Aims/priorities: The funding supports community groups and grassroots sports organisations who are working within the most deprived areas of the UK and are making sport more accessible to women and girls, as well as engaging people from other under-represented groups including people with disabilities, from racially diverse communities and from the LGBTQ+ community.
Who can apply? Applications will be accepted from not-for-profit organisations including community groups, youth groups and traditional sports clubs.
To be eligible, applicants must:
- Deliver football, cricket, or tennis activities for women and girls – or are applying for funding to start.
- Operate in an area of high deprivation. The Government Indices of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) are used to establish eligibility and only organisations located in or supporting people from IMD areas 1-3 are eligible to apply.
Disability applications from groups that sit outside of IMD areas 1-3 will be considered as long as they groups offer activities for women and girls.
Grant amount: The following funding is available:
- Grants of £1,000 to help sustain and increase access to football, tennis, and cricket for women and girls (as well as engage people from other underrepresented groups, such as people with disabilities, those from racially diverse communities and those from the LGBTQ+ community). Only one £1,000 grant will be awarded per organisation. The grant can be split across football, tennis or cricket activities.
- Female Coaches for Girls Grants to support football, tennis, and cricket coaching courses to help increase the number of female coaches delivering sport to girls. Two coaching grants per club to cover the cost of, or a contribution towards, a Level 1 or equivalent introductory qualification and any additional safeguarding and first aid requirements for the chosen sport. This is to upskill up to two female coaches at the club or group.
- Level 1 coaching grants: Football - £160 grant; Tennis - £200 grant; Cricket - £200 grant
The Fund also offers:
- Exclusive match tickets, mascot places, and promotional opportunities.
- Access to advice and support and signposting to training and resource.
Application process: The Sported team will let groups know the outcome of their application or request additional information by the end of August 2025.
The FAQs, application guidance, and online application form can be found on the Sported website.
Groups who are not a Sported member or existing grantee will need to create an account to start their application.
Please note it is anticipated that the fund will be 'extremely popular' and thus applications may close earlier than the deadline. Groups should apply early to avoid disappointment.
Contact Sported for further information.
Deadline: Applications open on 22 April 2025 and close on 22 June 2025. The fund may close early if heavily over-subscribed.
Contact information: Email: barclays@sported.org.uk
Website: https://sported.org.uk/barclays-community-sport-fund/