Competition Grant Application

Dip for finish line at 2024 Relay Championships

As part of our ongoing commitment to delivering an inclusive and sustainable competition pathway, we are pleased to re-open our new funding model established in 2025 to better support the evolving needs of affiliated competition and event providers in England.

Strategic focus of the Competition Grants

The current funding model reflects our strategic priorities around inclusivity, performance development and long-term viability of competitions at all levels. With this in mind, we are ensuring that the resources and grants available are directed to where they can make the greatest difference.

We have taken on feedback from key stakeholders and want to ensure that our funding opportunities and money granted is both transparent, and accessible. From grassroots to elite levels, our focus will remain on enhancing the quality, accessibility, and relevance of competitive experiences for athletes at all stages of their journey.

Applications for grants over £2000 will require as much detail and evidence as possible to be considered for funding. Closing date 16 November 2026

Submit an application

Key information

Updates to the grant system

The new funding model reflects our strategic priorities around inclusivity, performance development and long-term viability of competitions at all levels. With this in mind, we are ensuring that the resources and grants available are directed to where they can make the greatest difference.

With the system changes, we have taken on feedback from key stakeholders and want to ensure that our funding opportunities and money granted is both transparent, and accessible. From grassroots to elite levels, our focus will remain on enhancing the quality, accessibility, and relevance of competitive experiences for athletes at all stages of their journey.

Who can apply for a grant?

Competition providers who are delivering a key competition within the athlete development pathway are invited to apply for funding support. Eligible providers must be providing a strategic athlete development need by hosting championships, leagues, or open meetings that address critical event specific priorities at the local, regional, or national level. This funding aims to support competitions that play a vital role in athlete progression and contribute to the broader athletics and running development pathway.

We welcome applications for brand-new competition formats, even those without a proven track record, as long as someone with the required experience listed is responsible for the overall delivery of the competition

Masters event providers are welcome to apply for funding, but must clearly demonstrate alignment with England Athletics’ strategic objectives and show how the event supports the athlete development pathway.

How much money can be applied for?

Depending on the type and scale of competition being delivered, providers may apply for varying levels of support as outlined in the funding criteria. We encourage applicants to be realistic in their submissions and to be prepared to share financial accounts to demonstrate where funding would have the greatest impact on the delivery and sustainability of their competition.

While we recognise the value of each competition provider’s contribution to the athletics landscape, it is unlikely that all funding requests will be met. Instead, investment should be viewed as an opportunity to enhance existing events, particularly in ways that improve athlete experience through greater inclusiveness, accessibility, and long-term sustainability.

Submit an application

Our online application system does not allow for partial completion and saving to finish at a later date, so please have all the information ready before starting. The questions are listed in the PDF document below, plus before submitting an application please also review the eligibility criteria and funding guidance document.

Applications for grants over £2000 will require as much detail and evidence as possible to be considered for funding.

Overview of questions Eligibility criteria and funding guidance

Closing date: 16 November 2026

Submit your application

Name(Required)

First Last

Organisation/competition name(Required)

URN

Your role(Required)

Email(Required)

Phone number(Required)

Website(Required)

Social media handles

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Requested grant amount(Required)

Which funding category are you expressing interest in?(Required)

All information on funding categories available in funding criteria

Organisational health

Leadership and people

Competition delivery

12. Briefly describe the competition format that will be used, the requested dates, number of dates, age group the competition will facilitate, the goals of the event and how the funds will be used.(Required)

13. Mission - Outline your clear mission or goal for your organisation, including long-term aspirations.

14. Welfare - Outline your commitment to ensuring a safe environment for everyone at your competition

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15. ED&I and Sustainability - Demonstrate your organisation's commitment to equality, diversity, inclusion and sustainability

16. ED&I and Sustainability - How will the project or its benefits continue once the funding has ended?

17. Finance - Please show evidence of financial controls in place for budgeting, auditing and management of reserves if appropriate. Please also share any other funding sources you have.

18. Please upload any supporting documents and/or policies to support the organisational health section

Max. file size: 64 MB.

Competition purpose

19. Outline the purpose of the competition, including age group, who the competition is for and whether it is inclusive of para athletes, event group, type of competition, location, suggested competition date, and where the competition sits in the athlete pathway.

20. Competition management - Outline the delivery team for the event and their roles and responsibilities.

21. Stakeholder engagement - Marketing and communication plan for key competition stakeholders. Information on how complaints are managed or minimised should be included within this section.

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Do you have employed staff?

Yes

Competition workforce

Provide information on how appropriate volunteers are selected and if appropriate how they are developed through this competition structure. Include evidence of your commitment to the duty of care for the volunteer workforce.

24. Upload any supporting HR, marketing, duty of care or complaints documentation.

Max. file size: 64 MB.

Pre-Event

Outline the organisation duties pre-event for the competition, including evidence of effective inclusive communication, a commitment to executing a safe environment for everyone involved and ensuring a wonderful experience.

During the event

How the event is executed on event day, including information about site layout, inclusive environment, communication, decision making, length of the competition day and so on.

Post event - which results system is being used?

Do you have a feedback system in place?

Yes

29. Post-event - How is your feedback being collected, and what is being asked?

30. Please upload any documents, policies or diagrams which support your application and question responses.

Max. file size: 64 MB.