There are a number of funding opportunities available for riding centres and clubs. Before you consider applying for any funding, though, we recommend you use one or more resources to support you. Buddle from Sport England, Club Support from Sport Wales and Clubs from Sport Scotland are great resources that will help you to run your organisation, including applying for funding.
Please note that most of these funding opportunities are open to certain types of not-for-profit organisations such as charities, community interest companies (CIC), community interest organisations (CIO) or community amateur sports clubs (CASC). Funding from the Sports Councils (Sport England, Sport Wales and Sport Scotland) may also fund companies limited by guarantee with a not-for-profit statement, but you would need to check with any potential funders before applying.
We're not currently aware of any grant funding being available for limited liability partnerships or sole traders.
We recommend you take independent business advice in relation to company structure if you're considering making any changes as there are likely to be other impacts to your business. We have two eLearning modules which includes useful information on Governance and Legal structures.
Get Grants provide practical support, advice, and information to grant fundraisers and grant makers. Providing, free resources, networking events, funding finder and online training courses. The Funding Finder is a free resource for grant fundraisers with information on hundreds of grant funders, including what they fund, how much they give, and how to apply.
Become a member of Sported and receive free finance and fundraising support through monthly funding e-bulletins, bespoke funding reports or funding application feedback
In England, the local Active Partnership in your county will be able to signpost you to other opportunities in your area.
For more assistance regarding funding, email funding.support@bef.co.uk.
One of the first places to start is with a Funding search. There are a number of search tools you can try.
We have pulled out a few examples to get you started below:
The BIFFA Award offers a range of different funding opportunities, aimed primarily at not-for-profit organisations that are based within a 5-15 radius to one of their BIFFA sites, depending on the grant. The most accessible grants are:
Veolia offers a Community Grant Scheme aimed at not-for-profit organisation of between £10,000 - £75,000 to create or improve buildings or outside spaces for the benefit of the community. Organisations would need to check to see if their project site is located in an area that Veolia fund.
Sport England are looking to support sports and communities to protect and adapt the environments in which sport and physical activity takes place and work together towards our collective net zero ambitions. The aim is for new initiatives that improve both environmental sustainability and physical activity opportunities for the people and communities who need it the most.
Applications must deliver against at least one of Sport England’s six Every Move environmental priorities:
Applications are through the Sport England Movement Fund (further details below).
Below we have outlined some of the other funding opportunities that are available for sporting projects. This may include facilities/equipment (capital), but also includes other costs (revenue). This is by no means exhaustive and appropriate funding often depends on the nature of the project you'd like funded.
Sport England's Movement Fund offers crowdfunding pledges, grants and resources to improve physical activity opportunities for the people and communities who need it the most.
They offer investments up to £15,000. If your project aligns with their priorities, they're able to fund a broad range of costs and items. Please read their funding guidance before submitting a bid.
This fund offers a range of different opportunities, aimed primarily at not-for-profit organisations. The most accessible grants are...
For more information, click here.
Children in Need offers a range of different funding opportunities aimed primarily at not-for-profit organisations.
For funding opportunities in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, click on the links below:
The British Horse Society aims to increase the number of qualified BHS Coaches across the UK, from those individuals currently working at BHS Approved Centres. The BHS Career Transition Fund is designed to support individuals who have obtained BHS Stage 1 (or Equivalent), to train for BHS qualifications at Stage 2 and Stage 3.
It's possible to galvanise the support of your local community and supporters to raise funds for specific projects through crowdfunding such as Crowdfunder. The idea is to use the internet and social media to collect relatively small amounts of money from a large number of people, usually in return for incentives and rewards.
There are a number of organisations who offer this service. You'll need to select an organisation that meets your needs, so carefully read about what they offer in relation to the percentage of the money raised that they take.
British Equestrian has collated a number of useful resources to support centres with preparing a funding application.
See below for Get Grants recent presentations on fundraising, aimed at charities and community groups:
One of the key ways of providing evidence of need for projects within a funding application is to include externally verifiable quote or statistics. View Get Grants Evidence of Need document here: Evidence of Need Handout
View a list of current funders here: BEF Grants list Please note those in bold accept applications from CICs.
As a BHS Approved Centre employers benefit from:
ABRS+ offer a number of webinars and workshops around funding and fundraising.
Thanks to the generosity of current and late Members of the Company the Charitable Trust is able to make grants to related organisations.
An application is more likely to be favourably considered if the project is for the better health and welfare of under privileged young riders or the advancement of the lorinery trade. The Charitable Trust does not fund individuals entering sponsored charitable events for example fun runs.
Find out more information about the grants available here.