About the fund
The England Athletics Club Improvement Fund offers grants of up to £500 to help clubs reduce the barriers they face and create a safe, sustainable and welcoming environment for athletes and runners. The fund supports projects that strengthen club structures, develop people and enhance the overall club experience.
The fund is particularly focused on projects that aim to:
- Recruit and train new volunteers to increase capacity and improve member experience
- Support members to reach their potential by developing existing volunteers or offering new club experiences
- Improve retention of junior athletes through modernising the club and competition experience
- Strengthen how clubs attract and engage new members
- Help clubs transition to the new age‑group categories
Criteria
The fund is open to all England Athletics-affiliated clubs, with priority given to clubs that have not received funding in the past 12 months.
Additional criteria:
- Clubs that received funding for coach education last year cannot apply for coach education grants in this round, but may apply for other types of projects
- Clubs must meet all seven Club Standards and actively embed them into everyday club operations
- Clubs that received Club Improvement Funding between September and December 2025 are not eligible to apply for this round
Clubs that would like guidance on Club Standards before applying are encouraged to contact their regional Club Support Manager.
Applications close on 30 April 2026.