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Rushcliffe Sports Grants

Introduction

The Rushcliffe Sports Grants are available to support the borough’s athletes and sports clubs by providing a financial contribution to help individuals reach their potential in their chosen sport, whether as an athlete, or as a volunteer coach, referee, umpire or groundsman.

To improve the grant process we have introduced a new online application system where applicants will be able to use the Save and Exit button to save their work and complete at a later date.

Please note the FANS scheme will move to an online application in April 2025.

Funding is limited and we are expecting to be oversubscribed with applications, so applicants are encouraged to provide as much detail in the application as possible.

Rushcliffe Sports Grant – Elite Athletes

The Elite Athletes grant is in place to alleviate some of the financial burden that competing at an elite level places upon individuals and their families, as this is often a barrier to achievement.

Rushcliffe Borough Council has awarded funding to twenty talented athletes from across 15 different sports who are now benefitting from the vital funds to help with costs such as travel, training, accommodation, competition fees, equipment, specialist coaching and other specialist support, helping them to reach their future national, Olympic and Paralympic goals.

This year's successful grant recipients are: 

Anna Longworth - Synchronised Ice Skating
Barney Corrall - Para Athletics (Long Jump)
Benjamin Roberts - Swimming
Ciara Maloney - Wild Water Canoeing
Divine Duruaku - Athletics (High Jump)
Eve Young - Artistic Swimming
Gemma Ratcliffe - Figure Skating
Jonny Young - Paraclimbing and Paracanoe
Joseph Enoch Kayaking (Marathon and Sprint)
Kingston McKenzie - Ice Hockey
Liam Jury - Gymnastics
Lily Walker - Synchronised Ice Skating
Lucas Cormack - Handball
Molly Palmer - Athletics (Long Jump)
Oliver Simon - Touch Rugby
Poppy Malik - Athletics (Track)
Solomon Okrafo-Smart - Triathlon
Willem Murray - Short Track Speed Skating
William Mellor - Touch Rugby
Zac Ladkin – Wushu Chinese Martial Arts

Rushcliffe Sports Grant – Workforce

The Workforce Grant is in place to support the borough’s sports clubs in developing their workforce. This may include coaching, officiating, grounds maintenance and safeguarding.

As part of the application, sports clubs are required to produce a workforce project plan highlighting how they will spend the grant funding. The project plan should also include outlining beyond what the grant will fund, showing the clubs commitment to developing the workforce long term. Projects can be longer than 12 months but if successful, this grant must be used in the first 12 months.

  • Each year, two sports clubs will be funded £500 to support their workforce
  • Applicants must be a voluntary Community Sports Club based in Rushcliffe Borough
  • The sport must be a Sport England recognised sport or discipline
  • Applicants must provide a completed project plan detailing the project
  • Applicants must provide a copy of the constitution
  • Applicants must provide the most recent audited accounts
  • Applicants must provide evidence of costings associated with the project
  • Applications for this grant will be open once a year

This grant is currently closed for applications and it is anticipated to open again in February 2026.

Rushcliffe Sports Grant – FANS

The FANS scheme provides sports people living in the borough who compete at a national level or equivalent with free access to the fitness suite and swimming for 12 months* at the following sports facilities in Rushcliffe:

*Normal terms and conditions apply as with the standard Rushcliffe Borough Council health and fitness membership package.

The scheme aims to help elite athletes achieve their full potential by reducing the financial burden of training costs. Applicants must meet the following criteria to be eligible for the scheme:

  • A current national sportsperson (national is deemed as someone who represents their country/a member of the national team in their chosen sport OR listed in the top ten of the national age group in their chosen sport).
  • A resident in Rushcliffe Borough for the majority of the year
  • Competing in a Sport England recognised sport - Sport England - recognised sports
  • Aged 14 and over on the date of application

On application, athletes must provide: 

  • A letter or email direct from your National Governing Body confirming involvement at national level. This evidence must be dated within 3 months of applying for a FANS membership (please note web links and results pages will not be accepted as evidence but may be submitted as additional supporting information)
  • Photograph

If you would like to apply for the Rushcliffe Sports Grant - FANS please complete the online application form. Individuals can reapply for the FANS scheme every 12 months by completing the application form again and by providing updated supporting information.

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