Funding sports projects

Funding can often be the most daunting aspect of initiating a sports project. Finding appropriate funding sources, preparing a successful application and providing evidence and research to support your proposal can require large amounts of time and resources.

Funding Sources

Homeless Link's Aiming High: Sport for All project has compiled a list of trusts, foundations and grants that would be suitable for sports projects involving homeless and socially excluded communities. You can download a list of regional and national opportunities as well as some grants search engines that may identify other possibilities for your project. This list should act as a starting point and you should always verify the priorities and application process are accurate and current.

• Funding Opportunities for Sports Initiatives

Homeless Link has also prepared funding lists and advice for day centres applying for grants and to the public sector that may assist with project costs.

• Homeless Link's Grants Funding page
• Homeless Link's Public Service Funding page

Application Advice

• Applying to a trust or foundation: Advice from the Association of Charitable Foundations.
  
• Writing a funding application: Guidance on writing successful funding applications.

Supporting Evidence for Sports Applications

Survey of Needs and Provision (SNAP): Provides a picture of the extent and nature of services for single homeless people and couples without dependent children in England, and the clients that use them.

Homeless Link's Facts and Figures: Homelessness is very difficult to accurately measure but some 'snapshot' and 'flow' figures can be found on this site.

Active People Survey: Sport England's ongoing study of participation in sport. This is the largest ever survey of sport and active recreation in Europe.

Active People Diagnostic Tool: Sport England's toolkit to identify national through to local trends in sports participation as well as trends by age, gender, ethnicity, disability, etc. A valuable and comprehensive starting point to a needs case in your application.

Local Outcomes Framework (sport): A guide to developing a local outcomes framework for sport that can demonstrate the benefit sport is having on an aspect of community. Templates and tools are also available for use.

Street Games have a variety of research and policy papers that can be used to support funding applications and also help build your case for sport in your service.

Further Information

If you would like further support or information about developing a sports project or securing funding, please get in touch with Homeless Link's Sports Development Officer.