About the Movement Fund
Do you have a project that helps people get more active in your community? You could be eligible for support from the Movement Fund.
Launched by Sport England, the Movement Fund offers funding through grants and crowdfunding pledges for a wide range of groups and organisations, especially if you’re working with people who face barriers to physical activity and may need extra help to keep active.
You can apply to Sport England for funding from between £300 to £15,000 to support your project. There’s no deadline for applications, and you could get a decision within six weeks. To get started, take a look at the summary information below to find out if your project is eligible and what support you could get. Full details are available on the Sport England website.
Many local organisations and projects have already seen their work boosted by support from the Movement Fund – check out the Success Stories section below.
Any other questions? We’re here to help
If you would like to talk to someone about the Movement Fund, or if you need any help making your application to Sport England, our team at Think Active is here to support and guide you. Simply get in touch with us at hello@thinkactive.org.
Who can apply?
If you’re a not-for-profit organisation working with people in England, you’re likely to be eligible. The Movement Fund supports a variety of organisations including:
- Sports clubs
- Charities
- Local authorities
- Schools (for projects supporting the wider community)
- Community Benefit Societies
- Not-for-profit companies
Please note: Some groups are not eligible to apply, including for-profit organisations, organisations based outside the United Kingdom, or individuals/sole traders. You will also need to meet additional eligibility criteria, which can be found in the full guidance on the Sport England website.
If you’re not sure whether you can apply, feel free to contact us at Think Active.
Who can benefit from funding?
The Movement Fund is designed to help more people experience the benefits of being active, especially those who face barriers that make it harder to take part in regular physical activity. Through this funding, Sport England is looking to support projects that create inclusive, welcoming opportunities for people who are often underrepresented in sport and physical activity – this includes:
- People on low incomes
- Disabled people and those living with long-term health conditions
- Older adults
- People from culturally diverse communities
- Pregnant women and parents of young children
- Girls aged 5-16
- LGBTQ+ communities
- Children and young people in care
- Unpaid carers
At Think Active, we recognise everyone’s circumstances are different. Many people face more than one barrier to being active, and these challenges can often overlap – for example, someone managing a long-term health condition may also have caring responsibilities or be experiencing financial pressures, making it even more difficult to access opportunities to be active.
If you support people in these communities, we warmly encourage you to apply for funding through the Movement Fund.
What can it be used for?
The Movement Fund could help you with costs for things such as:
- Coaches and sessional workers
- Facility hire
- Equipment
- Facility upgrades
- Training (for staff and volunteers)
- Emergency relief (e.g. extreme weather, vandalism)
- Building organisational capacity and capability (e.g. volunteer development, governance, leadership, community engagement)
Depending on the project, Sport England may offer either a grant or a crowdfunding pledge. Crowdfunding pledges can contribute up to 50% of the total funding required, provided your organisation successfully raises the remaining amount from your community.
Projects funded through the Movement Fund can run for up to 12 months.
Please note: There are some things the funding can’t be used for, including ongoing staff salaries, general running costs for your organisation, or redistributing funding to others. For full details, please check the guidance on the Sport England website.
Sustainability
Sustainability is a key priority for Sport England. Out of an estimated £20 million per year invested through the Movement Fund, up to 10% is allocated to environmental sustainability projects. Applications for initiatives which help improve both environmental sustainability and physical activity opportunities are therefore strongly encouraged.
Examples of suitable projects include (but are not limited to):
- Schemes supporting kit sharing or recycling, car sharing or equipment sharing
- Schemes facilitating/promoting active or sustainable travel (e.g. bike racks)
- Work to increase energy efficiency of facilities
- Work to increase resilience to extreme weather such as flooding or extreme heat (e.g. planting trees, providing shade)
For more information, please visit the Every Move page of the Sport England website or take a look at the document linked below:
How do I apply?
If you have checked the full criteria for the Movement Fund and are ready to apply, please make your application directly to Sport England by visiting their website using the button below.
Please note: Applications should be submitted at least 12 weeks before the planned activity is due to start or any grant-funded expenditure takes place.
Should you wish to talk about whether the Movement Fund is right for your project, or if you would like further support in making your application, get in touch with us at Think Active by emailing hello@thinkactive.org.
Success stories
Looking for inspiration to apply for the Movement Fund? Check out some of the stories below from local organisations and projects who have been reaping the benefits of successful applications for funding.
From football, table tennis and bowls clubs to disability schemes and dementia support projects, Movement Fund investment has helped all kinds of people across Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire to get more active and keep moving in ways that work for them.
