We expect to have allocated all Sportsmatch funds by the end of Autumn 2010, so please ensure you leave enough time for the submission of your completed application.

If you need any further advice please phone the Funding Helpline on 08458 508 508.

Sport England’s Sportsmatch programme makes awards to not-for-profit organisations running projects at a community level which meet one or both of Sport England’s objectives of Grow or Sustain. We do this through matching eligible sponsorship pound for pound, up to a maximum value of £100,000.

We often receive more fundable applications than we have budget to support so we recommend you read all the information here to give your application the greatest chance of success.

How does it work?

Sportsmatch supports formally constituted not-for-profit organisations and statutory bodies. This might include sports clubs, voluntary organisations, local authorities, schools, universities or national governing bodies of sport.

If a sponsor gives £10,000 to its local rugby club to organise new coaching opportunities in the community, we could match that with a grant of £10,000 - thereby doubling the amount of money available to the club. We can match eligible sponsorship which has been given by an eligible company, trust, charity, or private individual. Sponsorship contributions can be either cash or in-kind, but in-kind sponsorship cannot consist of more than 50% of your total sponsorship amount. Projects can be supported by a maximum of five sponsors. More detailed information on sponsors’ eligibility can be found here.

Projects can involve revenue and/or capital expenditure. There is no maximum capital project cost and all capital expenditure must be eligible i.e. only for equipment of a non-permanent nature. However the maximum capital grant which Sportsmatch can award is £25,000. We will not fund capital projects that involve construction, refurbishment or land improvement.

Before making an application, we suggest you complete the pre-application checklist to help you decide if your organisation and project are eligible for a Sportsmatch award. We would also strongly recommend that you read the Sportsmatch guidance document, and read the pages in this section which explain what Sportsmatch cannot fund and what makes a good application.