2024 Enhanced

Sported Foundation Annual Report 2024

Sported Foundation is a UK-wide charity that strengthens grassroots community sports organisations to help young people from under-served communities benefit from sport. In 2023-24, Sported supported a membership network of 2,850 groups reaching over 500,000 young people, with 1,387 members accessing a service or benefit and 543 receiving free 1:1 consultancy. £1.6 million in grants was distributed, including through the Barclays Community Football Fund (which exceeded its three-year reach target by 174%), Flutter Cash4Clubs, and Sport England. 96% of young people at member groups come from historically under-served communities. Sported also delivered EDI-focused programmes including a Participatory Grant Model for Black-led organisations and disability inclusion projects across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Report snapshot
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About

Capacity building and 1:1 consultancy for community sports groups; grant distribution (Barclays Community Football Fund, Flutter Cash4Clubs, Sport England Together Fund); Participatory Grant Model for Black-led organisations; Active Partnership support; equality, diversity and inclusion projects; Connected Communities model; volunteer consultancy programme; webinars and networking events; research into participation barriers Custom geography from upload: United Kingdom

Key Metrics

Key Metric 1 2,850 community sports organisations in membership network, collectively reaching over 500,000 young people
Key Metric 2 £1.6 million in grants distributed directly to community groups across the UK
Key Metric 3 96% of young people at Sported member groups are from historically under-served communities

Key Outcomes

  • 82% of Sported member groups said the charity's support made a positive difference to their organisation, with 86% of leaders on a project or 1:1 consultancy reporting increased skills and knowledge in running their group
  • 94% of member groups maintained or increased the number of young people attending their provision, despite ongoing cost-of-living pressures and a national decline in volunteering — with only 11% of groups losing volunteers compared to wider sector trends
  • The Barclays Community Football Fund exceeded its three-year participant target by reaching 431,163 people against a KPI of 157,000, with 85% of funding supporting female groups and 96% of grantees successfully engaging new participants from under-represented communities

Geography

UK-Wide

Impact Snapshot
Key Metric 1
21,212 people engaged with in 2024/25
Key Metric 2
17,708 people played some form of rugby through Foundation programmes
Key Metric 3
More than £9,000 raised through Foundation Day; 9,000+ given back to grassroots rugby clubs
88% of girls in the Girls Tackle Rugby programme reported feeling more confident, per independent research with Manchester Metropolitan University Institute of Sport
Impact Snapshot
Key Metric 1
£3,112,419 raised to deliver projects in 2024/25; total income £2,920,000 and total expenditure £2,850,000 (year ended 31 August 2024)
Key Metric 2
28,692 people took part in activities; 307,544 visits to sessions; 17,793 sessions delivered
Key Metric 3
More than 16,000 young people engaged across early years and primary programmes; 34 Premier League Primary Stars partner schools; over 7,000 healthy meals provided...
Blackpool FC Sports College A Team won the CEFA league title 2024/25; BFC School received 'Good' Ofsted rating in November 2024; Norbreck Primary Academy reached EFL Utilita Kids Cup National Final at Wembley, winning Regional Finals unbeaten
Impact Snapshot
Key Metric 1
Total income £659,217 and total expenditure £674,216 (year ended 30 June 2025, charity no. 1137275); 10,252 individuals engaged across the 2024/25 season, with 9,713...
Key Metric 2
82% of participants reported positive impact on mental wellbeing; 84% on physical wellbeing; 82% on sense of community; 86% made new friends since joining
Key Metric 3
70% agreed they made positive changes to their life as a result of CUF activity; 63% of adult participants felt a strong sense of...
56.7% of young people hardly ever or never feel lonely vs national average; 94% of participants feel welcome, safe and included; CUF participants ranked higher than Cambridge and UK averages for happiness, life satisfaction and worthwhile life
Impact Snapshot
Key Metric 1
6,744 participants engaged across education, social inclusion, employability, heritage and health programmes in 2024/25
Key Metric 2
37,357 hours of positive activity delivered; £3.9 million in social value generated
Key Metric 3
4,805 pupils supported across 58 education settings; 300+ young people referred across six Engage hubs in Northampton, Kettering, Corby and Milton Keynes
89% of young people attending Engage programme made positive steps; 92% of employability learners moved to positive progression