We’re pleased to announce the launch of our new Sport Welfare Club Bursary.
This is a new, joint initiative between our Sport Welfare and Place and Communities work. As we seek to address inequalities in people's access to sport, this bursary will support NGB-affiliated sports clubs in areas of highest deprivation across the West of England with up to £400 to help make their spaces safe, inclusive, and welcoming to all. If you are a part of a club, you will also receive further support through access to our broader Sport Welfare Universal Offer.
You can explore if your club is in an area of highest deprivation by using the GOV.UK English Indices of Multiple Deprivation tool below. Our support will be focused on areas of highest deprivation; however, we will consider all expressions of interest.
In the latest Active Lives survey released by Sport England in April 2026, only 24% of people strongly agreed when asked: “Places where I exercise are inclusive and welcoming.” Strong safeguarding and welfare provisions in your sports club are key to attracting new members, making sure that everyone feels welcome, and helping everyone live active and healthy lives.
We're making this opportunity available only for welfare and safeguarding-related activities for children and adults. This could include:
For example:
- Places on officially recognised safeguarding children and/or safeguarding adults training courses (from UK Coaching, the NSPCC Child Protection in Sport Unit, Ann Craft Trust) for your coaches, committee members, and volunteers.
- Topic-specific training for your members, parents, or volunteers. Topics may include:
- Trauma-Informed Practice
- Youth and participant voice
- Mental health
- Disability inclusion
- Neurodiversity
- Managing challenging behaviours
- Tackling discrimination and hate crime
- Or any other bespoke sport welfare topics that are agreed upon by your club and Wesport.
For example:
- Physical members' notice boards where Club Welfare Officers can advertise their role and contact information.
- Physical posters, leaflets, resources, and freebies that will help your club to promote that you’re a safe space for all.
- Or any other bespoke sport welfare resources that are agreed upon by the club and Wesport.
Matt Walker, Sport Welfare Officer at Wesport, said: “Welfare and safeguarding is all about making sure the people in your club get to have fun in a safe and welcoming environment. We’re so excited to launch this Sport Welfare Club Bursary. We really want to work with some ambitious clubs in the areas of highest deprivation in our communities who want to be real centres of excellence for safe sport.”
Sarah Mortiboys, Director of Place and Communities at Wesport, added, “Positive welfare provision in sports clubs is such a key way that will help us tackle the inequalities people face in accessing physical activity. We want to build a sporting world where everyone is welcome to take part safely. So, we’re delighted to be working on this jointly with our Sport Welfare Officers on this in the months to come.”
Completing an expression of interest is simple. Please fill out the form below. It will ask you for some information about your club, your current safeguarding and welfare structures, and it gives you space to share any ideas you may have about the support you need.
If you’re unsure about the support you need, but are interested in making your club safer, please fill in the form. You can request a short meeting with one of our Sport Welfare Officers, who are happy to explore with you how you could make your club a safer place for everyone.
This is a one-off bursary, with a limited financial amount available. Sports clubs are welcome to complete expressions of interest using the form above until 11:59 pm on the 3rd June.
Following this, you will be contacted to arrange a call with one of our Sport Welfare Officers to discuss their submissions. We hope to have a conversation with a member of your club (preferably the Club Welfare Officer or Chairperson) before the end of June.
A panel of 3 Wesport staff will then meet to discuss all expressions of interest, and clubs will be notified shortly thereafter.
Please sign up for our free, optional information evening, where you can find out more about the process, what we will or won’t cover as part of this support, and what would be expected of your club if you wish to apply.
This will take place on the 14th May from 7 pm – 8 pm. The session will be recorded. If you wish to attend on the night, or receive a copy of the recording, please sign up via Eventbrite.
If you have any other questions, please contact Matt in Wesport’s Sport Welfare team on matt.walker@wesport.org.uk.
This bursary is a part of the wider Sport Welfare Programme funded by Sport England.