Active Sussex

10/06/2026

💚 Great Big Green Week (6–14 June) is a great time to remind Sussex clubs and community organisations: there's funding to help you go greener - and tackle inequality at the same time.

Sport England's Movement Fund offers grants and crowdfunding pledges from £300 to £15,000. And £16 million - 10% of the £160m pot - is ringfenced for green initiatives that both reduce your environmental impact and create more chances for people to be active.

Think solar panels, LED lighting, electric mowers, rainwater harvesting, tree planting, cycle paths or bike storage.

Decisions are weighted towards organisations in deprived areas, or working with the people most affected by climate change - so building the equality angle into your bid matters.

A project using solar savings to keep memberships affordable, for example, stands a stronger chance.

No deadline - just apply at least 12 weeks before you want to start, with a decision usually within six to eight weeks.

🔗 Link in the comments.

09/06/2026

📢 New funding alert for Hastings!

Hastings Borough Council has launched a new community grants programme with £700,000 to invest over the next two years in improving leisure, sport and physical activity facilities across the town.

If you run a community group, sports club, charity or CIC, you could apply for funding to upgrade and improve the spaces where people get active, connect and thrive.

The programme will run multiple funding rounds over two years, so there's time to develop a strong proposal and apply when you're ready - but the deadline for the first round is Sunday, July 12.

Find out more and how to apply 👇

🔗 hastings.gov.uk/news/latest/community-grants-programme

Active Hastings

08/06/2026

Here at Active Sussex we are taking part in The Great Big Green Week (June 8-16), the UK’s biggest celebration of action to tackle climate change and protect nature.

This week we’ll share something each day that we and our partners are doing to protect the planet - from reducing carbon emissions to boosting biodiversity. We’d love to hear what you are doing to mark Great Big Green Week - share what you're up to below!

05/06/2026

Sport Welfare Officers from Active Sussex and Active Kent & Medway joined the Mariners of Bewl to experience first-hand how the club is opening up sailing to people of all abilities – and to explore how the Sport Welfare project can support its growth ⛵️

02nd June 2026 Sport Welfare Officers from Active Sussex and Active Kent & Medway joined the Mariners of Bewl Sailability club this week to experience first-hand how the club is opening up sailing to people of all abilities – and to explore how the Sport Welfare project can support its growth. The...

05/06/2026

🏳️‍🌈 LGBTQ+ in Sport - Creating inclusive environments

Join us for an engaging, interactive session that deepens your understanding of key LGBTQ+ terms, identities, and the meaning of allyship.

You'll explore the lived experiences of LGBTQ+ people in sport, examine the challenges and barriers they may face, and leave with practical insights and strategies to support inclusion in your environment.

📅 Tuesday, June 9

💻 Online, 6.30-8pm

🔗 Book your FREE place - link in comments.

04/06/2026

This , we wanted to say a huge thank you to the incredible volunteers who give their time to make sport and physical activity safer across the South East.

From Club Welfare Officers to safeguarding leads, your dedication makes a real difference to the clubs, organisations and communities you support - and none of it would happen without you.

Thank you from all of us 👏

Active Sussex, London Sport, Active Surrey, Active Kent & Medway, Active Oxfordshire and Energise Me

03/06/2026

Recruiting and retaining volunteers is one of the biggest challenges clubs and community organisations face. But creating a positive culture around volunteering - one that values and supports the people who give their time - can make a real difference in encouraging people to get involved and stay involved.

Our friends at Buddle have a really useful resource that explores what a culture of volunteering means, why it matters, and practical tips to help your organisation create one.

Worth a read if you're involved in running a club or community group - and what better time to do it than 👇

https://buff.ly/XeOIZa4

Buddle guidance for community clubs and organisations on the importance of creating a culture of volunteering and what that means for volunteer recruitment and retention.

02/06/2026

📢 Calling all Wealden organisations making a difference through movement and activity!

Round 5 of the Tackling Inequalities Through Physical Activity programme is now open - and grants of up to £5,000 are available.

East Sussex Public Health has released funding through Wealden District Council to support organisations working to reduce health inequalities across the district. Whether it's a gardening club, a seated exercise session, a walking group or something entirely new - if it gets people active and supports your local community, make sure you apply!

Over the past four years, 23 organisations have already benefited, delivering everything from carers' dance cafés to community exercise classes.

📩 To request an application form, email [email protected]

📅 Deadline: Monday 6 July 2026

💷 Grants up to £5,000 | Funds must be spent by 31 March 2027

👉 You can see all funding opportunities via Active Sussex here: https://www.activesussex.org/insight-and-funding/funding/

Know an organisation that could benefit? Please share.

01/06/2026

It's and we're celebrating the incredible people who give their time to get Sussex moving.

First up: Carol Bates BEM, founder of Crawley Old Girls (COGs) and winner of our Unsung Hero award at the Sussex Sport & Physical Activity Awards 2025.

Carol's volunteering journey started in 2015 when she suggested creating a football session for older women after seeing a post from Crawley Town Community Foundation. Ten women turned up to the first session - and COGs was born.

A decade on, Carol has dedicated thousands of voluntary hours to planning sessions, organising festivals, mentoring coaches and creating a space where women of all ages, abilities and backgrounds feel welcome.

In 2022, she brought 400 women together from across the UK for - a day of football, friendship and empowerment.

Her impact goes far beyond the pitch. Hundreds of women in Crawley have improved their physical health, mental wellbeing and social connections thanks to Carol's tireless commitment.

This , we want to hear YOUR stories. Who are the volunteers making a difference in sport and physical activity across Sussex? Tag them below, share your story, or get in touch - we'd love to celebrate them.

👉 Read Carol's story: https://www.activesussex.org/news-and-campaigns/latest-news/unsung-hero-celebrated-for-her-work-in-womens-football-in-sussex/

Carol Bates BEM, the founder of Crawley Old Girls (COGs), won the Unsung Hero award at the Sussex Sport & Physical Activity Awards 2025.

29/05/2026

📅 Date for your diary! Join us on Wednesday, July 8, 12–1.30pm, for our next Community of Learning: Child First Coaching & Proactive Safeguarding.

We'll be exploring how Play Their Way and child-first coaching approaches can help create safer, more positive and inclusive experiences for children and young people in Sussex.

Featuring a keynote from UK Coaching, there'll be safeguarding insights from our Sport Welfare Officers, and real-life examples from Sussex coaches and partners.

Whether you're a coach, volunteer, club or organisation working with young people - this one's for you.🔗 Sign up: https://buff.ly/wmYKXIo

Join Active Sussex on Wednesday, July 8 from 12-1.30pm, for this inspiring Community of Learning session exploring how Play Their Way and child-first coaching approaches can help create safer, more positive and more inclusive experiences for children and young people.