GrantRadar

Cambridge City Council

Grassroots Activity Grant

Pays for a term of grassroots sport, dance, physical activity sessions or swimming lessons for children aged 4 to 16 in Cambridge from families on Income Support or Universal Credit. It covers joining fees and weekly sessions at local clubs and dance organisations, and is paid directly to the club, not the family. It is funded by The Leys School's Community Grants and run by the council's Active Lifestyles team; this round is for activity starting in the January 2027 term.

Apply on the funder’s site
You could get
Amount not specified
Closes in
16 days left
13 November
Effort
Light
short form, little evidence needed

Who can apply

  • Parents or guardians of children aged 4 to 16 who live in Cambridge and receive Income Support or Universal Credit (child benefit alone does not count)
  • Priority goes to families whose children do not take part in after-school physical activity because of money, and to families who have not had a Grassroots Activity Grant before
  • The activity must be at grassroots (entry) level, and the provider must be able to accept the grant paid directly to it
  • Grants are limited and competitive, so being eligible does not guarantee an award

What it funds

  • A term of activity for one child
  • Joining fees at local sports clubs and dance organisations
  • Weekly sessions at local sports clubs and dance organisations
  • Swimming lessons

By grassroots, the council means entry or start-up level, where the child is learning a skill as part of a programmed framework led by a club or organisation. Children competing at county level or above should look at the council's other funding, such as Future Champions grants.

What it will not fund

  • Equipment
  • Travel expenses
  • One-to-one sessions (including one-to-one swimming lessons) or private small group sessions
  • Gym membership
  • After-school clubs or one-off activity camps
  • Performing arts activities
  • Sessions at Gymfinity Cambridge or other providers who use a monthly direct debit payment system
  • Providers that cannot accept the grant paid directly to them
  • Activity starting before the January 2027 term

How to apply

  1. Check the activity and provider are eligible (the provider must accept direct payment and not run on monthly direct debit)
  2. Complete the online Grassroots Activity Grant Application Form, one form per child, answering every question fully
  3. Submit by 5pm on 13 November 2026
  4. If accepted, the council pays the grant to the activity provider by the end of December, for activity starting in the January 2027 term

The form warns that insufficient detail or gaps in responses mean an application is automatically rejected.

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