Sport England Launches ‘Tackling Inactivity and Economic Disadvantage Fund

The new Tackling Inactivity and Economic Disadvantage Fund is part of Sport England’s dedicated fund to tackle inactivity.

This fund focuses on two different lower socio-economic groups: inactive people who are in employment and inactive people who are far less likely to have a steady income, or any income at all.

There is a total funding pot of £3.15 million which is to be used for revenue costs (minor capital costs will be considered if essential to the project).

Three levels of funding are available:

Option A: Grants of between £250,000 and £500,000 for exceptional projects for people who have little take-home pay, some qualifications and are in employment. Beneficiaries will live very ordered lives but find it hard to build physical activity into their lives, or they feel being active is just not for them. A total of £2 million is available.
Option B: Grants of between £25,000 and £100,000 for people who are less likely to have a steady income, or any income at all and who live less ordered lives with additional challenges such as being at risk of offending or dealing with substance misuse. A total of £1 million is available.
Option C: Grants of between £1,000 and £10,000 are ring-fenced for smaller scale projects. A total of £150,000 is available. Applicants to Option C only need to be supporting one of two groups as described in options A and B.

Applications will be considered from charities, community interest companies, local authorities, universities, and companies limited by guarantee.

New £3 million fund for projects that support inactive people from lower socio-economic groups in England by engaging with them through sport and physical activity.

Applicants do not need to be sport groups or have previously offered sport activities but they must have strong relationships and a track record of working with disadvantaged and inactive individuals.

Projects must be designed to address one or more of the following issues:

Improving mental health or wellbeing.
Improving life within a particular community, for example by tackling social isolation, or building levels of social trust.
Improving the life chances of the individuals they are working with, for example by giving them a stronger sense that they are in control of their lives, or making big changes such as tackling substance abuse.
Reducing crime or the threat of crime in particular areas.

There are two different application processes. Applications for larger amounts of money require an expression of interest. Applications for small grants have a more streamlined one stage application form.

The deadline for both expressions of interests (Option A/B) and full applications for small grants (Option C) is 6 November 2017 (5pm).

Funding Surgeries

To support the above, Sport England are running six dedicated Tackling Inactivity and Economic Disadvantage funding surgeries supported by Sported and StreetGames to support organisations interested in applying for funding.

These funding surgeries are being held during September and October at the following locations: