Ards and North Down Sports Forum Grants and Capital Grant Scheme
Funding for sports clubs and members for equipment, events, coach education, travel, and capital improvement projects.
Apply on the funder site- Amount
- £500 – £6,000
- Scope
- Ards & North Down
- Deadline
- 1 June 2026
- Match
- Up to 40% match required for capital grants (Council awards up to 60%)
Who can apply
CASC, Sports Club, Community Group, School
What is funded
Sports Funding Programmes for 2026/2027 Sports Forum Grants Ards and North Down Sports Forum Grants are now open for 2026-27 Sports Forum Grants are only available to Sports Forum members who have been affiliated for a minimum of three months prior to application. Click here for details and to apply for Sports Forum membership . £90,000 has been allocated for 2026/2027 financial year, application forms and guidance notes for each grant are available: By clicking on the links below. By emailing sportsdevelopment@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk By contacting Sports Development on 0300 013 3333 ext.40338 Grant workshops have been organised for anyone who wishes to learn more about the process: Wednesday 22 April 2pm to 4pm at Londonderry Park, Newtownards, book by 15 April Wednesday 29 April 2pm to 4pm at Bangor Aurora, Bangor, book by 22 April. Places can be booked by emailing Sports Development on the above email. Please give the names of attendees and preferred session. 2026-27 Sports Forum Grants The various funding streams available include the following: Anniversary – Application Form / Guidance Notes – Grant value up to £750 Coach Education – Application Form / Guidance Notes – Grant value up to £500 Goldcard – Application Form / Guidance Notes – Access to Council leisure facilities. Individual Travel and Accommodation – Application Form / Guidance Notes – Grant value up to £600 Schools/Sports Clubs Pathway – Application Form / Guidance Notes – Grant value up to £500 Seeding – Application Form / Guidance Notes – Grant value up to £1000 Sports Equipment* – Application Form / Guidance Notes Events* – Application Form / Guidance Notes *Sports Equipment and Event grants are available in 2 tranches: Tranche 1 – closes at 12 noon Wednesday 13 May Tranche 2 – opens at 12 noon Tuesday 1 September, closes at 12 noon Tuesday 13 October. Capital Grant Scheme Application is now open for the 2026-27 scheme and closes at 12 noon on Monday 1 June 2026. Capital Grants Application Form Capital Grants Application Guidance Notes The Sports Development Capital Grant Programme provides financial assistance to eligible Sports Clubs for the delivery of capital projects and the purchase of capital equipment. ‘Capital Expenditure’ is defined as expenditure for purchase, improvement, restoration and construction of an asset directly related to the applicant organisation. It should have ‘physical substance’ i.e. be a tangible asset that can be listed on an asset register or a company’s balance sheet (e.g. equipment, buildings) for use in the delivery of an organisation’s activities; and it should have a useful life of more than one year. The Council has set aside £90,000 for 2026/27 financial year and can award up to 60% of eligible capital costs with a maximum award of £6,000 in respect of any one project. Following grant assessment and allocations and if there is funding remaining, Council may consider awarding grants of more than £6,000 should the need be identified and in merit order.
Criteria and guidance
Sports Forum grants are available to affiliated members. Funding streams include Anniversary, Coach Education, Individual Travel, Schools/Sports Clubs Pathway, Seeding, Sports Equipment, and Events. Capital Grant Scheme provides up to £6,000 (maximum 60% of eligible costs) for capital projects and tangible assets with a useful life over one year.
Listings are scraped from funder websites and can be incomplete or out of date. Always confirm amounts, deadlines, and eligibility on the official page before you apply. Last indexed 19 Aug 2026. Amounts are in pounds sterling (£).