Personal Best Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £94,051 (2024-25)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: 4-6 weeks
• Grant Range: £500 - £2,000
• Geographic Focus: England only

Contact Details

Website: www.personalbestfoundation.org.uk

Email: info@personalbestfoundation.org.uk

Phone: 1213476543

Address: Athletics House, Alexander Stadium, Walsall Road, Birmingham, B42 2BE

Overview

The Personal Best Foundation is the official charity of England Athletics, launched in November 2022 following the Birmingham Commonwealth Games. With charity number 1200354, the foundation operates with total income of £135,076 and expenditure of £94,051 (2024-25), managed by 8 trustees with no paid staff earning over £60,000. The foundation's mission centers on providing children and young people from underserved communities with opportunities to achieve their personal best through athletics-based programs. Established to address the reality that over 4.5 million UK children live in poverty with limited access to sport, the foundation works to break down barriers and improve health and wellbeing through the power of athletics.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

• Small Grants Fund: £500 - £2,000 (annual cycle with October deadline, fixed application window)

Priority Areas

The foundation prioritizes projects supporting:

• Children and young people from low-income families
• Black, Asian, and underrepresented ethnic and faith-based communities
• Disabled youth and neurodiverse children
• Youth with mental health challenges
• Children in care
• All beneficiaries must be up to age 25

Funding covers:

• Delivery costs (people, facilities, equipment)
• Capacity building and volunteer training
• Skills development and qualifications

What They Don't Fund

• Individual applications (must be registered organization)
• Schools without significant community involvement
• Projects outside England
• Retrospective costs
• Projects without clear public benefit

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Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees:

• Mark Lawrie OBE (Chair) - CEO of StreetGames, awarded OBE in 2025 for services to education and young people
• Ali Smith (Treasurer) - Paralympic GB athlete, silver medallist Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024
• Sir Lawrence Clarke, Bt. OLY - Two-time Olympian, Managing Director at US hedge fund
• Chris Jones - CEO of England Athletics, founding trustee who believes the foundation will enable many more children to benefit from athletics
• Plus 6 additional trustees

Nine high-profile ambassadors including Olympians Donna Fraser OBE, Fatima Whitbread MBE, Hannah Cockroft OBE, and others champion the foundation's mission.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

1. Review eligibility criteria on foundation website
2. Prepare proposal offline (questions downloadable)
3. Submit online application form at personalbestfoundation.org.uk

Required organizational standards:

• Not-for-profit status
• Governing board with 3+ independent members
• Separate organizational bank account
• Clear safeguarding and health & safety policies

Decision Timeline

• Application deadline: Late October (2024 was October 29th at 11:59pm)
• Review panel: Mid-November
• Notification: Email within 2-4 weeks of panel meeting
• Total timeline: 4-6 weeks from deadline to decision

Success Rates

Not publicly disclosed. Foundation reports receiving far more applications than expected, suggesting competitive rounds. Funded 5 organizations in 2023 and 4 in 2024-25.

Reapplication Policy

No published policy. Unsuccessful applicants should contact foundation directly for guidance on future applications.

Application Success Factors

Based on recent grant recipients and foundation priorities:

• Target demographic clarity: Successful projects explicitly serve priority groups. Example: Leicester City in the Community's Running Foxes targets 16-25 year olds with mental health concerns in areas of high deprivation
• Barrier-breaking focus: Projects must demonstrate understanding of specific barriers and practical solutions. Example: Inclusive Sport Kent created fully accessible athletics sessions for disabled children
• Athletics centrality: This is not general sport funding - athletics must be the core vehicle for change
• Community roots: Projects need genuine reach into underserved communities. School projects must prove significant community access
• Sustainable models: Foundation values capacity building, indicating preference for projects developing beyond the grant period

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Be demographically specific - Generic “disadvantaged youth” won't suffice. Name exact populations: low-income, BAME, disabled, neurodiverse, mental health challenges, or care-experienced
• Leverage England Athletics connections - As their official charity, existing relationships with EA or affiliated clubs may strengthen applications
• Think component funding - With £2,000 maximum, target specific elements (equipment, training, pilot sessions) rather than entire programs
• Plan for October cycles - Annual deadline pattern requires advance planning. Check website for 2025 dates
• Prepare for contact - Foundation may reach out before panel review, so be ready to elaborate
• Emphasize athletics benefits - Connect how athletics specifically (not general sport) addresses your community's needs
• Prove community access - For school-based projects, detail how wider community will benefit beyond pupils

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• The Carmela & Ronnie Pignatelli Foundation
• Elifar Foundation Limited
• The Tudwick Foundation
• Hedley Foundation Limited
• The True Colours Trust
• Isle of Wight Foundation
• The Greenslade Family Foundation
• Schroder Charity Trust
• THE JOHN S COHEN FOUNDATION
• The Tunstall Jubilee Foundation

References

1. Personal Best Foundation Official Website - www.personalbestfoundation.org.uk
2. Small Grants Fund 2024 - https://www.personalbestfoundation.org.uk/what-we-do/small-grants-fund-2024/
3. UK Charity Commission Register - Personal Best Foundation (1200354) - https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk
4. England Athletics - Personal Best Foundation Partnership - https://www.englandathletics.org/personal-best-foundation/
5. Personal Best Foundation Trustees - https://www.personalbestfoundation.org.uk/about-us/our-people/
6. Small Grant Programmes 2024-25 Recipients - https://www.personalbestfoundation.org.uk/what-we-do/small-grant-programmes/