Angus Irvine Playing Fields Fund
- Funding
- £2,500 – £5,000
- Deadline
- 18 December 2026
- Location
- Greater Manchester; Oxfordshire; Greater London; West Midlands
- Applications
- Rolling applications
Overview
Access Sport's Angus Irvine Playing Fields Fund (AIPFF) gives grants of typically £2,500 to £5,000 to local community groups and sports clubs in Greater Manchester, Oxfordshire, Greater London and the West Midlands. Larger grants may be possible in some circumstances. Applicants must be based in or serve a borough or ward in the top 20% of the Indices of Multiple Deprivation, and sports clubs get priority. Applications close on Friday 18 December at 1pm. The funder lists five project types: playing field and community sport facility improvements, youth crime and anti-social behaviour programmes, volunteer training including qualifications, long-term sustainability work such as marketing and finance expertise, and coaching and other operational costs. Projects must include young people aged 5 to 18 who might otherwise miss out on sport. The fund will not pay 100% of facility build or renovation costs. School projects without significant community involvement and individuals are excluded.
Requirements to check
Who can apply:
CIC grants in the UK explains which funders accept community interest companies, with the grants that are open now.
Also open to: community groups, sports clubs, youth organisations
Key requirements:
- Based in Greater Manchester, Oxfordshire, Greater London or the West Midlands
- Based in or serving a borough or ward in the top 20% Indices of Multiple Deprivation
- Priority given to sports clubs
- Will not fund 100% of facility builds or renovation; other funding must be secured or sought with Access Sport
- No school projects without significant community involvement, and no individuals
Who it is for
- Local community groups and sports clubs, with priority given to sports clubs
- Groups based in Greater Manchester, Oxfordshire, Greater London or the West Midlands
- Groups based in or serving a borough or ward in the top 20% of the Indices of Multiple Deprivation
- Projects including young people aged 5 to 18 who might otherwise be excluded from sport
- Projects reaching disadvantaged young people, women and girls, minority ethnic young people, or young offenders and those at risk of offending
Who it is not for
- Individuals
- School projects or school facility improvements without significant community involvement
- Requests to cover 100% of a facility build or renovation
- Applications with no commitment to long-term sustainability
- Groups outside Greater Manchester, Oxfordshire, Greater London and the West Midlands
Local community groups and sports clubs can apply, with priority given to sports clubs. You must be based in Greater Manchester, Oxfordshire, Greater London or the West Midlands. You must also be based in or serving a borough or ward within the top 20% of the Indices of Multiple Deprivation. The fund will not pay for school projects or school facility improvements without significant community involvement. It will not fund individuals.
This summary may not include every exclusion. Check the full eligibility rules, including who and what the funder will not support.
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Start freeWho is this for?
Local sports clubs and community groups in deprived areas of London, Greater Manchester, Oxfordshire and the West Midlands that want to reach more young people who might otherwise miss out on sport.
Regions
Full details from Access Sport
The Angus Irvine Playing Fields Fund, managed by Access Sport, provides grants to improve the lives of children and young people (up to age 25) by enabling access to inclusive community sport. Funding supports facility development, youth crime prevention programmes, volunteer training, and operational costs of community sports activities. Priority is given to sports clubs in deprived communities serving disadvantaged young people, women and girls, minority ethnic communities, and young offenders.
How to apply
Complete the online application form, which is available on the Access Sport website. The committee meets four times a year, and applications that meet the criteria are considered in January, April, July and October. You can contact the team on 020 7993 9883 or at aipff@accesssport.org.uk.
Frequently asked questions
How much can I get from the Angus Irvine Playing Fields Fund?
Grants are typically £2.5k to £5k, although a larger grant may be possible in some circumstances.
When is the Angus Irvine Playing Fields Fund deadline?
The fund closes on Friday 18 December at 1pm. It reopened for applications on Monday 12 October.
Can a school apply to the Angus Irvine Playing Fields Fund?
Not for school projects or school facility improvements that lack significant community involvement. Local community groups and sports clubs are the eligible applicants.
Read the guide: Grants for Sports Clubs UK: Where to Find Funding
Grants for sports clubs in the UK, from Sport England and the Football Foundation to small local funds. Who can apply, what gets funded and what is open now.
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