Living Cheer club resources
Funding for UK Cheerleading Clubs
A practical guide to grants and other funding that could help you set up, run or expand a local cheerleading club.
Start here
Can your cheerleading club apply?
Most grants are for not-for-profit organisations
Many funders will not award money to a privately owned, profit-distributing cheer gym. A club will normally need to be a properly constituted not-for-profit club, charity, CIO, CIC or Community Amateur Sports Club.
If the club is commercially operated, it may be able to work with a school, charity, community centre or youth organisation on a genuine, separately managed community programme.
Sport England recognition and affiliation
Cheerleading is recognised by Sport England, with SportCheer England listed as its recognised governing body. Sport England classifies cheerleading as a higher-risk sport, so affiliation to SportCheer England will normally be required for Sport England funding.
Check the recognised governing bodies list →Applications open now or shortly
Current cheerleading club funding opportunities
These date-sensitive opportunities are listed in deadline order. Some are highly local or targeted, so check the full criteria before spending time on an application.
Deadlines can change
This list was checked on 26 October 2026. Open the funder’s page before applying to confirm that the round remains open and that your club, location and proposed costs are eligible.
Liverpool Bay CCS Community Benefit Fund
Deadline: 12 noon, 2 November 2026
Supports education and skills, environmental improvements, or local heritage and culture in communities hosting the Liverpool Bay CCS infrastructure.
Possible cheer fit: a structured mentoring, volunteering or life-skills programme delivered through cheerleading. A routine equipment-only request is unlikely to fit.
Check the Flintshire fund →Wind-farm community benefit funds
Deadline: 1pm, 5 November 2026
Three local funds support eligible community, youth and sporting activity close to their respective wind farms.
Possible cheer fit: shared equipment, inclusive cheer provision, core project costs or small facility improvements for clubs in the qualifying radius.
Thornog fund →Brockaghboy fund →
Long Mountain fund →
easyfundraising Impact Fund
Deadline: 11.59pm, 8 November 2026
Unrestricted funding for UK not-for-profit organisations. It can support equipment, activities, facility improvements or a contribution to core and running costs.
Best for: explaining exactly what £1,000 will enable your club to do, who will benefit and what lasting difference it will make.
View the Impact Fund →Falkirk HSCP Localities Fund
Deadline: 1pm, 12 November 2026
Revenue funding for local activity improving health, mental wellbeing, inclusion or recovery in specified Falkirk communities.
Possible cheer fit: a programme directly tackling isolation, health inequalities or barriers to participation. Routine competitive-cheer costs are unlikely to qualify.
Check eligible Falkirk localities →Sports Group Grants
Deadline: 3pm, 13 November 2026
Constituted voluntary sports clubs can apply for equipment and free safeTALK training. Three to five members must register for and complete the training.
Best for: shared training equipment for a community-focused cheer club prepared to meet the training requirement.
View Sports Group Grants →Gwent High Sheriff’s Community Fund
Deadline: 12 noon, 16 November 2026
Supports positive activities for young people aged up to 25 across Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Monmouthshire, Newport and Torfaen.
Best for: a youth cheer programme providing safe activities, positive role models, skills and confidence. Shortlisted applicants must attend the grant-making event.
View the Gwent fund →North East Mayor’s Opportunity Fund
Next deadline: 16 November 2026
For practical cost-of-living interventions in County Durham, Gateshead, Newcastle, Northumberland, North Tyneside, South Tyneside and Sunderland.
Possible cheer fit: removing participation costs for families experiencing financial hardship. General equipment or coaching without a cost-of-living purpose will be a weak fit.
View the Mayor’s Opportunity Fund →Youth Joy Fund
Deadline: 12 noon, 18 November 2026
For LGBT+-led organisations or established LGBT+-led provision supporting young people aged 11–25. Applicants need at least two years of youth-work delivery and existing LGBT+ youth provision.
Possible cheer fit: an established LGBT+-led cheer or youth project building belonging, confidence and wellbeing.
View the Youth Joy Fund →Aldi Scottish Sport Fund
Deadline: 22 November 2026
Registered community sports organisations can apply for help with equipment, kit, training costs and other essentials.
Best for: shared cheer equipment, team kit or training support for an eligible club in a DG or TD postcode.
View the Scottish Sport Fund →Pilkington Charities’ Fund
Deadline: 4pm, 27 November 2026
This round is specifically for health-related work supporting people with formally diagnosed health conditions. Applicants must have operated for at least three years.
Possible cheer fit: adapted provision for people with diagnosed conditions. A general wellbeing or affordability project will not meet the published focus.
Check the health criteria →Small Projects Fund for Thetford
Deadline: 12 noon, 30 November 2026
Capital funding for organisations embedded in Thetford. It can support equipment, storage and building improvements, but not operating or activity costs.
Best for: mats, storage or premises improvements that engage young people, promote wellbeing or bring communities together.
View the Thetford fund →Matthew Good Foundation Grants for Good
Current quarterly cut-off: 15 December 2026
Flexible, unrestricted funding for small UK charities, voluntary groups and social enterprises with annual income below £50,000.
Best for: a small community cheer organisation needing help with venue hire, coaching, equipment, insurance or core costs.
View Grants for Good →HPC Community Fund: Active Spaces
Next deadline: 5pm, 16 December 2026
For community-owned or managed assets affected by Hinkley Point C. It can support repairs, accessibility, energy efficiency, equipment and pilot activities.
Possible cheer fit: a club that owns or manages a community gym or works with the organisation responsible for the building.
View Active Spaces →Angus Irvine Playing Fields Fund
Deadline: 1pm, 18 December 2026
Supports clubs increasing access for disadvantaged young people aged 5–18. Priority is given to parts of Greater Manchester, Oxfordshire, Greater London and the West Midlands.
Best for: affordable junior cheer, volunteer qualifications and coaching for young people otherwise excluded from sport.
View the application criteria →Cash4Clubs
Deadline: 5pm, 1 January 2027
This round supports organisations delivering sport or physical activity exclusively to adults aged 18 and over.
Important: a club is ineligible if it has any junior members or runs any junior activities, even if the proposed project is solely for adults.
Read the Cash4Clubs rules →Be Active Wales Fund
Expression of interest deadline: 9am, 8 January 2027
Can support equipment, coaching qualifications, first aid courses and limited venue hire for a new team, age group or club section. Applicants must contribute at least 10%.
Best for: a Welsh cheer club launching or expanding a team, buying shared equipment or developing coaches.
View Be Active Wales →Support for Sport Fund
Rolling while funding remains available
Supports start-up costs, equipment, disability-inclusive equipment, qualifications, taster sessions and limited venue hire.
Best for: beginner sessions, volunteer development or shared equipment. Confirm any governing-body affiliation requirement before applying.
View Bridgend’s Support for Sport Fund →Best places to begin
Main cheerleading club funding opportunities
These are strong starting points for a new or growing community cheerleading club. Check the location and eligibility rules carefully.
Sport England Movement Fund
For new sessions, equipment, venue hire, coaching and projects helping more people become active.
Best for: launching an affordable beginner programme or removing participation barriers.
Visit the Movement Fund →National Lottery Awards for All England
Supports community activities, stronger relationships, improved spaces and projects helping people reach their potential.
Best for: start-up delivery costs, community sessions and inclusion work.
View the England fund →National Lottery Awards for All Wales
Supports projects that bring people together, strengthen communities and help people fulfil their potential.
Best for: community-led cheerleading and youth projects.
View the Wales fund →National Lottery Awards for All Scotland
Sports projects can seek support for community activities, events and work helping Scottish communities thrive.
Best for: a new local club, equipment and participation programmes.
View the Scotland fund →National Lottery Awards for All Northern Ireland
Supports projects bringing communities together, improving local places and helping people reach their potential.
Best for: inclusive local cheerleading and youth development.
View the Northern Ireland fund →Be Active Wales Fund
Can support equipment, qualifications, venue hire for new teams and some facility improvements. A contribution is normally required.
Best for: starting a team or expanding participation in Wales.
Visit Be Active Wales →Sport NI Funding
Sport NI periodically offers funding and crowdfunding support for participation, equipment and facility projects.
Best for: checking current Northern Ireland sports funding rounds.
View Sport NI funding →Boost Charitable Trust
Funds smaller not-for-profit sports initiatives addressing disability or disadvantage, including some start-up projects.
Best for: inclusion programmes and subsidised participation.
View Boost applications →Smaller awards and support
Corporate and supermarket funding
These programmes often operate in rounds or through local nominations. Check them regularly and speak to the community representative at your nearest branch.
Asda Foundation
Funding for grassroots community organisations, including programmes supporting young people, community spaces and active lives.
Approach: Check the current open grants and speak to the Community Champion at your nearest Asda store.
Visit Asda Foundation →Arnold Clark Community Fund
Support for charities, community groups, social enterprises and sports organisations located near Arnold Clark branches.
Approach: Applicants must normally be located within 50 miles of an Arnold Clark branch.
Visit Arnold Clark →Persimmon Community Champions
Persimmon’s regional offices make donations to local organisations, including sports clubs.
Approach: Explain the amount required, the club’s location and the direct local benefit.
Apply to Persimmon →Co-op Local Community Fund
Supports local causes that bring communities together, improve wellbeing or provide access to opportunities.
Approach: Check whether applications for the next round of local causes are open.
Visit the Co-op fund →Tesco community programmes
Tesco’s grant focus can change. Check the current programme carefully before applying.
Approach: Only apply where your proposed activity directly meets the current programme’s purpose.
Check Tesco’s current grants →Local employers and businesses
Local businesses may support uniforms, equipment, participant bursaries, events or individual teams.
Approach: Provide a short sponsorship proposal showing the community impact and recognition available.
Ask Living Cheer for kit information →Targeted programmes
Youth, disability and inclusion funding
BBC Children in Need
Funding for work supporting disadvantaged children aged 18 or under. A normal competition squad is unlikely to qualify without a strong social purpose.
BlueSpark Foundation
Supports sporting equipment, training and opportunities that develop young people’s confidence, teamwork and skills.
Jack Petchey Foundation
Grants and recognition programmes for youth organisations working with 11–25-year-olds in London and Essex.
Other targeted routes
Investigate local disability, mental-health, community-safety and Police and Crime Commissioner youth funds.
Premises and capital work
Funding for gyms and community facilities
Facility grants normally require the applicant to own the building or hold a sufficiently long lease. They are usually more suitable for a community facility than a privately owned commercial gym.
Biffa Award — £10,000–£75,000
Other landfill community funds
Morrisons Foundation — up to £20,000
B&Q and Screwfix foundations
sportscotland Sport Facilities Fund
Local capital funding
Do not overlook these
Local and regional funding
- Local authority community grants
- Council sports-development funding
- Councillor and ward-budget grants
- Town, parish and community councils
- Local youth-service grants
- Holiday activity programme contracts
- Public-health funds
- Police and Crime Commissioner youth funds
- Community foundations
- Active Partnerships in England
- Leisure trusts and Community Sports Hubs
- Housing association grants
- Windfarm and renewable-energy funds
- Airport, port and utility funds
- Mayoral and regeneration funds
- University and student-union funding
Beyond grant applications
Fundraising and match funding
Set a realistic target, prepare rewards and identify supporters before launching a crowdfunding campaign.
Get application-ready
Cheerleading club funding checklist
Recommended first steps
Where should a new club apply first?
- Your home-nation sports fundSport England, Sport Wales, sportscotland or Sport NI.
- National Lottery Awards for AllBuild the application around community need and measurable benefit.
- Your local community foundationSearch by postcode for smaller trusts and local funds.
- Your council or Active PartnershipAsk about community, youth and participation grants.
- Current deadline funds and local sponsorsMatch the location, age group and community purpose to each fund’s rules.
Frequently asked questions
Cheerleading club funding FAQs
Can a new cheerleading club apply for a grant?
Yes. Several programmes consider start-up projects, but the club will normally need a constitution, committee, organisational bank account, safeguarding arrangements and a clear not-for-profit purpose.
Can funding pay for cheerleading equipment?
Some grants can cover mats, training equipment, uniforms or loan kit, particularly where the purchase allows more people to participate. Check excluded costs before applying or ordering anything.
Can a commercial cheer gym receive community funding?
Most community grants do not fund profit-distributing businesses. A commercial gym may be able to partner with an eligible not-for-profit organisation on a genuine community project.
What makes an application stronger?
Identify a specific group currently missing out, explain the barriers they face, show evidence of demand, provide a realistic budget and describe measurable outcomes.
