Improvement Fund

External sourcein Industry News

Improvement fund
Between 2012 and 2017, the Improvement Fund will invest £45m of National Lottery funding into medium-sized projects that will improve the quality and experience of sport.

This is being distributed via five funding rounds of £9m per annum.

It is part of Sport England's strategy which is focused on helping more people acquire lifelong sporting habits.

The Improvement Fund will award capital grants worth £150,000 to £500,000 into sustainable projects with a clear local need.

It bridges the gap between our Strategic Facilities fund which invest in large-scale, multi-sport facilities and our Inspired Fund which supports small-scale community projects.

The priority for Round 4 will be artificial grass pitch projects, whether they be new build or the replacement of the existing facilities playing surface. We will consider other types of facility improvement projects which increase participation and best meet the criteria of the fund.

To ensure the Improvement Fund can support as many projects as possible, we will require a minimum of 25% cash partnership funding towards the total project costs. This can come from either the applicant body and/or third parties.

The Improvement Fund is not an open application programme. We will work with selected partners to develop projects before soliciting grant applications which will then be presented to the Sport England Project Committee for consideration.

To view the Sport England article click here.

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