The Barclays Community Sport Fund is a major UK-wide programme investing £1.4 million per year over three years (2025–2027) to support grassroots sports organisations tackling inequality in access to sport.
Delivered in partnership with Sported, the fund focuses on helping community groups use sport as a tool to improve confidence, wellbeing, and inclusion—particularly for underrepresented groups.
The programme is tightly focused on increasing access to football, tennis and cricket, with a strong emphasis on:
- Women and girls participation
- Engaging underrepresented groups (disability, racially diverse communities, LGBTQ+)
- Projects in areas of high deprivation or rural isolation
Grant programmes
Access Grants
- £1,000 per organisation
- Supports delivery or expansion of activities
- Can cover equipment, venue hire, coaching, and volunteer costs
Female Coaches for Girls Grants
- Funding for Level 1 coaching qualifications
- Typically £160–£200 per coach (up to two per organisation)
- Aims to increase the number of female coaches in grassroots sport
In addition, funded groups may receive:
- Training and development support
- Networking opportunities
- Access to events and promotional opportunities
Eligibility
Open to:
- Charities
- Community and voluntary groups
- Youth organisations
- Grassroots sports clubs
Applicants must:
- Deliver (or plan to deliver) football, cricket or tennis activities
- Be working in high deprivation areas (IMD 1–3) or supporting underrepresented groups
Deadlines
- Access Grants (2026 round): 25 March – 27 May 2026
- Female Coaches Fund: typically opens later in the year (e.g. summer–autumn)
This fund is about removing barriers to participation—strong applications clearly show how you will bring in new participants, especially girls and those who wouldn’t normally access sport, rather than just sustaining existing provision.
Website: https://sported.org.uk/barclays-community-sport-fund/