SPORTS ACCESS
Programme

APPLICATIONS FOR THE 2025 SPORTS ACCESS PROGRAMME ARE OPEN 1 FEBRUARY – 30 NOVEMBER 2025

NEW FOR 2025 – SPORTS ACCESS PROGRAMME!

The Sports Access Programme is a brand-new initiative launched by Jersey Sport for 2025. The programme has £40,000 to support young islanders who have financial barriers to access sport and physical activity.

Its mission? To eliminate the challenges and worries of costs that prevent children residing in Jersey, getting involved in local sport! Thanks to seed funding from the Philip Gower Foundation and Barry Burns Foundation, this programme helps new, returning and existing participants get and stay active in Jersey.

WHAT CAN BE FUNDED?

The funding associated with the Sports Access Programme supports children and young people to access sport, who would otherwise not be able to due to the associated costs of participation. The funding can help with costs such as membership or participation fees, as well as necessary kit or equipment.

Costs which are associated with higher level or off-island travel are not eligible to be funded by the Sports Access Programme. Instead, please visit Jersey Sport’s Travel Grant or Performance Sport Programme which supports islander’s sport needs in other ways.

WHICH ISLANDERS ARE ELIGIBLE?

To be eligible to receive funding from the Sports Access Programme, participants must:

• be aged 0 to 17 years old, and
• resident in Jersey, and
• demonstrate financial barriers that prevent access to sport and physical activity, and
• be new to the sport, returning to the sport or having challenges maintaining existing activity within sport.

WHICH SPORT ORGANISATIONS ARE INVOLVED?

Sport organisations must meet the full requirements of Jersey Sport’s new Safe and Sustainable Sport ‘Health Check’ achieving green status to participate in the Sports Access Programme. We do this to ensure we only promote pathways into sport and physical activity with sport organisations who can evidence that their governance standards are strong and operating practices are both safe and sustainable. This hopes to ensure that all children have an enjoyable, safe and fun experience in sport, encouraging positive and life-long engagement with physical activity.

To find out more about the Safe and Sustainable Sport Health Check and to view a list of sport organisations involved in the Sports Access Programme, visit:

SAFE AND SUSTAINABLE HEALTH CHECK

Jersey Sport supports sport organisations to develop and enhance their inclusive offer in order to meet the needs of islanders. If you don’t see a sport organisation listed that you were hoping to, please contact us: grants@jerseysport.je. 

All funding to support access to sport will be distributed to the relevant sport organisation directly. No funding will be provided to individuals or families/guardians, to keep in line with Jersey Sport’s existing grant distribution.

WHO CAN MAKE AN APPLICATION?

Applications (for up to 5 children) can be submitted by parents, guardians, carers or family members. A named sponsor will be required to endorse the application (e.g. Teacher, Social Worker, Family Support Worker, or similar).

Applications for multiple referrals (up to 10 children) can be submitted by Teachers, Family Support Workers or Sport Organisation Volunteers—anyone who act as a bridge between potential participants and the programme.

TIMESCALES FOR APPLICATIONS AND AWARDS 2025

We aim to respond to all applications within two weeks of submission. We will aim to distribute funding and provide access to sport as soon as possible. Check-ins will be conducted to understand how the participant is engaging, and support provided as necessary.

Fund Schedule

1 FEB–30 NOV       Sports Access Programme opens for applications

NOVEMBER           Feedback from families/guardians in receipt of funding

DECEMBER            Review of the Programme, ahead of 2026 delivery

Should you have any questions or need any further advice, please contact the Jersey Sport Team at: grants@jerseysport.je