Aldi has issued an urgent reminder that grassroots sports clubs in England and Wales have just two weeks left to apply for a grant of up to £3,000 from its annual Sports Fund. Applications close on Monday, August 31, and the supermarket chain is urging eligible clubs not to miss out on funding towards essential costs.
What the fund offers
The fund provides "support towards essential costs such as equipment, team kits, coaching, training programmes and facility hire". Clubs can apply by emailing sportsfund@aldi.co.uk with up to 200 words explaining "what makes their club great, how they would use the funding and the difference it would make to their local community".
This year's funding in England and Wales includes 13 Gold Awards of £3,000, 13 Silver Awards of £1,250, and 13 Bronze Awards of £750. Aldi is the Official Supermarket partner of Team GB and ParalympicsGB, and select Gold grant recipients will also have the opportunity to meet a Team GB or ParalympicsGB athlete and hear about their journey in sport.
Scotland and other details
The fund also covers Scotland, with different deadlines depending on the postcode, and some areas are still open for applications. The retailer notes that the value of grants and application windows varies by location, and more information on eligibility criteria, application dates, and grant values is available on Aldi's website.
Julie Ashfield, chief commercial officer at Aldi, said: "Grassroots sports clubs make a huge difference to communities across the country, but we know that keeping them running comes with significant costs. With just two weeks left to apply, we want to make sure eligible clubs don’t miss their chance to access funding that could help towards everything from new kit and equipment to coaching and facilities. We’d encourage clubs to get their applications in before the deadline and tell us what makes their club special and the difference the funding could make."
Tim Ellerton, chief commercial officer at Team GB, and Jenny Seymour, commercial director at ParalympicsGB, said: "Aldi is a fantastic partner to Team GB and ParalympicsGB, and we are delighted to see them extend their commitment to supporting sport at every level across the country. From local communities to the world stage, they understand the extraordinary impact sport can have. It will be great to see athletes getting involved and helping to make that impact felt in communities nationwide."
