Eligibility criteria

The eligibility criteria will determine whether organisations or projects are eligible to receive funding under this theme.

Eligibility is dependent both on the type of organisation applying and the aims and some details of the projects proposed.

It is important to note that applications must comply with all the following points to progress on to the next stage of assessment. If your project fails to meet any aspect of the eligibility criteria then it will be rejected prior to assessment.

Who can apply?

All bona fide and legitimate organisations with a written constitution (such as a Memorandum and Articles of Association) or statutory powers can apply for this funding.

This includes sports clubs, voluntary or community organisations, local authorities, education establishments (such as schools, colleges and universities) and national governing bodies of sport.

Private sector organisations are also eligible to receive funding, provided they can demonstrate that the project is for the public good or a charitable purpose and that neither the company nor its shareholders will receive any financial gain.

If the applicant is an unincorporated body, we will need to see its constitution to ensure that it does not contain unnecessary restrictions on membership and representation.

Applications from an individual, sole trader, or partnership are not eligible for funding.

Please note that in this context “partnership” means an organisation that is legally constituted as a partnership, not an organisation which simply happens to use that term in its name, for example a county sports partnership.

We will not fund or progress:

• Incomplete applications, including those where the Additional Questions document is not uploaded
• Ongoing initiatives – projects must have not yet started and be additional either by being new projects or expanding the capacity of existing successful programmes
• Recreational activity – the outcome of projects must be participation in at least moderate intensity of a recognised sporting activity that contributes to Sport England’s grow outcome – see our faq for a list of eligible activities
• Capital expenditure in isolation - research suggests that people rather than facilities are key to raising participation amongst our target groups. Any applications involving facility development must demonstrate that the project plays any important role and contributes towards the strategies of local, regional or national partners, including national governing bodies of sport.
• Projects with a capital element will be considered only if there is an element of partnership funding and it is part of the local facilities strategy
• Child-centred activity, including activities in curriculum time - we acknowledge that activities for families may be successful for at least one of our target groups but the projects must be focused on the women involved rather than the children;
• Projects with no element of confirmed partnership funding (in cash or in-kind)
• Awards of £10,001 and under - if your project requires a small amount of funding please consider our Small Grants Fund instead
• Projects that do not provide evidence of sustainability, for example appropriate exit strategies to sustain the participation of participants or, where appropriate, sources of funding for the project once Sport England support ends
• One-off events
• Provision of children’s playgrounds and equipment
• General running costs, e.g. ongoing staff costs, council tax, gas, electricity or water bills
• Routine maintenance, repairs and renewals
• Items that only benefit an individual, e.g. prizes, scholarships, bursaries, personal clothing or equipment or the purchase of tickets for events
• Vehicles or transport costs. For more information see the answer to our frequently asked question on this matter.