Northern Ireland basketball grants & funding

Sport Northern Ireland, via Crowdfunder UK

Amount

Up to £5,000 (50–65% match, up to 75% in the most deprived/rural wards)

Who can apply

Clubs affiliated with a Sport NI-recognised governing body (BNI); commercial providers and individuals ineligible

What it covers

New sessions for priority groups: sports hall rental, coaching fees, volunteer training, minor equipment

How to apply

Rolling; launch a public Crowdfunder campaign and hit 25% of target from 25+ unique backers to unlock the Sport NI match

The National Lottery Community Fund

Amount

£300–£20,000, up to 2 years

Who can apply

Constituted voluntary/community groups, registered charities, CICs with an asset lock; 2+ unrelated bank signatories

What it covers

Equipment, facility hire, coaching costs, volunteer qualifications, transport, minor accessibility works

How to apply

Rolling, year-round; ~12-week decision; submit 12 weeks before spending starts

Belfast City Council

Amount

Small: up to £1,500 (equipment capped at £250). Large: up to £5,000/year

Who can apply

Constituted clubs affiliated with Basketball NI, headquartered in Belfast with 75%+ of members resident in the council area

What it covers

Coach education, new-section start-up costs, try-it events; Large grants require a 3-year Club Development Plan

How to apply

Bi-annual tranches — Tranche 1 typically closes January for April delivery; 80% advance, 20% on completion

Community Foundation for Northern Ireland

Amount

Up to £2,000 per club

Who can apply

Not-for-profit youth organisations and clubs working with young people aged 11–18, in socioeconomically marginalised communities

What it covers

Basketballs and training equipment, youth kit, venue hire, accredited coaching, match/tournament travel

How to apply

Fixed annual window, typically mid-April to mid-May

Basketball Northern Ireland / NBA / Sport NI

Amount

In-kind, typically £1,000+ value per school cluster

Who can apply

Primary and post-primary schools partnering with a local BNI-affiliated club

What it covers

NBA-branded kit, official basketballs, curriculum manuals, coach delivery hours, regional festival venue hire

How to apply

Annual expression-of-interest call ahead of the autumn term

Sport Northern Ireland, via recognised governing bodies

Amount

£200 per coach, capped at £400 per club (2 candidates)

Who can apply

Constituted clubs running registered junior girls' squads

What it covers

BNI Level 1 coaching certification, safeguarding and first-aid courses

How to apply

Annual fixed window, typically closing early November

Department for Communities, via Sport NI and the Education Authority

Amount

£100,000–£500,000+ per project (£3m–£4m distributed annually)

Who can apply

Schools submitting jointly with a local club; requires planning permission, 10+ year security of tenure, and Board of Governors support

What it covers

Sprung wooden floors, retractable basketball units, timing systems, dividing curtains, community-access changing rooms

How to apply

Open project register — submit a joint expression of interest, then a full capital business case if invited

Special EU Programmes Body, via district councils

Amount

£50,000–£500,000+ per project (council allocations £3m–£8m overall)

Who can apply

Local authorities, community sport partnerships, voluntary organisations delivering cross-community projects

What it covers

Shared multi-sport indoor halls, floodlit outdoor MUGAs with basketball hoops, accessibility works

How to apply

Governed by each council's 2022–2027 action plan; phased capital calls via local steering committees

Sport Northern Ireland

Amount

£2,500–£10,000+ (able-bodied 5v5 basketball is not currently represented; wheelchair basketball has received allocations, e.g. £7,500)

Who can apply

GB/Ireland international pathway athletes with realistic Olympic/Paralympic/Commonwealth medal potential; nominated by the governing body only

What it covers

Living, training, and competition costs

How to apply

Annual NGB nomination in February, plus a mid-year review window in Aug–Sep

The Mary Peters Trust

Amount

£500–£1,500 per athlete

Who can apply

NI-resident athletes competing at national/all-island/international level, with NGB (BNI or Basketball Ireland) endorsement

What it covers

Specialist footwear/gear, travel and lodging for away fixtures/camps, competition fees, private sports therapy

How to apply

Annual window, early February to mid-September

Greenwich Leisure Limited, with Belfast City Council and the Mary Peters Trust

Amount

£200–£1,000 cash, plus free "Better" gym/leisure centre access

Who can apply

Athletes affiliated with Team NI, Basketball Ireland junior squads, or GB age groups, based/training in a GLL council area

What it covers

Training memberships, subsidised physiotherapy/sports medicine

How to apply

Fixed annual window, 20 December–20 February; decisions in April; reapply annually

The Lord's Taverners Ireland

Amount

In-kind, chairs valued at roughly £3,000–£7,000 — paid directly to the manufacturer

Who can apply

Constituted clubs running wheelchair basketball sessions, disability sports clubs, and individual athletes with physical disabilities

What it covers

Custom multi-sport or basketball-specific wheelchairs, cushions, strapping

How to apply

Rolling, standardised application with technical sizing and medical verification

Sport Northern Ireland

Amount

Direct grant allocation (e.g. £7,500 in a recent award round)

Who can apply

Wheelchair basketball athletes on the Paralympic pathway representing GB or Ireland; nominated via Disability Sport NI or British Wheelchair Basketball

What it covers

Elite training costs, mechanical maintenance, international travel, sports science support

How to apply

Annual NGB nomination round, February intake and late-summer review