Cash4Clubs release £500,000 for community sport in UK & Ireland

Adult lacrosse clubs* around the UK can bid for a share of £500,000-worth of funding thanks to Flutter UKI’s Cash4Clubs initiative alongside former footballers Alan Shearer and Graeme Souness.

Grants of £2,000 are available for up to 225 successful applicants with five £10,000 awards up for grabs “to deliver transformational change for struggling clubs” too.

This latest round of funding is focused specifically on adult participation, “targeting teams that use sport to tackle broader social issues such as mental health challenges, rural isolation, and economic deprivation”, with over half of clubs who have received funding since 2024 catering to disabled athletes or racially diverse communities.

Previous winners of grants have covered up to 100 different types of sport with an emphasis on giving a helping hand to clubs in the more disadvantaged corners of the UK.

Ultimately, the Cash4Clubs initiative is aimed at helping community clubs attract new members, buy new equipment, and drive participation in health and fitness “at a time of rising costs and growing demand for affordable activities.”

Since launching in 2008, Cash4Clubs has directed over £7 million into community sports across the UK and Ireland.

Cash4Clubs is run in conjunction with the charity Sported, who help assess the bids and distribute the funds.

Sports presenter and Sported trustee, Jill Douglas MBE, said:

“We couldn't deliver on the scale that we do and support the thousands of people that we support if it wasn't for partnerships like the one we had with Flutter."

"All of us are feeling a squeeze in our finances and you see clubs really struggling to deliver the opportunities that are so important in our communities. Cash4Clubs’ unrestricted funding allows clubs to use that money where they see fit. The program allows the people on the ground to make those vital decisions. Giving that autonomy is massively important.”

Community clubs have until 5pm on Friday 1 January 2027 to apply and more information about the Cash4Clubs initiative can be found HERE.

*Please note, Cash4Clubs cannot accept applications from organisations who work with young people aged under 18. Even if the funding is specifically for adult activity, they cannot fund any organisations who have young people as part of their membership or include any young people in their activities.