Sport & Physical Activity Grants & Funding
There are 172 UK funders offering grants for sport & physical activity charities, with typical awards from £100 to £500,000.
Sport and physical activity grants support charities and community organisations using sport as a tool for positive change. Funding comes from dedicated sports bodies — Sport England, sportscotland, Sport Wales, and Sport Northern Ireland — as well as from trusts, foundations, and corporate funders. Projects range from grassroots participation programmes and facility improvements to elite athlete development and sport-for-development initiatives. Many funders in this space focus on using sport to achieve broader social outcomes: reducing youth crime, improving mental health, building community cohesion, and tackling health inequalities. Women's and girls' participation, disability sport, and engaging inactive populations are current priorities. Capital grants are available for facilities — pitches, courts, equipment, and changing rooms — from several dedicated programmes. The emphasis across the sector is on sustainability, inclusion, and reaching those who face the greatest barriers to participation. Community sports clubs, coaching programmes, and outdoor activity projects all attract strong funding support.
Quick Stats
- Total Funders
- 172
- Grant Range
- £100 - £500,000
- Open to Applications
- 62%
Sport & Physical Activity Funders
172 funders foundA J Bell Trust
The A J Bell Trust, established in 2011 by Andy Bell, founder and CEO of AJ Bell plc, is a UK registered charity dedicated to supporting disadvantaged...
A Smile for a Child
OpenA Smile for a Child is a UK-based charitable grant-maker dedicated to improving the lives of disabled and disadvantaged children and young people by r...
Abstract Foundation
The Abstract Foundation is a UK-registered charitable incorporated organisation established in October 2021, chaired by trustee Mark Lewis Glatman alo...
Active Essex Foundation
OpenActive Essex Foundation is an independent charity established in 2016 to tackle health and social inequalities in Essex, Southend, and Thurrock throug...
Active Travel England
OpenActive Travel England champions walking, wheeling, and cycling as the preferred everyday travel modes in England, rooted in values of inclusivity, inn...
Alan Boswell Group Charitable Trust
OpenThe Alan Boswell Group Charitable Trust, established in May 2019 by the Norwich-based independent insurance broker and risk management group, channels...
Alfred Dunhill Links Foundation
OpenThe Alfred Dunhill Links Foundation, established in June 2011 as the official charity arm of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship golf tournament, ch...
Army Rugby Union Trust
OpenThe Army Rugby Union Trust (ARU Trust), founded in 1906 and formally incorporated as a charity, is the principal charitable body dedicated to promotin...
Arsenal Foundation
The Arsenal Foundation, established in 2012 as the charitable arm of Arsenal Football Club, harnesses the club's global reach and local presence in No...
ASCB Charitable Fund
The ASCB Charitable Fund (charity number 1123854), established in 2009 through the transfer of assets from the earlier ASCB Trust Fund, is the British...
Astor Foundation
The Astor Foundation, a UK-based grant-making charity established in 1964 by the Astor family, advances medical research in its broadest sense while s...
Barbara and Derek Calrow Charitable Foundation
The Barbara and Derek Calrow Charitable Foundation, a grant-making charitable incorporated organisation established in June 2018 by philanthropists Ro...
Barbarians Rugby Charitable Trust
OpenThe Barbarians Rugby Charitable Trust, established in 2004 by the iconic Barbarian F.C., channels rugby's values of teamwork, inclusion, leadership, a...
Barnet Recreational Trust
The Barnet Recreational Trust, established on 21 December 1982 as a grant-making charitable trust, focuses exclusively on delivering public benefit wi...
Bathgate Charitable Trust
Bathgate Charitable Trust, established by trust deed on 1 June 1979, is a longstanding regional funder dedicated to enabling UK charities in Merseysid...
Betty Riseley Trust for Children
OpenThe Betty Riseley Trust for Children embodies compassion, community spirit, and inclusivity to enrich lives of children and young people under 18 in S...
Beyond Sport Foundation
OpenBeyond Sport Foundation, established in 2008 as a UK-headquartered international charity, harnesses the power of sport to drive positive social change...
Billmeir Charitable Trust
The Billmeir Charitable Trust, an unincorporated UK charity established in 1956 by shipping magnate Jack Billmeir, upholds his philanthropic legacy th...
Birmingham International Airport Community Trust Fund
OpenBirmingham International Airport Community Trust Fund partners with local authorities and community representatives to mitigate social, environmental,...
Bluespark Foundation
OpenBlueSpark Foundation, a registered UK charity established in 2016, supports the education and holistic development of children and young people aged 5...
Boris Karloff Charitable Foundation
OpenThe Boris Karloff Charitable Foundation, established in 1985 by Evelyn Karloff in memory of the iconic actor Boris Karloff, is a UK grant-making trust...
Bransford Trust
OpenThe Bransford Trust, an independent grant-making charity established in 2004 by the Kinnear family—led by Colin Kinnear OBE—focuses on advancing educa...
Brian Leslie Racher 2004 Charitable Trust
OpenThe Brian Leslie Racher 2004 Charitable Trust promotes diverse charitable purposes enhancing community welfare for local residents, embodying values o...
Bridge House Trust - Non-Ecclesiastical
OpenBridge House Trust - Non-Ecclesiastical, also known as Barker Bridge House Trust - Non-Ecclesiastical Branch, is a historic local charity registered i...
Broughton Community and Sports Association
OpenBroughton Community and Sports Association (BCSA) is a community-led grantmaker dedicated to advancing wellbeing, physical activity, and social cohesi...
Bruce Wake Charity
OpenBruce Wake Charity, founded and endowed in 1992 by Bruce Wake—a wheelchair user with motor neurone disease—exists to relieve and assist disabled peopl...
Buffini Chao Foundation
The Buffini Chao Foundation, established in 2005 as a family philanthropic vehicle by Sir Damon Buffini and Lady Debbie Buffini, is a UK-registered ch...
Castle Cavendish Foundation
OpenCastle Cavendish Foundation is a Nottingham-based registered charity and social impact company, established over 15 years ago, dedicated to enhancing ...
Chance to Shine Foundation Ltd
Chance to Shine Foundation Ltd, a UK-based charity established in 2005 from the Cricket Foundation (founded 1981), is dedicated to providing all young...
Charities of Thomas Wade and Others
OpenCharities of Thomas Wade and Others, known as Wade's Charity, is a historic Leeds-based grant-making trust established in 1530 by Thomas Wade during H...
Chess Trust
OpenThe Chess Trust, a UK-registered charity established in 2015 with initial funding from a major bequest by Richard Haddrell and input from the English ...
Clover Trust
The Clover Trust is a longstanding grant-making charity registered in England and Wales (charity number 213578), established by a declaration of trust...
Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation 2014
OpenCoal Industry Social Welfare Organisation 2014 serves as trustee for CISWO, a national charity dedicated to advancing health, relieving poverty and ha...
Coalfields Regeneration Trust
OpenCoalfields Regeneration Trust, established to regenerate former coalfield communities ravaged by mine closures, drives social justice, community wealt...
Colonel W H Whitbread Charitable Trust
The Colonel W H Whitbread Charitable Trust is a longstanding UK charitable trust honoring its namesake's philanthropic legacy, with a core mission to ...
Congleton Inclosure Trust
OpenCongleton Inclosure Trust, established in 1795 by Act of Parliament through the enclosure of local wastelands, is a longstanding charitable trust dedi...
Conway Charitable Foundation
The Conway Charitable Foundation, established in 2013 as a UK-registered grant-making charity (Charity Commission no. 1151838), supports a broad spect...
Coram's Fields Sports and Recreation
Coram's Fields Sports and Recreation, a Charitable Incorporated Organisation established in May 2021, builds on nearly a century of the historic Coram...
Corton Hill Trust
OpenThe Corton Hill Trust is an independent grant-making charity established in December 2019, dedicated to advancing general charitable purposes by enhan...
CSDS Foundation
OpenThe CSDS Foundation is a grant-making charity established in 2016 by North London residents, including its current trustees, to support amateur sports...
Cubc Rowing Charitable Fund
The CUBC Rowing Charitable Fund, established in March 2021 and registered as a UK charity in July 2021, is dedicated to advancing the amateur sport of...
Cymdeithas Elusennol Ynys Mon
OpenCymdeithas Elusennol Ynys Môn is an independent, community-led charitable foundation established in 2017 as the successor to the Isle of Anglesey Char...
Dan Maskell Tennis Trust
OpenThe Dan Maskell Tennis Trust, established in 1997 and named after the legendary 'Voice of Wimbledon' Dan Maskell, is a UK charity dedicated to advanci...
Denise Coates Foundation
OpenThe Denise Coates Foundation, established in 2012 by Denise Coates CBE, founder of bet365, is a major UK philanthropic trust dedicated to driving sign...
Department for Culture, Media & Sport
OpenThe Department for Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS), a UK government ministerial department established in 1997, champions economic growth, social cohesi...
Douglas Bader Foundation
OpenThe Douglas Bader Foundation embodies the resilience and determination of Sir Douglas Bader, championing the physical, mental, and spiritual welfare o...
Dragon Christmas Charity Sale
The Dragon Christmas Charity Sale is a longstanding annual fundraising event tied to Oxford's Dragon School, dating back to at least 1944 and formally...
Dreamchasing
Dreamchasing is a UK-registered grant-making charity established on 26 January 2007, chaired by Sir Ronald Dennis CBE with trustees including Francesc...
Duke of Northumberland's Charity
OpenThe Duke of Northumberland's Charity, registered under number 278584 and overseen by the Duke of Northumberland, is an estate-rooted philanthropic tru...
Elsie Davis Trust
The Elsie Davis Trust is a grant-making charity registered in England and Wales (number 1193055), established in 2020 with a significant endowment fro...
Showing 50 of 172 sport & physical activity funders
Tips for Applying to Sport & Physical Activity Funders
Align your application with Sport England's Uniting the Movement framework, which prioritises connecting communities, positive experiences for children, active environments, and tackling health inequalities through movement. Reference Active Lives Survey data to demonstrate participation levels and inactivity rates in your target community, showing the specific gap your project addresses. Focus your application on engaging inactive populations rather than serving those who already participate in sport — funders in this space are shifting resources toward the people who face the greatest barriers to being active. Describe your behaviour change approach, referencing models such as COM-B or the transtheoretical model to show that your programme is designed around how people actually change habits rather than assuming that providing activities is sufficient. Address safeguarding in sport explicitly, detailing your policies, training, and culture around protecting participants, particularly children and vulnerable adults. Present sustainability plans that show how participation will continue beyond the funded period — through volunteer coaching capacity, club development, or integration with existing community sport infrastructure. Strong applications demonstrate that your project creates lasting behavioural change rather than short-term participation spikes, and show how you will measure physical activity levels alongside broader social outcomes.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Sport & Physical Activity Grants
What grants are available for sport & physical activity charities in the UK?
There are 172+ UK funders offering grants for sport & physical activity charities. These range from small community grants under £5,000 to large multi-year funding programmes exceeding £100,000. Use Fundermatcher to find the best match for your organisation.
How much funding can sport & physical activity organisations get?
Grant amounts for sport & physical activity charities vary widely depending on the funder and project. Typical grants range from £1,000 to over £100,000. Many funders offer multi-year funding for established organisations with a strong track record.
How do I apply for sport & physical activity grants?
Start by identifying funders whose priorities align with your sport & physical activity work. Fundermatcher matches your charity's profile against 172+ funders to find the best fit. Our AI assistant can then help you draft compelling grant applications.
How to Find the Right Sport & Physical Activity Funders
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