Funding Available for Coaching Courses

Funding to support coaches to gain a coaching award or undertake other courses for their continuing development is limited, but West Yorkshire Sport and our partners are continuing to seek funding to support coaches.

Current Funding Schemes for Coaches

  • West Yorkshire Coach and Leader Bursary Scheme - a new scheme for coaches and sport makers to support them to gain recognised level 1 or 2 coach awards or leadership qualifications. Further details.
  • Nancy Ovens Bursary - Voluntary coaches and leaders in the sport and active leisure sector can access innovative training with help of a bursary, which is sponsored by SkillsActive, provides individuals with up to £2000 to improve their skills through an innovative training programme, outside the scope of regular training. This is an annual award and applications for 2012 should open in spring 2012. For more information and to apply online see SkillsActive and Nancy Ovens bursary.
  • Gillette launches ‘Great Start’ coaching campaign - which aims to celebrate coaches and inspire the next generation by encouraging people to get involved in coaching.  To recognise the importance of coaching for the future of sport in the UK, Gillette is partnering with sports coach UK to sponsor a significant number of coaching qualifications by awarding ‘Great Start’ grants in 2012. The grants will be available to both existing and new coaches who are starting out, with applications made via www.facebook.com/GilletteUK

Other Potential Sources of Funding for Coaches

  • National Governing Bodies - the governing body of the sport you are interested in may have access to additional funding for training or courses. See the relevant NGB website for details.
  • Your Club - some sports clubs/leagues are able to support their coaches to undertake additional training and gain new qualifications. Also if a group of coaches from your club have the same training need it may be a cheaper option to buy in a course for your group than book individual places on an existing course, particularly if you can make use of your clubs facilities to host the course.
  • Grant Applications - Your club may also be able to apply for a grant to support the development of a group of coaches, especially if the club is voluntary organisation. Potential funders include Sport England's Small Grants programme and various funding pots for community organisations through local authorities or Community Foundations. Often coaching development funding can be incorporated into a larger application for equipment and facilities.
  • Supporting Coaching Qualifications through the Sportivate programme - Sportivate is a Lottery funded programme that gives 14-25 year olds access to six-week courses in a range of sports as part of the Play strand of Sport England’s London 2012 mass participation legacy programme ‘People Places Play’. Clubs and organisations can use this funding to support the training of their coaching workforce through Sportivate funding, providing this is linked to ensuring the sustainability of the activity in the long term. Further information on using sportivate funding to support coach development

Further information on Potential Sources of Funding

  • Details of the funding streams available can be found in the Funding Guide pages of the West Yorkshire Sport website for further information. Here you will also find a link to a free funding search and the latest funding news and other helpful advice.
  • Sports Coach UK also provide a guide to funding streams available to support coaching (updated April 2012).

Funding for Developing Coaches - Case Studies

To help and inspire you to seek funding and support the development of coaches, read the following case studies from organisations that have secured support for their coaches from various sources: 

  • Bradford Dragons - supporting coach and volunteers development as part of a Sport England Small Grant bid.
  • Halifax Canoe Club - supporting volunteers coaches through grants, mentoring and NGB support.