Extra £5m for Active Together crowdfunding partnership
8 Sep 2021 10:43 AM
The collaboration with Crowdfunder has seen 475 grassroots sports clubs helped by our match-funding since May 2020
Grassroots sports clubs received a boost today with the news we’re investing a further £5 million of National Lottery funding into our partnership with Crowdfunder.
The Return to Play: Active Together fund evolved from our 2018 collaboration with Crowdfunder and sees us match-fund up to £10,000 for not-for-profit organisations that raise funds via the crowdfunding website.
As we continue to help grassroots organisations bounce back from the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, we know public support is vital to help local sports clubs promote health and wellbeing in our communities.
A crowdfunding campaign demonstrates that support and to date, since May 2020, the fund’s supported 475 clubs and raised a total of £7,103,289 – with, on average, each club raising £10,508 from their crowd alone.
Research last year showed that 97% of local sports clubs in England lost income as a result of lockdown, with many facing permanent closure, and for our executive director of tackling inactivity, Mike Diaper, crowdfunding is a good way to help those in need.
“Crowdfunder is a brilliant platform which enables clubs and organisations to build stronger ties to their communities,” he said.
“Made possible by the National Lottery, we’re delighted to make £5m of funding available as part of our Active Together partnership.”
There are more than 72,000 sports clubs across England, staffed by 4.6m volunteers and serving more than 11m people.
All sports clubs, charities and other community organisations who deliver sport or activity in England are able to apply for up to £10,000 in match funding to help their communities get active.
Crowdfunder’s partnership with us is also being replicated by similar collaborations with the other home nations sports councils as they look to support as many sports clubs as possible.
But it’s not just funding they’ll receive from a successful campaign, though, with Crowdfunder offering free 1-2-1 coaching by experts, advice and guidance on campaign improvements, access to free online courses, free monthly 30-minute webinars and no platform fees for non-profit fundraisers.
And for Murry Toms, campaign director at Crowdfunder, he sees Crowdfunder as a lifeline for grassroots sports organisations.
“At Crowdfunder, we saw first-hand how many sports clubs struggled during the pandemic. Many of the clubs who came to us for support told us their usual funding streams had dried up,” he said.
“Our partnership with Sport England will help us make a bigger impact, meaning we can channel extra funding into club projects.
"But it's more than just giving. As a rewards-based platform, Crowdfunder is an effective community engagement tool. In most cases the initial aim is to raise some money, but the end result can be a re-energised community.”
Return to Play: Active Together