Whether it’s the park you run through, the hall you do classes in or the pitch you play on, welcoming and accessible spaces have a big impact on a person’s experience – and likelihood of coming back.
From 30 January 2017, sports clubs and community organisations will be able to apply for investment from our Community Asset Fund – our new capital fund dedicated to enhancing the spaces in your local community that give people the opportunity to be active.
As well as traditional sports facilities where people enjoy physical activity, there are thousands of outdoor spaces up and down the country – like canal towpaths, woodlands and open spaces – all with great potential to be used and enjoyed as part of an active lifestyle.
We’re keen to hear from any sports club or community organisation with a great idea that will make a difference to the places where people play sport and get active.
You might already own or lease a facility in the local community, are considering taking over some grounds or a facility that has the potential to be used for sport and leisure. We’re keen to hear from all of you.
If you haven’t accessed funding before, it doesn’t matter. We want to invest in your great ideas.
We’ve produced a guide that outlines all the key information you need to know about our Community Asset Fund, including details on:
We’ve also produced an additional resource that you can use to help develop your project or idea. Developing your idea features advice and case studies that show how projects have successfully developed their idea and secured funding. We’ll add further information and guidance following feedback to our help line and after the submission of applications.
Our Community Asset Fund is an open, rolling programme and marks a change from the way we’ve previously done funding. There are no rounds and it’s not a ‘dash for cash’. The fund will remain open to applications throughout the year.
We want you to tell us about your organisation, the people you're working with and what you want to do
In the first instance, we just want you to tell us about your organisation, the people you are working with and what you want to do.
We’ll then be making regular decisions based on a project’s ability to deliver against one or more of the five outcomes set out in the Government’s strategy Sporting Future. We’ll also draw on the seven investment principles outlined in our strategy Towards an Active Nation to make a decision.
Grants will be available for all types of projects. you can request awards ranging from £1,000 to £150,000 depending on what your project’s needs. We will invest in projects, big or small, that support us on our bold and ambitious new direction.
Getting local partners onside to support your project through funding or finance before making an application will help make your case stronger. We have produced a range of guidance on other methods and sources of funding out there to help your project get underway.
Grimy changing rooms, broken toilets and leaky taps were the less-than-favourable attractions at the Finsbury Park athletics track in north London.
But a local community club recently ran a successful crowdfunding campaign to raise the funds needed to improve their facility.
The campaign to raise money for a feasibility study surpassed the lower target and went on to raise more than £9,000. The proposed changes will see new changing rooms and shower facilities, a gym area as well as a multi-purpose community room for meetings, classes and events.
