New Funding Opportunity for Voluntary and Community Groups.

Inspired Facilites

sported. is delighted to announce Sport England's Inspired Facilities fund to its Members.

Up to a thousand local clubs and facilities will be upgraded thanks to this £50million National Lottery fund, which is part of the Places People Play legacy programme, bringing the magic of the Olympic and Paralympic Games into communities across the country.
Community and voluntary organisations are able to apply for grants worth between £20,000 and £50,000, with the first round of funding running from 1st August to 28th September 2011. Designed to be as accessible as possible, the fund is ideal for small community groups who might have previously been put off from applying for public money.

Funding is available in five areas:
•    Building modernisation
•    Outdoor lighting
•    Sports surfaces
•    Modular buildings
•    Sports equipment

The application process is simple, but you will need to be able to show: how your project will keep people in sport and attract new participants, that it is needed by the local community and that they have been involved in the consultation, and that it will cover its running costs and remain open for sporting use for years to come.

There are four simple steps to applying for an Inspired Facilities grant:
1.    Check your project is eligible here.
2.    Find out what your club or community needs.
3.    Work out your project costs.
4.    Fill in your application online here.

In addition to the Inspired Facilities Fund, if one of the groups benefitting from your planned project is disadvantaged young people under the age of 18, you can apply for additional capital (to cover building costs) or revenue (day-to-day operating costs) funding from Thomas Cook Children's Charity.
For those interested in finding out more, Sport England will be holding a series of workshops across the country.  For details of the workshops and to register, click here.

This fund will help grassroots organisations in every corner of the country and help leave a lasting legacy from the London 2012 Games.