March 2026 - Funding News

Background

The Barclays Community Sport Fund, delivered in partnership with Sported, aims to reduce inequalities in sport – with a focus on football, tennis, and cricket.

The three year funding programme, running from April 2025 to December 2027, will provide £1.4 million each year.

Objectives of Fund

The funding supports community groups and grassroots sports organisations who are working within the most deprived and/or rural 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.

Two funding streams are available:

• Access Grants to support the delivery of football, tennis or cricket activities for women and girls.
• Female Coaches for Girls Grant to cover the cost of a Level 1 or equivalent qualification for the sport.

Value Notes

The annual fund value is £1.4 million for over three years.

The programme offers:

• Access 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.

Who Can Apply

Applications will be accepted from charities, 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 outside of IMD areas 1-3 will be considered as long as they groups offer activities for women and girls. Additionally, applications are also considered from groups engaging women and girls facing challenges of rural isolation that are not living in deprived areas.

The female coaches to be supported must:

• Be aged over 16 years old (or over 18 depending on specific course eligibility).
• Already be coaching girls (or would like to start).
• Be part of a club or group with girls’ provision where they would like to begin or continue coaching (e.g. current player, parent of a player, volunteer etc).
• Undertake their coaching qualification within 12 months (subject to course availability).

Applications from female coaches from diverse backgrounds and with lived experience are encouraged to apply, to help ensure the programme reflects the communities it serves.

Restrictions

The following are not eligible for funding:

• Trips abroad.
• Costs associated with elite football or talent development.
• Talent development.
• Schools and other educational institutions. (Charities that support schools may be considered if they are inclusive of young people from the wider community and not just pupils from that school.)
• School curriculum-based activities.

Eligible Expenditure

The funding is unrestricted and can be used for anything that will support delivery of football, cricket, or tennis activities for women and girls.

Typical examples of costs might include a contribution towards:

• Venue hire including floodlights and heating.
• Coaching costs
• Volunteer expenses
• Equipment
• Kit
• Marketing and communications
• Training and qualifications
• Insurances and affiliation.

Ideally the funding should be spent within a six month period.

Location

UK

How To Apply

The following rounds are available in 2026:

• Access Grant: opens 25 March (09:00) and closes 27 May (17:00).
• Female Coaches for Girls Fund: opens 8 July (09:00) to 4 December (17:00).

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 that applications may close early if funds are depleted. Groups should apply early to avoid disappointment.

Contact Sported for further information.

Documents & links

• Barclays Community Sport Fund(External link)

Contacts

For further information on how to obtain this fund, please contact the following:

1. Sported Team
   Sported Foundation
   House of Sport (4th Floor)
   190 Great Dover Street
   London
   SE1 4YB
   Tel: 0203 848 4670
   Email: barclays@sported.org.uk(External link)

Background

The Community Care Fund is provided by Caremark.

Objectives of Fund

Small grants are available to support grassroots community projects that improve quality of life and strengthen local communities. The fund supports practical, community-led initiatives, such as improving shared spaces, providing equipment, or enhancing local services, with a focus on delivering meaningful and lasting impact.

Value Notes

Grants of £3,000 are available.

Who Can Apply

The competition is open to UK-based community groups, charities, not-for-profit organisations, schools, pre-schools, and community or local authority-run projects.

Applicants must be UK residents aged 18 or over and may apply on behalf of an eligible community project.

Eligible Expenditure

Funding supports a wide range of community-focused projects, including:

• Equipment for inclusive sports or activity groups.
• Revamping a village hall or community centre.
• Supplies for a community garden or green space.
• Equipment for food banks, community larders or support services.
• Brightening up a charity or community group's space.
• New equipment for a pre-school or playground.

Location

United Kingdom

How To Apply

Applications must be submitted by the deadline of 31 May 2026 (23:59).

Twelve projects will be shortlisted - one from every UK region - and will then go head-to-head in a public vote. The three projects receiving the most votes will each win a grant.

Further information and the online application are available from the Caremark website.

Documents & links

• Caremark Community Care Fund(External link)

Contacts

For further information on how to obtain this fund, please contact the following:

1. Enquiries
   Caremark
   Yeoman Gate
   Yeoman Way
   Worthing
   West Sussex
   BN13 3QZ
   Tel: 01903 266392
   Email: caremark@pmwcom.co.uk(External link)

Background

Help The Homeless was founded in 1975 and, shortly thereafter, launched its first National Appeal chaired by Sir Robert Mark (the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police at the time), which raised an initial capital sum. Together with further donations and legacies, this capital has been managed and invested to produce income which is distributed in the form of grants.

Objectives of Fund

Help the Homeless is a small grant maker with limited funds available for giving.

It provides funding for charitable organisations with the aim of helping homeless people return to the community and enabling them to rebuild their lives.

Funding is targeted at projects to find practical ways to help disadvantaged individuals return to the community through training or residential facility provision, rather than merely providing short term shelter.

The reasons for being homeless vary enormously, but may include ill-health, those who are discharged offenders, addictions, family breakdown or other adverse circumstances. Homelessness is not just about the people that the public sees and thinks about – principally “rough sleepers” living on the streets – but a whole range of people who lack a stable home.

Value Notes

Grants of up to £5,000 are available.

Match Funding Restrictions

Match funding is not required.

Who Can Apply

UK registered charities can apply. Charities must be registered with the Charity Commission in England and Wales or Northern Ireland or with the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator.

This fund is aimed at supporting small and medium-sized registered charities with an annual turnover of under £500,000 who are working wholly or mostly with homeless people.

Previous Success

Previously awarded projects include:

• The charity HealthBus Trust which provides accessible and appropriate healthcare to people experiencing homelessness in Bournemouth and the surrounding areas received a grant to help with the purchase of specialist medical equipment.
• The charity Dover Outreach Centre received a grant to help with the refurbishment of move-on accommodation in central Dover which they run as part of their work to get homeless people off the streets and into stable accommodation.
• The Greater Manchester charity, Back on Track received a grant for upgraded café furniture for their learning centre which offers a range of support and learning opportunities for homeless and other vulnerable adults to make positive changes in their lives.

Restrictions

The following are not eligible for funding:

• Individuals.
• Running/core costs or salaries.
• Computers.
• IT equipment.
• Multi-year requests for funding.
• General community work.
• Foodbanks or projects that are not focussed on homelessness.

Eligible Expenditure

The funding is for capital projects.

Projects must assist individuals in their return to mainstream society, rather than simply offering shelter or other forms of sustenance.

Applicants requiring funding for building work and refurbishment are advised to contact CRASH(External link), the construction industry's charity for homeless people for advice.

Location

United Kingdom

How To Apply

Applications are considered quarterly. The deadlines each year are 5pm on: 20 March, 20 June, 20 September and 20 December.

Notification of decision is usually within eight weeks of the deadline.

The online application form can be found on the Help the Homeless website. Applications will no longer be accepted by email or by post.

There should be a minimum period of two years between the receipt of a grant and a further application.

Contact Help the Homeless via their online contact form for further information.

Documents & links

• Help the Homeless(External link)
• Help the Homeless - Grants(External link)

Contacts

For further information on how to obtain this fund, please contact the following:

1. Help the Homeless
   42 Roman Way
   Southwick
   Brighton
   BN42 4TN

Background

The Big Bike Revival Grants Programme is provided by Active Travel England and the UK Government and administered by Cycling UK, a national organisation dedicated to supporting cyclists and supporting bike use.

Objectives of Fund

This fund aims to achieve the following objectives:

• Encourage adults who don't cycle to cycle.
• Encourage adults to cycle more often.
• Increase short cycling trips.
• Improve the perception of cycle safety.
• Improve adults confidence to cycle.

The programme supports people returning to cycling, starting as complete beginners, and other people who do not cycle regularly. This includes reaching new people, including groups who are underrepresented in cycling or face challenges and perceived barriers to cycling, such as:

• Women.
• People on low incomes.
• People who identify as belonging to an ethnic minority group.
• People not in work.
• People who do not meet physical activity guidelines.
• People with perceived barriers to cycling.

Value Notes

Grants of up to £3,500 are available.

For Grants of £2,000, partners should be able to deliver at least six events.

For Grants of £3,500, partners should be able to deliver at least ten events.

Who Can Apply

Voluntary and not-for-profit organisations that are rooted in local communities and working to tackle a range of needs and challenges can apply, such as:

• Cycling UK-affiliated Community Cycle Clubs.
• Cycling UK affiliated groups.
• Bicycle recycling centres.
• Not for Profit organisations (ie registered charities, social enterprises, community interest companies, voluntary led groups).
• Training organisations.
• Mobile mechanics.
• Local authorities.
• Independent bike shops with a community interest (not franchises or chains).

Applicants must provide an organisational or business bank account.

Organisations that are providing cycling activities regularly as their main activities or as a primary income must have a public liability insurance policy and must be able to provide Cycling UK with a valid copy of the policy when requested.

Restrictions

The following are not eligible for funding:

• Events for children only.
• Sustaining regular activities that occur as part of a consistent allotted time.
• Social activities and entertainment.
• Events that focus soley on leisure cycling.
• Large or mass participation events.
• Motorised travel.

Eligible Expenditure

The fund will support events and activities that use the ‘fix-learn-ride’ model to provide sessions on fixing unused or broken bikes, learning sessions such as maintenance workshops or cycle training/upskilling, or offering low milage-led rides on local routes to build up the confidence of participants.

Funding can be used for:

• Staff costs, including paying for qualified professionals, bike mechanics, skilled ride leaders, or trained cycle instructors.
• Volunteer transport and refreshments.
• Equipment purchases, including items like tools, cycles, locks, helmets, high-viz jackets, and pumps. However, this cannot include fixed investments or infrastructure costs.
• Equipment hire, such as cyles, helmets, or obstacle items like cones.
• Consumables, including brake pads, inner tubes, cables, lubricant, or small parts.
• Venue or location hire fees. However this cannot include rent or utility bills.
• Participant incentives, such as puncture repair kits, local maps etc.
• Participant refreshments, such as tea, coffee, and soft drinks.
• Promotional costs, such as posters and social media posts. However, this should not exceed 10% of the total grant request.
• Transport, including the transportation of goods to and from event locations. However, this should not exceed 5% of the total grant request.
• Other costs, including costs associated with delivering events, such as PPE.

Funding is for activities delivered between 3 April 2026 and 30 October 2026.

Location

England.

How To Apply

The next deadline for applications is 1 June 2026.

Guidance notes and an online application form are available from the Cycling UK website.

Documents & links

• Cycling UK - Big Bike Revival Grants Programme(External link)

Contacts

For further information on how to obtain this fund, please contact the following:

1. Enquiries
   Cycling UK
   Parklands
   Railton Road
   Guildford
   Surrey
   GU2 9JX
   Email: bigbikerevival@cyclinguk.org