Norfolk Community Foundation

The Subs for Clubs Fund

Grants of up to £1,000 for Norfolk clubs, groups and uniformed units to pay the subscriptions, travel and uniform/kit costs of young members whose families are struggling with the cost of living, so they can keep taking part in out-of-school sport, arts and uniformed activities. The guide is £100-£150 maximum per young person, and the young people must be identified when you apply. It is a rolling fund (£20,000 in total) that closes when the money is fully allocated.

Apply on the funder’s site

You could get: Up to £1,000; no fixed round
Deadline: Rolling; apply any time
Effort: Moderate; full application with documents

Who can apply

Any Norfolk-based unit, club or group applying on behalf of young people who need financial support to keep participating; the club delivering the activity must apply itself, and it must already be established in Norfolk
The fund page lists eligible applicants as charities, faith organisations, parish/town councils, social enterprises/CICs and voluntary/community groups; schools are not eligible
Under the Foundation's general rules applicants need a governing document with a charitable dissolution clause (not required for exempt faith groups or parish/town councils), a governing body of at least three unconnected people, a bank account in the group's name with two unconnected signatories, annual accounts if operating over 12 months, and safeguarding and equal opportunities policies
One application at a time per group; typically no more than three applications in 12 months from the same organisation, with priority to first-time recipients when demand is high
Where a group can access a hardship fund (e.g. through a national governing body) it is expected to try that first

What it funds

Costs directly incurred by young people taking part in established uniformed groups, sports or arts opportunities:

Subs (the regular subscription or membership fee, paid weekly, monthly, termly or annually)
Travel to and from activities
Uniform or kit that could not otherwise be paid for

Grants must benefit young people under 18 (or under 25 with special educational needs or a disability) who live in Norfolk and are experiencing financial insecurity.

Groups in deprived areas and/or supporting households in financial difficulty may apply.

Grants must be fully spent within 12 months of award.

What it will not fund

Applications made by young people themselves or by parents/carers
Anything not usually directly incurred by a young person, such as general equipment, the group's energy bills or overheads
Creating or continuing a general hardship fund
Activities, trips, camps and events over and above the regular subscription/membership
Young people's volunteer expenses, such as training and qualifications
Reimbursing families for payments already made
Holiday playschemes or any form of childcare
Groups not already established in Norfolk
Schools
Applications made by a third-party organisation rather than the club delivering the activity (exceptions possible for strong established VCSE partnerships; contact the Foundation first)

How to apply

Check your group meets Norfolk Community Foundation's general eligibility and governance criteria and that your safeguarding policy follows its guidance
Identify the young members who need financial support (you will be asked how many)
Complete the online Subs for Clubs application form linked from the fund page and attach your supporting documents
The Foundation reviews the application and aims to give a decision within a month

Applications are considered on a rolling basis until the £20,000 fund is fully allocated, so apply early.

If you received a Subs for Clubs grant in the last 12 months, the Foundation will ask whether the application covers the same or new young people and whether the earlier grant is complete.

Have ready

Constitution or governing document
Most recent annual accounts (or a current financial statement if operating less than a year)
Equal opportunities policy or statement
Recent bank statement (dated within the last three months)
Safeguarding policies/procedures

Previous applicants to the Foundation only need to resend documents that have changed, or a bank statement if none was sent in the last 12 months.

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