The Sport England Movement Fund provides crowdfunding pledges, grants and support to help projects that get more people active. The Movement Fund supports projects that promote physical activity, including active travel, walking, cycling, dance, fitness, and sporting activities. Projects providing opportunities for groups facing barriers to activity are of particular interest, such as:

• People living on low incomes
• Disabled people or those with long-term health conditions
• Older people
• People from culturally diverse communities
• Pregnant women and parents with very young children
• Girls aged 5-16
• LGBTQ+ people
• People who are in foster care
• People who provide care without pay

The fund is also particularly interested in projects that address the challenges faced by individuals with combined characteristics, such as people with long-term health conditions alongside caring responsibilities.

Grant amount: £300 to £15,000

Applications can be submitted at any time.

The GM Walking and Wheeling Fund (GMWWF) Grants programme offers grants of up to £7,000 to voluntary, community, and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations to deliver projects to get more people walking and wheeling.

The GM Walking and Wheeling Fund is now closed for applications.

More information

Buddle provides a guide to grant funding on their website, with some useful tips and resources: Grant funding guide
They also run webinars on a range of subjects, including Raising Money, that you can access through their website: Learning with Buddle

If you’re looking for local advice, grants and funds or need support to write better bids and diversify your income, take a look at what support you can find in your area:

• Bolton: Bolton CVS

• Bury: Bury VCFA

• Manchester: Manchester MACC

• Oldham: Action Together

• Tameside: Action Together

• Trafford: Thrive Trafford

• Rochdale: Action Together

• Stockport: Stockport Council

• Salford: Salford CVS

• Wigan: Wigan Council

Forever Manchester also provides updates about funding opportunities available across Greater Manchester: Forever Manchester

The above websites are updated regularly and have funding bulletins with new opportunities, so you can register for email updates or check back regularly.

There are many other ways in which you can generate funds to cover a wide range of needs.

• Sport England crowdfunding information

• Sport England offer a range of funding to support project funding, diversifying the volunteer workforce and improving community assets. Visit the Sport England funding page. If you’re unsure if the funding is right for you, visit Sport England FAQs.

• BBC Children in Need Grants
• VCSE Health and Wellbeing Fund
• National Lottery Awards for All England
• Football Foundation funding for facility improvements

Some websites provide news updates of funding streams available or a grant search function. Many are national grant schemes, and not specific to Greater Manchester:

• Funding 4 Sport
• Grants Online
• New Grants Archives | FCS Associates

Some funding streams are open but have location criteria:

• Suez Communities Fund
• Biffa Award

Large supermarkets often provide funding for community projects. The criteria and eligibility for these funds change frequently, so you should check them regularly for updates:

• Tesco Stronger Starts
• Asda Foundation Grants
• Morrisons Foundation Grant

Some large organisations run their own grant giving schemes. They may be open at different points of the year or have different funding cycles, so you should check them regularly for updates:

• Ford Britain Trust
• Arnold Clark Community Fund
• Persimmon Homes Community Champions
• Aviva Community Fund
• Blue Spark Foundation
• B&Q Foundation Grants
• Warburtons Financial Giving
• Screwfix Foundation

We have to new funds that will help clubs to become even more safe, supportive, welcoming and inclusive environments. Learn more about the two funds here.