Since May 2020 Living Sport working with Sport England and National Lottery funding have been able to distribute £150,000 to 63 projects across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, to support people through a variety of ways that helped people with their physical and mental wellbeing. At a difficult time for many people, organisations were able to use physical activity was able to connect people and keep people connected where otherwise they may have become lonely and isolated.  From online classes to Nordic walking, reopening sports clubs to find ways to do activity in different spaces. The impact has been massive for the beneficiaries, community organisations, Living Sport and Sport England a like, supporting physical activity to be part of a healthy active lifestyle 

We are now able to proudly launch the Together Fund for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. This next phase of small grants will continue to be distributed directly to community organisation, who know their beneficiaries best. To make the best use of the funds available we are looking to work with, non-profit community organisation and groups who could do more with a little bit of funding and support to use sport and physical activity as part of what they do, we are looking to work in 3 targeted areas, one of these is Disabled people who includes adults, children, young people and families across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. We are also looking to work with young people and families in targeted areas of the county. 

The pandemic has affected all of us in many ways, keeping us from friends and loved ones, interrupting our usual habits, closing the groups and facilities we use, and causing stress and anxiety for so many.  We are aware that those we are looking to work with have been most affected by the pandemic and are keen to support the organisations and groups to support people to be active in what every way they want as we all recover from the pandemic. 

What do we mean ‘being active’? 

Being active means anything that gets people moving – regularly walking or pushing to the shop, taking part in a yoga class, dancing, gardening, or taking part in sports and other recreational activities. 

Being active can improve both physical and mental health and help us feel connected at a time when being connected is tough.  

Who we want to work with? 

We are looking for organisations and groups who work with and for disabled people who can create opportunities for people to be active.  

Whether you offer a social group to adults with Learning Disabilities, a local support group for families with children with SEND, do you already offer activities or haven’t yet got back to delivery yet but need funding to adapt them in a covid safe way, we want to hear from you.  

How can we work together? 

We can help you develop ideas, offer advice and guidance on offering safe activity, and link you to other providers. Through the Sport England Together Fund, we can also provide grants between £50-£5,000 to set up and run project up to March 2023. 

Not sure if this is for your group or organisation? 

You don’t need to be a ‘sports or physical activity group’ to offer activities, but physical activity can be a great way to boost wellbeing at this really difficult time. Your organisation just has to be eligible to receive National Lottery funding. 

Some of the ways we’ve worked with groups:  

• Finding qualified instructors who can offer inclusive dance, ball skills, and other activities.  
• Setting up Zoom classes, offering advice and funding Zoom licenses.  

• Purchasing new or additional fitness equipment for a group. 
• Covering the lost income from having to run smaller group sessions, or the additional cost of PPE and cleaning  

How to Apply 

Email or call Rebecca Evans, Partnerships Manager on 07739 655062 to arrange to have a conversation about your project idea. There is no application form to complete, but we will work with you to develop your idea, alongside the evidence of need for your project, a project budget and a number of organisational checks.  

A bit more about the Tackling Inequalities Fund 

Living Sport are distributing the Together Fund on behalf of Sport England. The fund has been made available to help narrow the gap between activity levels for key groups.  

As the local Active Partnership, Living Sport has identified that locally the biggest gaps exist for Disabled people of all ages across the county as well as young people and families in certain areas.