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The Movement Fund tries to be flexible to support the costs you need to help people get active. Any funding requested must be used directly to deliver your project.

We can fund 

We will typically fund costs which enable you to pay for:

  • coaches and sessional workers
  • training and development
  • facility hire
  • equipment
  • creation of new, or upgrade to existing, facilities
  • volunteer expenses
  • costs to manage and coordinate your project’s delivery. These costs must be new to the project and can’t exceed 10% of your award. 

We cannot fund

There are costs that we can’t fund: 

  • costs you are committed to paying already, including salaries for existing staff, rent and utilities
  • facility hire of your own spaces
  • costs that are not for direct delivery; for example, project development (such as feasibility or consultation costs), project evaluation and/or unexplained or contingency costs
  • costs you have already incurred; this could be retrospective costs – those owed from before the date on the award letter, or costs from projects that started before we made our offer to you
  • costs that include funding another organisation; for example, distribution of grants on our behalf – you can't use our funds to make grants to other organisations
  • costs for the benefit of an individual, such as purchases for personal or private gain, including personal items of equipment and clothing
  • costs someone else is already funding; for example, any costs covered by another source of funding – you must declare all sources of funding for your project in your application
  • we also cannot provide funding for recoverable VAT or cash purchases.

Project-specific

  • School projects 

    We understand schools play an important role in providing physical activity opportunities to the young people they educate and support.

    However, our funding must provide added value to educational and statutory funding provision – i.e. activities schools or local authorities would typically provide.

    Therefore, we will only support projects taking place at school sites where the wider community will be able to access and benefit from the project.

    For equipment or facility projects at schools, you will need to demonstrate significant community use.

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  • Existing or continuation of projects

    We know that many people are active because of the great work already taking place in communities. However, support from the Movement Fund must provide added value.

    Therefore, to support existing activities, at least one of the following must apply: 

    • the activities and benefits provided are at risk of being lost to the community
    • the project will adapt, or grow, the activity to reach new people
    • the project will secure a sustainable future for the activities. 
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  • Creation, or development, of facilities

    We fund small-scale improvement to existing facilities if you explain how it links to delivering activity. 

    To develop or improve facilities, you must: 

    • own the land or building, or
    • have a long-term lease for the facility, or
    • have consent from the landlord to complete the intended work.

    The Movement Fund is targeted at small-scale projects. Projects must be able to start within six months and be complete, and open for use, within 12 months of the Movement Fund decision.  

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  • Short duration or event-based projects

    Movement Fund projects deliver activity to support the development of physical activity habits – that usually means the activity will be available in the long term.

    However, we could support more focused periods of delivery, or event-based projects, where you can demonstrate: 

    • why this approach is better suited to the audience you’re engaging
    • how this approach provides good value for the costs involved and outcomes achieved
    • how the increases in physical activity and opportunities available to people will continue beyond the project period.
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Need some assistance?

If you've any questions about funding or your application, you can contact our funding helpline.

We can support you with information about eligibility, the types of support we provide, who we support, other options available to you and any additional needs you might have.

By phone 

For funding enquiries, call 0345 8508 508, Monday-Friday from 8am-5pm. 

By email

[email protected]