A guide to help the local sporting organisations in their search for funds

INTRODUCTION

This information guide is intended as a starting point for clubs/organisations and individuals seeking to obtain funding for sporting activities & projects.
Please note that potential sources of funding and the conditions of grant aid may change. For this reason this publication is set up to direct readers to various funding websites.
Organisations seeking funding to develop specific projects are also able to obtain support from the Leisure Trust.

GENERAL POINTERS

The most important source of funding for any sporting organisation is its membership, both in the form of regular fees and subscriptions and fundraising activities such as social events and raffles.
The revenue, which can be raised from these sources, is however often limited and can be restrictive to the organisations overall aims and growth. Due to this, external sources of funding have a key part to play in the development of many sporting organisations.

Obtaining funding from sources external to any organisation is a complex and often frustrating process, however approached in the correct manner, wasted effort can be minimised and prospects of receiving support greatly enhanced.

The points outlined below provide general hints, aimed at assisting you in strengthening your applications.

• Always read the entire application pack thoroughly before attempting to respond to any questions. It is essential that you are fully aware of what the objectives of the funder are in relation to the grant programme you are applying under.
• If possible find another organisation, which has successfully obtained funding from the funder to whom you intend to apply and speak to them about their experience of the process and ask if in hindsight they would have done anything differently.
• Make a photocopy of any application form and fill this in as a draft until you are happy that you have framed your application in the best manner possible.
• Most funders have a clear idea of what they will and will not fund make sure that you are aware of this and that your application is appropriately structured.
• Make sure that your project is able to deliver the kind of results, which the funder is seeking, i.e. helping more people from low income families to become involved in sport or establishing a new activity that will help divert young people from other less desirable activities, etc.
• Before completing the final application form, obtain another opinion, the Sports Development Officer will be happy to provide this service.
• Ensure that your application complies with the timetable for applications if one exists; late applications are unlikely to receive support.

For information on the various types of funding available click here.