Your Top Sources for Funding Playground Markings in 2024

Funding playground markings for your school or children’s centre doesn’t have to be a strain on your budget. There’s a whole host of ways to obtain the money you need, from generating your own through fundraising ideas to getting assistance from grants. 

These grants, typically coming from outside sources, are ready and waiting to support you in your quest for a better play and learning space for your students. All you need to do is find the right one for your needs and apply. 

In this guide, we’ll explore some of our top funding sources available to UK schools in 2024, helping you turn your playground into a dynamic space for learning and play.

Major Funding Sources You’ll Find All Over the UK

Let’s start by listing a few of the biggest funding sources available nationwide. Thousands of schools across the country have successfully been awarded grants for a host of projects thanks to these, and your playground proposal could soon be joining them.

The PE and Sport Premium

Where better to start for your funding than at the very top? The PE and Sport Premium is yearly funding given by the UK Government to help primary schools improve the quality of PE and sport provision, including teacher training, equipment, and facilities. Certain types of playground markings – specifically Courts & Sports markings – fall under this umbrella. This is because they provide targeted activities that will encourage even less active children to take part and give children with specific needs the opportunity to have fun with their peers.

There are specific conditions schools must adhere to when using this grant, however. For more information, please see the PE and sport premium for primary schools page.

Sport England

The clue may be in the name, but Sport England is committed to helping fund small and large projects that will help others get active. With investments available up to £15,000, the organisation offers help with crowdfunding pledges, grants, and resources that promote and improve physical activity. 

To find out more and to see if you qualify for their funding, please visit Sport England’s website.

Bank of Scotland Foundation

The Bank of Scotland is committed to helping people and local communities across Scotland, offering small, medium, and large grants for a variety of projects. It’s important to note that these grants are open specifically to charities and therefore will more likely be beneficial to children’s organisations than to schools. If you would like to learn more and see if your organisation is eligible for funding, please see the Bank of Scotland Foundation website.

The National Lottery Community Fund

The National Lottery offers a wide range of funding opportunities for projects and needs of all kinds across the UK. However, the Community Fund is ideally suited to playground markings and giving makeovers to outdoor areas.

Offering separate grants of under £20,000 or over £20,000, the Community Fund is designed to provide support that allows people and communities to thrive. This includes “at the earliest stage”, meaning it’s ripe for improving your outside spaces at school. Generally speaking, this programme can fund:

• Capital costs (such as building and land improvements)
• Staff costs
• Running costs
• Activities
• Equipment
• Other core costs needed to support your project

The National Lottery Community Fund can tell you more if you’re thinking of applying.

People’s Postcode Trust

Funded by the People’s Postcode Lottery, the People’s Postcode Trust funds causes across Scotland. This includes projects meant to get kids of all ages moving and exercising. For more information and to apply for a grant, please visit their website.

Aviva Community Fund

The Aviva Community Fund is designed to offer support and project funding of up to £50,000 to community projects. Eligible causes can apply for this at any time, so if you’d like to see what this fund could do for you, please take a look at the Aviva Community Fund website.

Tesco Stronger Starts

Tesco’s Stronger Starts is perfect for those looking to transform their playgrounds and outside spaces. Open to schools, registered charities, and non-profit organisations of all kinds, the fund gives priority to projects that provide food and support to young people. This means a school or children’s organisation looking for equipment for their outdoor playground would be eligible for help. 

To learn more and to start applying, please visit Tesco Stronger Starts’ website.

ASDA Under 18 Better Starts

As a grassroots grant, the Under 18 Better Starts Grant is designed to offer charities and not-for-profit organisations up to £2,000. This can be used in a variety of ways that benefit young people, including by addressing inclusion and boosting their well-being. For children’s centres and organisations looking to create a more inclusive outside space for young people, or to ensure they have the perfect place to stay fit and healthy, this could be the ideal funding source. Learn more about the Under 18 Better Starts Grant online.

Find Help That’s Local to You

If you’re interested in finding funding, support, and advice through organisations local to your area, we can offer a few more suggestions:

Funding and Organisations Local to Essex

If, like us, you’re based in Essex, you might want to start with the list we have here.

• The Active Essex Foundation is an organisation dedicated to increasing physical activity and sport, supporting and helping communities become active and addressing inequalities across the county. Run by Essex County Council
• The Essex Community Foundation provides grants to charities and voluntary organisations.
• The Esmée Fairbairn Foundation is one of the largest independent funders of projects in the UK and has provided many grants for work involving Children and Young People. 
• The Fowler Smith & Jones Trust offers an average grant size of between £2,000 and £3,000 to voluntary or community projects within Essex.

Funding and Organisations Local to London

• The London Community Foundation works with donors to invest in charities and local organisations.
• The City Bridge Foundation is London’s biggest independent charity funder. There are certain criteria an organisation must meet before it can apply, however.
• The Wolfson Foundation offers support to education, science, culture, and health – not just in London but across the whole of the UK.
• John Lyon’s Charity is a charity interested in transforming the lives of young people by offering them opportunities to learn, grow, and develop through education.

Funding and Organisations Local to Kent

• The Kent Community Foundation offers help to charities and organisations across Kent and Medway.
• Funding for All is an organisation dedicated to helping other organisations fundraise, write bids, and plan their fundraising strategies.
• Active Kent & Medway aims to change lives through sport and physical activity and offers resources to make it happen.
• The Cantiacorum Foundation provides charitable funding and support for individuals and communities across the county.

Funding and Organisations Local to Surrey

• The Community Foundation for Surrey funds hundreds of community groups and projects across the county – including those dedicated to sports and young people.
• The Peter Harrison Foundation supports local community and voluntary groups dedicated to helping young, disadvantaged people and young people with disabilities.
• Active Surrey provides funding and resources specifically for help with sports and activities across the county.
• Surrey Community Action provides support for voluntary and not-for-profit groups and runs a range of projects to help out local communities.

Funding and Organisations Local to Sussex

• Active Sussex provides resources and funding to projects related to sports and leading an active lifestyle.
• The Gatwick Airport Community Trust supports projects and schemes targeted towards the development of young people – especially within communities affected by the airport’s operations.
• The Sussex Community Foundation supports charities and community projects across the county, including those projects that help improve health, sports, and well-being.

Funding and Organisations Local to Hertfordshire

• The Hertfordshire Community Foundation helps to deliver support to communities and projects that need it most through grants, as well as help, advice, and resources.
• EduFundUK provides extra funding to Hertfordshire state primary and secondary schools to improve attainment and motivation.
• Herts Sport & Physical Activity Partnership offers resources, support, and advice on funding opportunities to help communities get active.

Funding and Organisations Local to Buckinghamshire

• Leap is a social enterprise that aims to improve the lives of residents across Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes through physical activity and sport; its team can offer advice and information about securing funding, as well as resources where you may find the support you need.
• The Clare Foundation aims to bring together those who can help make Buckinghamshire “the happiest county in Britain”; the foundation offers small grants to charities and community projects to help them achieve goals that improve happiness and well-being.
• The MK Community Foundation offers assistance to charities, non-profit organisations, and community interest companies (CICs) in and around Milton Keynes. They can supply small grants to projects with a focus on health and well-being.

Funding and Organisations Local to Berkshire

• Get Berkshire Active‘s mission is to promote physical activity and sport, transforming lives and creating a happier, healthier county. They can offer advice, information, and resources that point you in the direction of funding.
• The Berkshire Community Foundation is a charity that raises funds for and distributes money to vital local causes (not-for-profits, voluntary and community groups, and social enterprises or CICs), bringing the most benefit wherever needed.
• The Englefield Charitable Trust aims to help charities and good causes based within Berkshire.

Funding and Organisations Local to Hampshire

• Energise Me champions the cause of health and well-being through sport and physical activity. Through the charity’s website, you can find advice, information, and resources.
• The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Community Foundation regularly helps communities in low socio-economic areas, supporting them and helping them to flourish through professional grant-making.
• The Wessex Community Bank offers community grants to help local projects and organisations.

Funding and Organisations Local to Dorset

• The Dorset Community Fund offers grants of between £1,000 and £5,000 to local voluntary and community organisations, charities and social enterprises. It also provides further advice, support, and resources.
• The Arthur Francis Patrick McCullagh Trust offers grants to organisations that provide sports, leisure, and recreational activities in the Wool Parish.
• The Christchurch Charitable Trust offers grants for projects that benefit the community of Christchurch and its surrounding areas.
• The Simon Digby (Sherborne) Memorial Trust was set up to benefit the inhabitants of Sherborne through grants.
• The Shaftesbury Charitable Trust offers grants and support to initiatives and organisations looking to promote arts, crafts, sports, and tourism in the local area.

Funding and Organisations Local to Wiltshire

• The Wiltshire Community Foundation provides money and support to causes across Wiltshire and Swindon.
• Wiltshire and Swindon Sport (WASP) offers resources, support, and money to schools, clubs, and organisations that encourage children and adults alike to be more active.
• The Wiltshire FA offers grants, funding, and support for clubs and organisations looking specifically to improve their football facilities.
• The Jack Lane Trust offers grants of up to £2,000 for charities and organisations in Wiltshire and Gloucestershire.

Funding and Organisations Local to Gloucestershire

• The Gloucestershire Community Foundation awards grants to support local community groups, as well as advice and support.
• The Chipping Campden Community Trust offers grants for residents, voluntary groups, charities, and schools in its listed villages, that benefit the local community.
• The Cotswold Community Network lists Crowdfund Cotswold, which enables groups and organisations in the district to pitch for up to £10,000.

Funding and Organisations Local to Somerset

• The Somerset Community Foundation provides grants and loans to groups in the county.
• Spark Somerset supports groups and organisations looking for funding by offering advice, information, and resources.
• Somerset Activity and Sports Partnership (SASP) is dedicated to improving health and happiness in Somerset residents through sport and physical activity. It offers advice and resources to help make this happen.

Funding and Organisations Local to Devon

• Devon Communities Together offers a Local Giving Fund that provides grants of up to £300 for local organisations looking to provide play equipment for children in rural areas.
• The Devon Community Foundation offers grants for charities and community organisations in the county, as well as further resources.
• Active Devon offers funding, advice, and support to those looking to develop their activities and get people in the county to move more.

Things to Think About Before Applying

Before diving into funding applications, it’s crucial to lay the groundwork for your playground marking project. Here are some essential factors to consider:

Defining Your Vision

• Clearly outline what you want to achieve with your playground markings
• Consider how the markings will support your curriculum and school values
• Involve teachers, students, and parents in the planning process – like you would when getting involved in our playground marking competitions.

Assessing Your Needs

• Conduct a thorough evaluation of your current playground
• Identify specific areas for improvement or new additions
• Prioritise your needs based on impact and urgency.

Researching Costs

• Get quotes from reputable playground marking companies by getting in touch
• Consider all aspects, including design, materials, and installation
• Factor in potential maintenance costs for the future; this is likely to be lower when working with Designs & Lines, as our markings are designed to last up to 10 times longer than paint.

Gathering Supporting Evidence

• Collect data on how playground markings can improve student outcomes
• Document any safety concerns with your current playground
• Prepare photos of your existing space to illustrate the need for improvement.

Aligning with School Improvement Plans

• Ensure your project fits with your overall school development strategy
• Be prepared to explain how the markings will contribute to educational goals – the organisation you’re asking for funding from is likely to ask!

Building a Project Team

• Assign roles for the funding application process
• Include members with diverse skills (e.g., writing, budgeting, project management); if you choose to work with us, we’ll also have our own team members who can work with you on this.

Considering Timing

• Be aware of funding cycles and application deadlines
• Consider planning the installation during school holidays to minimise disruption, though with us you won’t have to do this as we can work around breaks, lunchtimes, and on weekends.

Preparing for Partial Funding

• Have a plan in case you don’t secure the full amount needed
• Consider phasing the project if necessary, adding a marking at a time – remember the kids will love whatever you add, so it’s okay if everything isn’t added all at once.

Thinking Long-Term

• Consider how the markings will be maintained over time; if you decide on markings from Designs & Lines, this should be as simple as an occasional wash or sweep
• Plan for potential future expansions or changes.

Find the Funding You Need and Order Playground Markings

Now that you’re equipped with knowledge about various funding sources, you can start applying for the money you need. In a short while, you could be taking the next step towards making your outside space into a vibrant hub for exercise, learning, and play.

We can work together to make that next step happen. As soon as you have the funding in place, reach out to Designs & Lines or start browsing the playground markings you need. With our help, funding challenges won’t hold you back from creating an inspiring outdoor space for your students.