‘Sports Club Enhancement’ Fund

The Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council fund is open to constituted Sports Clubs who are affiliated to their National Governing Body as well their local Sports Advisory Body, Sport Lisburn & Castlereagh. This grant is exclusively for sports clubs based in the Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council area that meet the following criteria:

1. An open and accountable governing document (Constitution or Articles and Memorandum of Association, or applicable governing document) that has been properly adopted.
2. A bank account in the name of the organisation, and an annual set of independently examined financial accounts, endorsed at an Annual General Meeting. (profit/loss table and full set of bank statements)
3. A Management Committee or Governing Board, elected by its membership at an Annual General Meeting, and elected office bearers.
4. Have appropriate Safeguarding Policies for protecting Children and Adults at Risk, who are involved as part of the group’s programme.
5. Public Liability Insurance, minimum £5 million, to cover all risk associated with the activities of the organisation.
6. Has Sports Development as the primary focus of the organisation, as outlined in the governing document.
7. In operation for more than 12 months.

The required supporting documentation must be uploaded with the application.

Sporting organisations have the opportunity to apply to the fund which has been divided into four categories. Sports clubs can only apply to one category which they feel will significantly impact their club and which can provide evidence of tangible beneficial outcomes:

• Sports Related Equipment (not clothing, merchandise or kits) or Specialist equipment e.g. disability equipment, performance analysis equipment. (Fundamental equipment is capped at £500.00, any request over this for balls, bibs or cones will be declined.)
• Club Development Officer Post which would see a minimum of 200 hours of coaching delivery in a school/club setting (must be an unsalaried employee).
• Sports Event e.g. one-off event to help boost the existing membership of your club or a New Sports Programme e.g. a programme aimed at encouraging participation for an under-represented group or increasing club participation.
• Up-skilling of coaches/volunteers through Coach Education courses and workshops (Please note it is imperative that Clubs arrange or register coaches on courses within the allotted project timeframe. If not, any funding awarded will be withdrawn).

The scheme will not fund non-tangible running costs such as:

• Projects funded within the previous financial year
• Rent/Lease
• Facility Hire (for existing training sessions)
• Utilities - electric, heat, light, water
• Governing Body fees
• Insurance (essential building/contents insurance, public liability, pro-rata)
• Defibrillator and associated running costs.

Please note that only one application is permitted per club. Multiple applications relating to different sections of a club will NOT be considered.

The minimum grant Sports Clubs can apply for is £500 and the maximum amount is £3,000. Consideration may be given to products or services purchased from 1 April 2026.

Please note Cash Payments cannot be accepted. In the event of the funding call being oversubscribed, LCCC reserve the right to apply a reduction across all applications to bring the awards in line with the available budget. The award panel reserve the right to take into consideration funding that has previously been awarded through the Sports Club Accelerator Fund.

Click here to apply online

If you have any queries after reading the online application, please contact the Sports Development team by emailing: christine.cooke@lisburncastlereagh.gov.uk or faron.morrison@lisburncastlereagh.gov.uk