In January 2017, Sport England will be launching two new funds to support projects for groups where Sport England have identified significant untapped potential. They will publish full details of how to apply in January, and the funds will open for applications in February.

The two funds are as follows;

Opportunity Fund

Sport England will invest £3 million in projects that create volunteering opportunities for people facing disadvantage, in communities where there is higher unemployment and crime, lower education and poorer health. People living in these communities are among the most under-represented groups in volunteering, but potentially have the most to gain.

They are looking for partners that are trusted by their communities and know the various issues and motivations of those who live there.

Their priority is to get more people from these communities excited about and engaged in volunteering, so Sport England are happy to look at ideas which aren’t just about sport and physical activity.

Their commitment to reaching these non-traditional groups is demonstrated by their goal to award at least 50 per cent of the fund to projects run by partners that are new to them or even new to sport and physical activity.

Potentials Fund

Getting involved in mentoring, supporting people and improving your local area – a form of youth social action – is already popular with young people.

But social action organisation Step Up to Serve has identified a large group they call ‘Potentials’ – young people who are interested in doing something for their community, but haven’t yet made a commitment. In fact 70% of 10- to 20-year-olds say they want to do more social action in the next 12 months.

Sport England want to unleash this potential by funding projects which target young people who haven’t regularly volunteered in the past.

They will therefore be investing up to £3 million in projects which will benefit 10- to 20-year-olds and their communities now. It’s also a long-term investment in those communities – according to the Youth Social Action Survey 2015, people who start volunteering when they’re young are more likely to continue in later life.

They will be looking for projects which connect with the lives and aspirations of 10- to 20-year-olds.

Sport and physical activity should be involved but it doesn’t have to be the sole focus. We’re simply looking for brilliant ideas.

To find out more on these funds click here; Volunteer Funding Opportunities or read their volunteering strategy which will give you more information on this; volunteering-in-an-active-nation