Funding applications open for local sports projects

Applications are now open for Mayor Claire’s Summer of Sport funding.

Mayor Claire has allocated £10,000 of funding to the Summer of Sport, which will support local teams and organisations to deliver free sport and physical activity opportunities.

Grants awarded between £250 and £2,000 will support community-led activities that help residents connect with others, become more active and improve physical and mental wellbeing.

Wondering what funding could support?

Funding may support:

• Venue hire
• Facility hire
• Sports coaching costs
• Sessional staffing
• Volunteer expenses
• Equipment and resources
• Event delivery costs
• Marketing and promotion
• First aid provision
• Accessibility and inclusion measures
•  Transport supporting participation
• Community engagement activities

What cannot be funded:

• Activities already completed
• Retrospective expenditure
• Political or lobbying activities
• Religious worship
• Alcohol or hospitality
• Overseas travel
• Loan repayments
• Building works
• Permanent staffing costs
• Debt repayment
• Activities that generate private profit
• Activities delivered outside Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire

Ready to get involved?

If you manage a local team or organisation that could benefit from Mayor Claire’s Summer of Sport funding you may be eligible to apply.

Funded events must be delivered between 1 September and 30 November 2026, and cannot be used for activities that have already taken place.

Who can apply?

• Registered charity
• Charitable incorporated organisation
• Community interest company
• Company limited by guarantee
• Unincorporated voluntary
• Community group
• Faith and community organisations
• Parish and town councils
• Sports clubs

To be considered, all applicants must:

• Be based in England and operating within Derbyshire or Nottinghamshire
• Deliver activity between 1 September and 30 November 2026
• Has a registered UK bank account in the organisation’s name
• Hold Public Liability Insurance
• Have safeguarding arrangements in place (where working with children or vulnerable adults)
• Deliver activities that are free to participants
• Be able to provide a simple end-of-project monitoring return within 4 weeks of project completion

Application process

Applications for Mayor Claire’s Summer of Sport funding opens on Monday 17 August until Sunday 23 August 2026.

Successful applicants will be contacted on Friday 28 August 2026.

To apply, submit your application here.

The application will take approximately 30 minutes to complete, and you will be required to provide:

• Organisation details
• Contact information
• Event details
• Location or community
• Funding requested

Please note that incomplete applications may not be considered.

Questions?
For further information regarding the Community Activity Challenge Fund, please contact: East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) Visitor, Economy, Culture Sport team at: VECS@eastmidlands-cca.gov.uk

Good luck!