Cash for Kids Sports Challenge – Funding Opportunity for Local Youth Sports & Activity Groups

14th August 2026

Grassroots sports clubs and youth activity groups across Hull and East Yorkshire are being encouraged to take part in the Cash for Kids Sports Challenge 2026, with the opportunity to raise much-needed funds and secure additional grant funding of up to £5,000.

The Sports Challenge is designed to help remove the barriers that can prevent children and young people from taking part in sport and physical activity – including financial hardship and disability or accessibility barriers.

Who is it for?

The opportunity is aimed at grassroots organisations providing sports and physical activities for children and young people.

This could include:

Football, rugby and other community sports teams
Gymnastics clubs
Dance schools and groups
Martial arts clubs
Inclusive and SEND activity groups
Other grassroots organisations providing physical activities for children and young people

What difference could it make?

Last year, participating teams across the region collectively raised more than £66,000.

The funding has supported a range of community projects, including helping one local gymnastics club develop a dedicated SEND area, enabling children with additional needs to participate in activities in a safer and more comfortable environment.

For smaller grassroots organisations, the challenge could therefore provide an opportunity not only to generate additional income but also to make activities more affordable, accessible and inclusive for local children and families.

Funding can support everything from

kit
equipment
venue hire
membership fees
volunteer training
holiday activities
accessibility adaptations.

It can also help with specialist equipment for young people with additional needs and start-up costs for teams supporting under-represented groups

How does the Sports Challenge work?

Participating groups fundraise as part of the Cash for Kids Sports Challenge and keep everything they raise.

Cash for Kids then provides additional funding to boost the efforts of participating organisations.

For 2026, the top-up grants include:

1st place – £5,000
2nd place – £2,500
3rd place – £1,500

There is also an additional incentive for groups that reach the fundraising threshold:

Every participating group that raises at least £2,000 will receive an additional £500 from Cash for Kids.

This means that even groups that don't finish in the top three could receive an additional funding boost.

Interested? Apply by 14 September

Applications for the Cash for Kids Sports Challenge East Yorkshire & Lincolnshire are open now.

Application deadline: 14 September 2026

Find out more about the challenge, eligibility and how to apply through the Cash for Kids Sports Challenge page:

Sports Challenge East Yorkshire & Lincolnshire – Cash for Kids Grassroots Sports Funding

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