Please see below a list of funds to support and sustain sports clubs, groups or individuals delivering sport & physical activity in the Tees Valley. We are working with a great network of partners who have considerable experience of supporting the clubs and community groups sector. These include local authority staff, Volunteer Development Agencies, Sported and StreetGames.
Grants Online has a developed a free-to-access page for Covid-19 emergency funding. It one of the most exhaustive lists available for free and covers UK-wide, national and local emergency funds funds. It is also very regularly updated, so make sure to check back from time to time. Access Grants Online Coronavirus page here.
Crowdfunding (Places and Spaces)
Crowdfunder and Sport England have teamed up to make £1 million of match funding available to help the sport and physical activity sector through the ongoing coronavirus crisis. If your sports club has experienced short term financial difficulty, or needs to adapt how it operates, due to the pandemic you can set up a crowdfunding campaign and apply for up to £10,000 match funding today. If you have already started a crowdfunding campaign you can apply for the match funding via your Crowdfunder dashboard.
For support with developing your campaign please contact jack.liddle@wearerise.co.uk 07944 462 195 who is supporting organisations across the North East.
Funding for environmental projects
Sustainability and having an environmental focus can help secure funding for upgrades and projects as well as benefit the planet. Many funders now ask for sustainability to be a factor considered in all projects, particularly building works. Some funders have dedicated funding pots for projects with an environmentally sustainable focus and many will give extra weight to applications with a sustainable agenda.
Rayne Foundation
Deadline: 10/07/2026
Grants are available to charities in the UK working to bring clear and direct benefits to vulnerable and disadvantaged people in its areas of special interest.
Amount: up to £30,000
Austin and Hope Pilkington Trust
Deadline: 31/07/2026
Grants are available to registered UK charities that work with communities in the UK for projects that address specific categories set out by the Trust each year.
Amount: up to £5,000
Postcode Innovation Trust – Dream Fund 2026-27
Deadline: 31/07/2026
One award will be granted to a single transformational and ground breaking project in one or more areas of the UK.
Amount: up to £5,000,000
Henry Smith Foundation – Equity in Justice Fund
Deadline: 05/08/2026
Grants are available for organisations delivering specialist services for racially minoritised young men aged 18–25 who are in contact with the criminal justice system within the UK.
Audible – Open Call
Deadline: 31/07/2026
Grants are available for registered charities across the UK to deliver projects aimed at underrepresented youth aged between 12 and 18 years old that incorporate listening experiences.
Amount: up to £30,000
Giving Machine – Community Grants
Deadline: 31/07/2026
Small unrestricted grants are available to charitable organisations across the UK.
Amount: up to £250
60 for 60 Community Campaign
Deadline: 01/08/2026
A competition for UK community organisations offering one winning organisation new uPVC windows and 59 runner-up grants for community projects.
Social Investment Gateway Programme
Deadline: 17/07/2026
A free support programme with possibility of grants for charities, social enterprises and community organisations in England who are considering social investment within the next three years.
Barchester Healthcare Foundation
Deadline: 31/07/2026
Grants are available for small local groups and small local charities to improve the quality of life and combat loneliness in older people as well as adults with a physical or mental disability in England, Scotland, and Wales.
Amount: up to £2,600
Warburtons Families Matter Community Grants Programme
Deadline: 17/08/2026
Small grants are available for local projects, activities and organisations that have charitable aims and that will be of real direct benefit to families in England, Scotland and Wales.
Amount: up to £400
FCC Community Action Fund – England
Deadline: 19/08/2026
Grants are available to not-for-profit organisations for public amenity projects eligible under Object D of the Landfill Communities Fund (LCF) and located within 10 miles of an eligible FCC Environment landfill site.
Amount: up to £100,000
National River Walks
Deadline: 27/08/2026
Grants for national river walks across the regions of England (North East England; Yorkshire and the Humber; East Midlands; West Midlands; East of England; London; South East; South West). The walk must run alongside a river (either a main river or ordinary watercourse) and be close to disadvantaged areas.
Amount: up to £1,350,000
SUEZ Communities Trust Landfill Communities Fund – Primary Fund (England)
Deadline: 02/09/2026
Grants are available to non-profit making organisations in qualifying areas of England for improvements to local community facilities, historic buildings and structures, sport and recreation facilities.
Amount: up to £50,000
Sport England – Movement Fund
Grants and other resources are available for community groups, local sports clubs and grassroots organisations across England with ideas of how to tackle inequalities and help get more people active as well as new initiatives that improve both environmental sustainability and physical activity opportunities for those who need it most.
Amount: up to £15,000
Newcastle Youth Fund
Deadline: 17/07/2026
Grants are available for not-for-profit organisations across Newcastle to deliver projects and activities that benefit and improve the lives of young people aged 13 to 19 (or up to 25 for young people with special educational needs and disabilities).
Amount: up to £25,000
The Newcastle Fund
Deadline: 23/07/2026
Grants are available for voluntary and community sector organisations which are working with local communities in Newcastle to support and develop active citizens, empower people to effect positive change and offer new ways of working.
Amount: up to £25,000
Thirteen Group – Community Fund 2026/27
Deadline: 23/07/2026
Grants are available to groups and organisations working in areas where Thirteen have homes for projects that help communities thrive and support wellbeing and sustainability.
Amount: up to £600
Community Foundation North East – The Mayor’s Opportunity Fund
Deadline: 27/07/2026
Grants for small charities and community groups for practical, immediate support to help residents in County Durham, Gateshead, Newcastle, Northumberland, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, Sunderland manage the cost of living crisis.
Amount: up to £7,500
Community Foundation North East – Pargiter Trust Fund
Deadline: 31/08/2026
Grant for community groups and charities supporting people aged 65 years old and over to be independent, health and socially included in Tyne & Wear and Northumberland.
Amount: up to £10,000
Joyce Fletcher Charitable Trust
Deadline: 01/10/2026
Grants are available for registered charities specialising in music or the performing arts in a social or therapeutic context in the South West of England or organisations working with environmental issues or sports and children in the North of England.
Amount: up to £5,000