Active Lives
Opportunities through sport and physical activity
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Open grant programmes
** Grant applications are currently closed and will re-open on 1st November 2024. The next application deadline is 1st January 2025 **
Positive Futures
Opportunities for children and young people
Types of funding
We accept applications for capital, project or core costs
Levels of funding
There are 2 levels of grants
- Small grants: up to £5,000
- Major grants: £5,001 - £30,000
Location
- Active Lives funds work all over the UK.
- Positive Futures only funds work in the South East of England
Grantmaking data
Below you can find data for the last 3 years about the grants awarded and applications received for our open grant programmes (i.e. the grant programmes that accept applications).
Please note:
- The Active Lives programme was previously called Opportunities through sport and physical activity
- The Positive Futures programme was previously called Special needs and care for children and young people
£1,170,839 pledged towards 92 grants
Summary
In 2023/24 our open grant programmes received 553 initial grant applications, which represents a 27% increase from the previous year. 73% of applications were for Active Lives and 27% were for the Positive Futures. Of these applications, 31 were ineligible, 7 decided to withdraw, and 515 went on to be considered for a grant.
92 grants were awarded, which represents a success rate of 18%, slightly down from last year’s rate of 21%.
Grants were awarded for the following purposes:
- capital funding 7%
- project funding 74%
- core funding 19%.
PHF awards a total grant which applicants can choose to use over a 1, 2 or 3 year period. 70% of grants were for 1 year, with 18% opting to spread the grant over 2 years and 12% opting for a 3 year grant.
Grantmaking budget
Active Lives £727,934
Positive Futures £363,967
Active Lives grants
Success rate:
- Small grants 11%
- Major grants 12%
Average grant:
- Small grants £3,367
- Major grants £16,337
Positive Futures grants
Success rate:
- Small grants 21%
- Major grants 17%
Average grant:
- Small grants £3,663
- Major grants £18,526
You can download a detailed breakdown of the grantmaking data for 2023/24 here
£1,203,835 pledged towards 83 grants
Summary
Applications received
In 2022/23 our open grant programmes received 404 initial grant applications, which represents an 8% decrease from the previous year. 73% of applications were for Active Lives and 27% were for the Positive Futures.
Grants awarded
83 grants were awarded, which represents an overall success rate of 21%, slightly up from last year’s rate of 19%.
Duration of grants
PHF awards a total grant which applicants can choose to use over a 1, 2 or 3 year period. The majority of grants were for 1 year (76%), with a small number of grantees opting to spread the grant over multiple years – 2 years (13%) and 3 years (11%).
Active Lives grants
Success rate:
- Small grants 30%
- Major grants 18%
Average grant:
- Small grants £3,758
- Major grants £19,657
Positive Futures grants
Success rate:
- Small grants 30%
- Major grants 20%
Average grant:
- Small grants £4,013
- Major grants £19,659
£1,262,836 million pledged towards 83 grants
Summary
Applications received
In 2021/22 our open grant programmes received 438 initial grant applications. 67% of applications were for Active Lives and 33% were for Positive Futures.
Grants awarded
83 grants were awarded, which represents a success rate of 19%.
Duration of grants
PHF awards a total grant which applicants can choose to use over a 1, 2 or 3 year period. The majority of grants were for 1 year (87%), with a small amount opting to spread the grant over multiple years – 2 years (6%) and 3 years (7%).
Active Lives grants
Success rate: 18%
Average grant: £15,858
Positive Futures
Success rate: 23%
Average grant: £13,880
Find out more
FAQs
Find answers to some of the most common questions about the Foundation and applying for a grant
Case studies
We like to celebrate and promote the work of our grantees. On this page you will find a selection of case studies that showcase some of the amazing work the Foundation has supported over the last 25 years.