Merton Council has opened applications for the second round of its Borough of Sport Grant programme – a fund designed to help community organisations bring more free and affordable sports and physical activities to residents in Merton. 

With a total of £300,000 available over three years, the council is making a £100,000 pot of funding available this year. This money will support grassroots clubs and organisations that help people in Merton stay active and healthy.  

This year, the maximum grant award has increased to £7,000, to allow for larger scale projects to be funded. The funding will prioritise initiatives that create opportunities for women and girls, four to 16 year olds, over 65s, and under-represented groups to get active. To ensure that the fund remains accessible to small organisations, there is no minimum bid. The closing date for bids is 7 May 2025 at 12 noon. 

Councillor Caroline Cooper-Marbiah, Cabinet Member for Sport and Heritage said:  

One of our Borough of Sport missions is to ensure that every resident can access free and low-cost sport and physical activity.

Local clubs, coaches and organisations are an essential part of this, and this grant programme allows us to support a broad range of fantastic inclusive and accessible opportunities for residents to be active here in Merton. 

Becoming a Borough of Sport is about working closely with our local sports sector. In supporting them to thrive, we can have real impact in our communities and get people moving more, in a way which works for them. 

The grant has already funded 23 local projects, meaning Merton residents have benefitted from activities such as: dance classes for over-65s, gardening projects for young adults with learning disabilities and self-defence classes for visually impaired people. 

Anne-Marie Smalldon, Artistic Director at Combination Dance, which received a grant to deliver dance and fitness classes for people over 60, said:  

Thanks to the Borough of Sport Grant Fund, we’ve been able to offer high-quality, free dance sessions to people over 60, those with disabilities or on low incomes in Merton through several projects – including our Vintage Dance Company.  

This group of over-65s benefit from free weekly dance sessions that provide cardiovascular exercise and social get togethers, while also helping to inspire other Merton residents through their theatre performances.” 

Clarion Futures, the charitable foundation of Merton’s largest social housing provider Clarion Housing Group, will once again manage the grant application and distribution process on their bespoke application platform. 

Matt Parsonage, Head of Communities at Clarion Futures, said: 

It’s been fantastic to see the variety of projects supported through the first year of the Borough of Sport grant programme, helping local people find free and low-cost ways to get active that work for them.  

We’re delighted to be working with Merton Council to build on this success and look forward to seeing what opportunities this presents for those living in Clarion homes and communities across the borough.