Department for Culture Media and Sport
funding for talented athletes
Athletes are always advised to contact their sport’s governing body for advice about funding in their specific area but there are a number of general funding opportunities available.
TASS awards Scholarships to talented athletes committed to combining their sport and education. It aims to reduce the drop-out of talented athletes from sport and supports and develops the talent of today for sporting success in the future.
This is a unique partnership between sport and higher and further education. It is a Government-funded programme, managed by UK Sport.
There are a number of options for funding from TASS:
- TASS Scholarships are worth up to £3,000. To be eligible you must be up to 24 years old and studying at least 50 percent of a full time higher level course at college
- TASS Bursaries, also worth up to £3,000, focus on 16 to 18 years olds studying a further education course or starting out in employment
- Disabled athletes can apply up to the age of 35, however any award to an athlete over 25 must first be agreed with the National Manager
- TASS 2012 Scholarships are available to sports people with the potential to be a medallist in the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics. Already more than 100 scholars have been identified.
A TASS award is made annually and runs from 1 August to 31 July. Athletes can be nominated by Sports National Governing Bodies or Higher Education Institutions.
To apply for funding or get more information, visit the TASS website.
Sports Aid
Sports Aid is a charity that provides direct funding to young sports people aged 12 to 18 who have proven ability, to enable them to meet the increasing costs of their sporting development.
To be eligible for a Sport Aid Grant, you have to be nominated by your sport’s national governing body and to be nominated you have to meet certain criteria.
Find out if you could be eligible for a Sports Aid Grant
Gifted and Talented Programme
The Gifted and Talented Programme improves the identification of, support and provision for gifted and talented pupils in Physical Education and School Sport.
World Class Pathway Programme (WCPP) WCPP is a programme of funding and support, administered by UK Sport, for those athletes who are identified as having the capacity to win medals in international competitions, ultimately at Olympic and Paralympics levels.
Learn more about the Pathway Programme and find out about its “no compromise” approach
The Sports Funding Guide
The Sports Funding Guide, produced by the Directory of Social Change, provides information on sources of funding for individuals. The guide costs £16.95 and is also available in local libraries (ISBN 1 900360 49 7).
Sources of Funding for Sport and Recreation Document
This is a guide to sources of funding which may be available in your local community. It is produced by the Central Council of Physical Recreation (CCPR), the national association for governing bodies of sport and recreation.
You can download the guide on the CCPR website
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