Government to invest £85m in 1,000 community sports projects

The UK government will invest an additional £85m into improving community sport facilities across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

To be distributed in 2026-27, the funding will see nearly 1,000 projects benefit from new multi-sport pitches, floodlighting, fencing and upgraded changing facilities. Of the funding, £68.4m will be invested into grassroots football facilities through the Football Foundation.

The investment will also seek to deliver priority use time slots for women and girls teams at funded sites.

The announcement was made by Culture Secretary, Lisa Nandy. “Every pound we invest in grassroots facilities is a pound that takes pressure off our NHS, supports mental and physical health and opens doors for new community members to benefit from sport – like women and girls who’ve been shut out for too long,” Nandy said.

“We’re supporting communities that have made do with run-down pitches and crumbling changing rooms for years. This government is turning that around – building the facilities that get people active, bring communities together, and nurture the next generation of sporting talent.”

The announcement is the latest part of the government’s £400m boost for grassroots sport facilities announced by the Government in June 2025.