shropshire Council’s area we would also recommend that you get in touch with the Community Working team who can give support and advice.

Sources of funding for sport and physical activity

There are too many funds for sport and physical activity available to list all of them here, however below are some sources you may want to consider:

Sport England

Sport England gives grants to sport on behalf of the National Lottery.  It has a range of funds from their small grants scheme (up to £10,000) to larger capital and revenue project funds.

Sport England also runs the Sportsmatch grant scheme.

For more information on Sport England funds click here.

Energize has developed some hints and tips to follow when making a funding application to Sport England, including some tips on completing the on-line application form.  Please click here to download the hints and tips document. 

If you have any further questions about making funding applications to Sport England, please contact one of our Business Development Managers (details above).

National Lottery

Other National Lottery funds are also applicable to sport and physical activity projects, particularly those that can demonstrate a wider benefit, for example improved health, better services for communities or more opportunities for young people.

For more information on National Lottery funds click here.

Football Foundation

Football Foundation provides grants for a number of different things.  Below is a sample of their funds:

• Facilities scheme provides money to develop new or improve facilities for community benefit.
• Community large grant scheme aims to create opportunities and build communities by funding projects that use football and sport as a force for social change.
• Money via grow the game for small projects that aim to increase participation by both players and volunteers in grass roots football by supporting the costs associated with providing new activity.
• Goalpost safety scheme provides grants to replace unsafe goalposts.
• Junior kit scheme provides money for junior kit and equipment to under 18 teams and adults with disabilities.

For further information visit http://www.footballfoundation.org.uk/ or contact Shropshire FA's Development Officer on 01743 255094.

Comic Relief and Sport Relief

Gives grants to projects that help those in need, including older people and people with disabilities.

This fund is distributed by the Community Foundation for Shropshire and Telford.  For more information click here.

Local Joint Committees (LJCs) – Shropshire Council area only

There are 28 Local Joint Committees in Shropshire, covering the whole of the county.  Each committee meets four times a year and gives people a chance to meet with their local councillors and to raise issues of concern about services or problems within their communities.

Each LJC has funding to support community activities within their area. Details of the funds available are on the individual pages for each LJC.  Click here for more information and how to contact your local community working officer for details of how to apply for funding.

Rate Relief information for Sports Clubs in Shropshire

From the 1st April 2012, community amateur sports clubs (CASC) across Shropshire will be eligible for different levels of rate relief through Shropshire Council. Please refer to the table below for the different rate levels available depending on your clubs status / situation.

For further information please contact:
Ann Johnson – Shropshire Council Sports Development Manager ann.johnson@shropshire.gov.uk 01743 255087
Becky Evans – Shropshire Council Sports Development Officer becky.evans@shropshire.gov.uk  07582 003525

Community Amateur Sports Club Information

The Community Amateur Sports Club Scheme (CASC) was introduced in April 2002.. This has enabled many local amateur sports clubs to register with the HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) and benefit from a range of tax reliefs, including Gift Aid. Since 2004, registered Amateur Sports Clubs have also been entitled to the same mandatory rate relief as charities.

What kind of club can register as a CASC?

Sports clubs must be formally constituted so that the conditions of the scheme become binding on the members and their governing committees. This means that clubs wishing to apply for CASC status will need to look carefully at their constitutions to make sure these fit in with the CASC requirements before they apply to HMRC.

Your club can use any form of constitution such as a set of rules or a memorandum and articles of association but it must be formally adopted by the members to be acceptable.

The conditions for becoming a CASC are fairly easy to meet. Your club must fit in with these in practice as well as having these as requirements in the club rules. Your club must:

• be open to the whole community
• be organised on an amateur basis
• have as its main purpose providing facilities for, and promoting participation in one or more eligible sports
• meet the location requirement
• meet the management condition

Where your club has been operating for some time it is usually easy to show how it meets these conditions. Newly formed clubs might find it more difficult because you need evidence of how your club is operating before you can register it as a CASC.  Your national governing body of sport and/or Central Council of Physical Recreation  http://www.ccpr.org.uk will be able to advise on Clubmark Accreditation and whether becoming a CASC is suitable for your club. Also visit http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/casc/casc_guidance.htm#1 for more information on becoming a CASC.

Grassroots grants

Grassroots Grants is a £130 million programme funded by the Office of the Third Sector in the Cabinet Office and administered by the Community Development Foundation. Grassroots Grants aims to build stronger, more active communities through an £80 million small grants scheme and £50 million endowment match challenge.  Grants of between £250 - £5,000 are available to small grassroots community and voluntary groups.

Grassroots Grants are awarded by Telford & Wrekin CVS in Telford and by the Community Council in Shropshire.

Cash 4 Clubs (UK)

Sports club that are registered with their sport’s National Governing Body or local authority can apply for grants of up to £1,000 through the Cash 4 Clubs grants scheme.

Cash 4 Clubs is a sports funding scheme which gives clubs a chance to apply for grants to improve facilities, purchase new equipment, gain coaching qualifications, or generally invest in the sustainability of their club. There are three tiers of grants at £250, £500 and £1,000. Applications can be submitted at any time and grants are awarded on a quarterly basis. Go to the Cash 4 Clubs website for more information.

Free Sports Equipment, Coaching and Education Materials for Clubs and Schools through Recycling

Reciproc8™ are a recycling company that focuses upon the recycling of consumer electronic equipment, they manage recycling schemes with education organisations, sports clubs and community projects throughout the UK. Through the schemes the sports clubs, schools and community projects can gain free products and experiences including sports equipment and coaching sessions. 

The range of rewards and further information on the schemes is available at http://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 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 the consumer electronics 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 charitable donation or monetary value. 

The Reciproc8 Rewards™ program contains Experiences, Sporting Products, Educational Materials and products for Conservation Projects. 

Keep Recycling and Keep Redeeming!