Access Sport

Registered charity 1156819 · since 2014accesssport.org.uk·England, Greater London, Greater Manchester, Oxfordshire, Wales, West Midlands·Updated 30 October 2026

At a glance

£108k
Annual giving, year to 31 March 2025
From filed accounts
Open to applications
Fixed application deadlines · unsolicited applications welcome

Key takeaways

  • The Angus Irvine Playing Fields Fund is the part of Access Sport's giving most relevant to a small community group, and its stated range for that fund is £2,500 to £5,000, so a request in that band fits.
  • Only local community groups and sports clubs can apply, so individuals, schools without significant community involvement and other kinds of applicant should not.
  • The fund wants projects that include young people aged 5 to 18 who would otherwise be excluded from sport, and it does not pay for 100% of facility builds or renovations, so facility requests need other funding secured or a willingness to work with Access Sport on third-party contributions.
  • Applications go through the fund's online form, which reopens on 12 October and closes on 18 December at 1pm, so start early.
  • Priority goes to clubs in designated areas and to projects in deprived boroughs or wards, and the fund looks for long-term sustainability and a competitive cost per new participant.

Overview

Access Sport is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (charity number 1156819).

Access Sport is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (charity number 1156819) that works to make inclusion the norm in community sport. It tackles barriers faced by disadvantaged and disabled young people and trains, equips and supports community sports clubs, organisations, coaches and volunteers to provide inclusive sport. Its work runs through two strands, place-based Changing Places and sport-focused Changing Sports, and the clubs it supports are invited to its Inclusive Club Network. It paid £107,888 in its latest reported annual giving.

What they fund

Priority Areas

Access Sport works to make inclusion the norm in community sport, tackling barriers faced by disadvantaged and disabled young people. It trains, equips and supports community sports clubs, organisations, coaches and volunteers to provide inclusive sport and physical activity. Through the Angus Irvine Playing Fields Fund, it gives grants to local community groups and sports clubs for projects that increase opportunities for young people to play sport, with priority for clubs in designated areas and projects in deprived boroughs or wards. Grants can support facilities, volunteer development, long-term sustainability and community sports activities. Its approach is targeted and hyperlocal, tailored to each community, and combines expertise in social inclusion and disability inclusion with on-the-ground insight and efforts to effect policy and system change.

Themes

  • Sports facilities
  • Youth crime prevention
  • Volunteer development
  • Club sustainability
  • Community sports delivery

Geographic Focus

England; Wales; Greater London; Greater Manchester; Oxfordshire; West Midlands.

What they don't fund

  • Angus Irvine Playing Fields Fund only:
    • 100% of facility builds or renovation projects (capital costs)
    • School projects or school facility improvements that do not have significant community involvement
    • Individuals
    • Applicants other than local community groups and sports clubs
    • Projects not based in Greater Manchester, Oxfordshire, Greater London, or the West Midlands, supported by Access Sport’s Changing Places programme
    • Projects not based in or serving a borough or ward within the top 20% Indices of Multiple Deprivation
    • Projects that do not focus on including young people, age 5 to 18 years old, who otherwise be excluded from sport

How to apply

Applicants apply using the fund’s online application form. If they have a safeguarding policy, they email it to AIPFF after submitting the application.

Deadlines: Application rounds have an opening date and a closing date.

Application windows:

  • Angus Irvine Playing Fields Fund: Reopens on 12 October and closes on 18 December at 1pm

Who can apply:

  • Angus Irvine Playing Fields Fund
    • The fund is available to local community groups and sports clubs, with priority given to sports clubs: Based in Greater Manchester, Oxfordshire, Greater London, or the West Midlands, supported by Access Sport’s Changing Places programme and Based in or serving a borough or ward within the top 20% Indices of Multiple Deprivation
    • Providing a competitive cost per new participant from within the designated target groups.
    • Applications must show a commitment to long-term sustainability.

What to send:

  • Angus Irvine Playing Fields Fund: A safeguarding policy, if the applicant has one, must be sent after submitting the application.

Application success factors

What the charity says:

  • The fund expects projects to show a commitment to long-term sustainability.
  • The fund looks for a competitive cost per new participant from the designated target groups.
  • The fund prioritises projects focused on young people who would otherwise be excluded from sport.
  • For facility projects, clubs must have other funding secured or be willing to work with Access Sport to secure third-party contributions.
  • Grantees agree to provide project updates, photos and a case study at six months and one year.

Where they fund

Where it says it funds

Similar funders

Funders supporting work similar to Access Sport.

Five years of accounts

Financial yearIncomeExpenditureGrants paidAccounts document
year to 31 March 2021£1,253,112£1,304,291£36,608Accounts for year to 31 March 2021
year to 31 March 2022£1,688,917£1,724,967£45,419Accounts for year to 31 March 2022
year to 31 March 2023£1,864,566£1,710,360£110,628Accounts for year to 31 March 2023
year to 31 March 2024£2,591,602£2,000,441£117,877Accounts for year to 31 March 2024
year to 31 March 2025£3,057,327£3,140,159£107,888Accounts for year to 31 March 2025

Income vs grants paid

IncomeGrants paid

Total value each financial year

YE 2021
£36,608 grants
YE 2022
£45,419 grants
YE 2023
£111k grants
YE 2024
£118k grants
YE 2025
£108k paid

Grants paid stayed within income across the 5 years shown.

  • Grants paid, year to 31 March 2021; year to 31 March 2022; year to 31 March 2023; year to 31 March 2024: grants to institutions, as reported on the charity register (Part B).
  • Grants paid, year to 31 March 2025: grants paid out in the year.

Figures from the charity’s filed accounts and its register entry. The document icon links to the charity’s entry on the Charity Commission register, where its filed accounts can be found.

Sources

  • Annual report (year to 31 March 2025)

This profile draws on the funder’s own website as well as its filed accounts.

Sources last checked on 30 October 2026.

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