Sport England’s Movement Fund provides small grants of between £300 and £15,000 for organisations in England to get more people active, reduce the number of inactive people and tackle inequalities. Sport England may offer a 50% Crowdfunding Pledge rather than a grant in some instances.
Sport England’s Movement Fund is effectively the replacement programme for its Small Grants scheme. The Fund has a budget of £160 million available for distribution between 2024 and 2028.
Priority will be given to projects where there is the most need, especially those that provide opportunities for those facing barriers to activity, such as:
- Disabled people or those with long-term health conditions.
- Girls aged 5-16
- LGBTQ+ people
- Older people
- People from culturally diverse communities
- People living on a low income
- People in foster care
- People who provide care without pay, and/or
- Pregnant women and parents with very young children
Projects should address Sport England’s 4 ambitions of:
- Encouraging positive experiences of sport and physical activity.
- Involving the community in planning and delivery.
- Prioritising environmental sustainability, and
- A good use of public money.
Grants can be used for activities that encourage people to become more active, such as cycling, dance, fitness activities, sport and walking. There is no matched funding requirement. Grants can be used for such things as (please note that this is not an exclusive list):
- Equipment.
- Project delivery.
- Training, and
- Upgrading or refurbishing facilities.
Please note that the Movement Fund cannot cover general running costs or football-only projects which are eligible for funding from the Football Foundation.
Further information, guidance and an Eligibility Checklist (called a 'Suitability Checker'). The website also has a page dedicated to funding available for facilities damaged by extreme weather.
Applications may be made at any time. Sport England has stated that applicants should usually allow at least 6 weeks for applications to be processed, although applications for storm damaged facilities may be fast-tracked.