GrantRadar

Wealden District Council

Sports Infrastructure Fund 2024-2027

Capital grants of £5,000 to £50,000 from Wealden District Council to improve outdoor sports pitches and facilities in the Wealden district, funded from the Community Infrastructure Levy (£600,000 over three years, £200,000 a year). Only projects listed in Wealden's Playing Pitch and Outdoor Sports Strategy (PPOSS) are considered, covering football, rugby union, tennis, cricket, lawn bowls, hockey, netball and stoolball. Sports clubs, community organisations, schools (with community use), town and parish councils and not-for-profit organisations can apply, but must already have secured cash match funding at least equal to the grant. Applications are taken on a rolling basis until 31 December 2026 or until the money runs out.

Apply on the funder’s site
You could get
£5,000 – £50,000
Deadline
74 days left
31 December
Effort
Heavy
budgets, references, often several stages

Who can apply

  • Sports clubs, community organisations, schools (with community use), town and parish councils and not-for-profit organisations that own, manage and/or are responsible for the upkeep of outdoor sports facilities listed in the PPOSS
  • The project site must be entirely within the Wealden district
  • Applicants must have their own bank account with at least two signatories, at least three members on the governing body or board, vulnerable adult/child protection policies if working directly with children or adults, and relevant insurance (e.g. public liability)
  • They must own the land or building, or have the landowner's permission and a lease of more than seven years
  • Planning permission and/or Building Regulations approval should already be obtained, and cash match funding of at least the amount requested must be secured before applying
  • Organisations with large unrestricted reserves will not be funded
  • Individuals cannot apply

What it funds

  • Capital-only funding for assets such as fixed equipment, buildings and features that create or improve outdoor sports facilities or infrastructure, for projects listed in the PPOSS (pages 59-92 of the strategy) for the enhancement, maintenance and/or protection of outdoor sports and playing pitch provision
  • Eligible uses include:
  • Refurbishment or improvement of existing sports facilities, sites and buildings to improve accessibility
  • Purchase of fixed new 'community' sports equipment (e.g. cricket nets, batting cages, full-size football goal posts - not movable items)
  • Improvements to accessibility and equal access
  • Floodlighting for winter and evening use
  • Maintenance equipment such as mowers
  • Match funding towards the Football Foundation's Pitch Improvement Programme and other sports governing bodies' funding programmes

VAT may be eligible case by case.

The maximum award is reserved for projects of district-wide strategic significance reaching a wide range of residents.

Assets must be maintained for at least five years or the lease term, whichever is longer.

What it will not fund

  • Projects not listed in the Playing Pitch and Outdoor Sports Strategy
  • Revenue projects
  • Individuals and organisations not listed in the 'Who can apply?' section
  • Projects or activity outside the Wealden district boundary
  • Retrospective work already carried out before a grant is awarded
  • Projects which generate private gain
  • Items which only benefit an individual, such as prizes, bursaries or personal equipment
  • Staff salaries/costs
  • Personal sports equipment, e.g. team clothing
  • Organisational overheads/running costs
  • Costs of making planning applications or other statutory permissions
  • Routine maintenance work or repairs
  • Performing statutory duties
  • Projects where the applicant does not own the land, has no landowner permission, or has a lease of less than seven years
  • Private landowners and privately owned buildings (subject to the lease specification)
  • Fundraising activities or advertising costs
  • Any transport modes
  • Any purpose other than that specified on the application
  • Activities promoting religious or political beliefs (faith groups welcome for community activities open to all)
  • Portable items that will not be permanently kept at the project location
  • Competitions, events, excursions, websites, publications and marketing materials
  • Feasibility studies, tender costs, surveys, building consents or recruitment costs
  • Organisations with large unrestricted balances available to spend
  • Duplication with other funding schemes supporting similar activities

How to apply

  1. Check your project site is listed in Wealden's Playing Pitch and Outdoor Sports Strategy (pages 59-92) and note its site ID
  2. Email an expression of interest to sportsinfrastructurefund@wealden.gov.uk with your organisation's details, a short summary of the project and the PPOSS site ID
  3. If you meet the criteria you will be sent the application pack (link to the application form, guidance notes and scoring criteria)
  4. Complete the application form and checklist and return it with all evidence and supporting documents to sportsinfrastructurefund@wealden.gov.uk (electronic submission preferred)
  5. A grants panel assesses applications on a rolling basis and recommendations are approved by senior officers
  6. If successful, sign the Grant Agreement by hand and return it within 4 weeks of issue
  7. Deliver the project within the agreed spend period and submit evidence of spend (including before and after photos); final payment follows completion

Cash match funding of at least the grant amount must already be secured when you apply.

The decision is final with no appeal; the fund may close before 31 December 2026 if fully allocated.

A permanent plaque acknowledging the Council's funding is required.

Have ready

  • Constitution or set of rules, dated and signed as adopted, with any resolution or delegated authority allowing members/trustees to enter into grant agreements (if applicable)
  • Bank or building society statement for all accounts, not more than three months old (or passbook copy)
  • Most recent annual accounts, dated and signed as approved (or estimated first-year income and expenditure for new groups)
  • Vulnerable adult and/or child protection policies and procedures (if working directly with children or adults)
  • Copies of relevant insurance
  • Evidence of land ownership (e.g. land registry number or deeds), or landowner permission and a copy of the lease
  • Evidence of planning permission and building regulations approval (if applicable)
  • Evidence of three quotations or estimates
  • Evidence of any other necessary permissions or approvals (e.g. landowner letter, council minutes)
  • Project plan and timeline showing the project can be delivered, with milestones and risks/mitigation
  • Names, addresses and email addresses of members/trustees authorised to enter into grant agreements (if applicable)

Applications will not be considered without the listed evidence and documents.

More like this

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Taken from the funder’s own published information. View the original listing

Always check the funder’s site before applying — criteria and deadlines change.