Sports grants and funding

The guidelines below are intended as a starting point for all clubs, coaches, volunteers, sports leaders and others who are seeking funding for sport.

We hope that the information will help you find out who you can approach for funding and highlight some basics you should think about before and during your application.

Before you get started

These are some typical areas you should think about before putting pen to paper.

Background

• What sort of organisation you are (legal status, date established, size and structure)
• Your organisation's general aims and objectives
• Details of any affiliations to other organisations

Project

• An outline of the proposed project
• Its specific aims and objectives
• How the project is to be organised and by whom
• Where the project is to take place
• What problems you anticipate in setting up and operating the project
• When it will start and how long it will take

Benefits

• What the anticipated results of the work will be
• Number and age group of beneficiaries
• How you will attract and involve the people you aim to benefit

Evaluation

• How you will know whether the project has succeeded
• The measurable specific objectives
• How you will publicise the outcome of the project to other interested parties

Finance

• Detailed itemised costs of the project, indicating the funding you are requesting. Remember to include salaries, consultation fees, office administration (phone calls, postage, heating bills), rent, travel costs, food, equipment, advertising costs etc.
• When the funds are required
• Which other funders you have approached and with what success
• Do you have to prove that you have a certain amount of funding already?
• You will be able to fund the project within the timescale
• If you will need funding beyond the period of the grant, where it is to come from
• If you are not registered for VAT or the project cannot be VAT exempt you may have to include VAT into the budget

Attachments

You may to have to include the following:

• your most recent set of annual accounts
• your annual report

Researching the funders

• Are you eligible? There is no point in applying for a grant if you do not fulfil their criteria.
• Can you call them to discuss your idea? If you can, make use of this opportunity.
• Which other organisations have been successful in their applications? Can you speak to any contacts there?
• Have you already received funding, do they have rules against funding the same body twice?
• Not all sources of funding are directly related to sport, some are linked to regeneration/community development, whilst others are linked to health and education, try to think laterally.
• Use your contacts, there will be lots you can find out on the grapevine.

Please see our sports funding bodies page for information on local funding bodies.

Preparing your application form

Follow the instructions extremely carefully, including:

• What is the deadline
• What font size and type to use
• How many copies of the form you must provide
• If they stipulate do not change formatting or margins
• Can it be emailed or does it have to be sent by post
• Stick to any word counts they have given

Before you send off your form

• Give yourself time. When you re-read your form after a day or two you will look at it with fresh eyes and see more easily where you can make improvements.
• Check the spelling and grammar.
• Ask someone else to read it, to check spelling and grammar, and whether it makes sense.
• Take a copy for yourself.
• Make sure you have completed all necessary sections and attached any additional information they have requested.

Afterwards

• If you are successful, ensure you fulfil all that the funder requests. If you approach the funder again in the future, the way in which you deal with this project will affect your chances for further funding.
• If you are not successful always request feedback. The organisation may be able to give you pointers as to how you can improve for next time.

Contact us

For more information please contact us:

Sports and Recreation Unit
4th Floor, Blue Star House
234-244 Stockwell Road
London
SW9 9SP

Tel: 020 7926 0442

Email: sports@lambeth.gov.uk