Latest round of Inspired Facilities Fund announced – 148 projects share £10m

A total of 148 local sports projects will share £10m of National Lottery funding in the latest round of Sport England’s Inspired Facilities Fund.

The funding is aimed at breathing new life into community sports facilities that have become worn-down, expensive to run or difficult to maintain. The funding is also being used to convert existing buildings into venues that are more suitable for grassroots sport.

Among the projects to receive funding are Streatham Youth and Community Trust (£67,900), which will use the money to convert a youth centre into a high quality sports facility and Bishop Auckland Canoe and Kayaking Club. The canoe club was handed £54,900 towards a move to a new location – a disused swimming pool at St John’s RC – and set up its first permanent home.

The Inspired Facilities Fund is open to community and voluntary organisations which are able to bid for grants of between £20,000 and £75,000. Other organisations such as councils and schools able to apply for grants of up to £150,000.

Following criticism by community sports organisations over application procedures in the past, the grant is now an open programme which means projects can submit applications at a time convenient to them, rather than being restricted by a specific deadline.

Awards will still, however, be made and announced on a bi-annual basis.

Sport England’s property director, Charles Johnston, said: “The Inspired Facilities Fund has made a huge impact on grassroots sports since its inception, and remains one of our most popular funds.

“Since 2011, we have invested £94m into 1,800 projects to improve and refurbish existing sports facilities all over the country.”

For more info in the Inspired Facilities Fund – and how to apply – click here for the Sports England website.