UK Sport

Could UK Sport fund your project? Check fit free. Draft if yes — or shortlist better matches.

Typical grants: From £2,000,000
Applications: Accepted
How to apply: Invitation only
Decisions: Once per year

Works for Registered charities, CIOs, CICs and community groups.

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uksport.gov.uk

About UK Sport

UK Sport is the nation's high-performance sports agency, established by Royal Charter and accountable to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. Its mission is to lead Olympic and Paralympic success, working through national governing bodies (NGBs) to support elite athletes and major events. The organisation funds performance pathways, coaching, sports science, medicine, and athlete welfare, with a focus on medal-winning potential at the highest level. UK Sport invests in Olympic and Paralympic sports across the UK, including England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. It operates a performance-based, outcomes-driven model, prioritising elite success through strategic partnerships.

What UK Sport funds

UK Sport funds Olympic and Paralympic sports across the UK. It supports national competition structures that are critical to the growth and health of national governing bodies and sports performance strategies. The organisation also invests in high-performance sport to enable extraordinary moments that enrich lives. Through its ChangeMakers programme, it enables athletes to lead projects that positively impact their local communities. Additionally, UK Sport funds performance pathways, coaching, sports science, medicine, and athlete welfare, all focused on medal-winning potential at the highest level. It also supports major event bids and delivery.

Who can apply

UK Sport supports registered charities and national governing bodies within the Olympic and Paralympic ecosystem. Elite athletes on World Class Programmes may also apply through the ChangeMakers fund. The organisation prioritises organisations and individuals with a focus on high-performance sport and medal-winning potential. Beneficiaries must be based in the UK, with reach considered across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. UK Sport does not fund grassroots, community, or school sport.

What UK Sport doesn't fund

UK Sport does not fund non-Olympic or non-Paralympic sports or disciplines. It also excludes grassroots, community, and school sport. Other exclusions include events already funded by UK Sport, international events that do not meet objectives, overhead costs of national governing bodies, and any work that has already taken place. Profit-making activity and projects located outside the United Kingdom are not supported.

How they like to fund

UK Sport operates a performance-based, outcomes-driven funding model. It provides multi-year investment through its World Class Programme and one-off grants through the ChangeMakers fund. The organisation works in strategic partnership with national governing bodies to deliver elite sport success. Unsolicited applications are accepted, and match funding is not required for some programmes.

How much does UK Sport give?

UK Sport runs 3 grant programmes. Every figure below is sourced from their published guidance.

Last verified 8 August 2026 · 23 sourced facts

ChangeMakers Fund – Try ItCurrently closed

Up to £500

Decisions in ~7 weeks
Single-year grants

National Events ProgrammeCurrently closed

Up to £50,000

Online application form

World Class Programme InvestmentBy invitation only

Multi-year funding

Those are the published figures. What your charity could realistically get — and whether you'd clear their rules on income, location and legal structure — is what the free fit check answers.

What UK Sport funds — and what they won't

Their stated priorities

to enable our athletes to lead projects that positively impact their local communities

They don't fund

Any work that has previously taken placeCosts that would contribute as a salary or contribution to the named athlete applicantFundraising activitiesActivity located outside of the United KingdomProfit making activityProjects that are unable to start and conclude within 12 months of the grant awardProvide funding support to events already funded by UK SportInternational events that do not meet the objectivesProvide funding support to overhead costs of NGBsAny event or event related support to Non Olympic or Paralympic sports or disciplinesCovid 19 testing and hygiene measure supportSocial enterprises