1. Where does the money for sports funding come from? 
As one SDO summarized in the survey: “Funding for sport is invariably complex as there are a wide range of sources”. The government and National Lottery are currently the main sources of cash for sports funding bodies. The Department of Culture, Media and Sport is currently pledging £700m in the run up to 2012. Funds are largely distributed through two government organisations; UK Sport and Sport England. UK Sport is responsible for funding and supporting elite athletes, and Sport England is responsible for funding clubs, groups, organisations and facilities. Other distribution channels for government cash include your local authority/council, although the amount of money available to local councils is limited. Lottery funds can also be obtained through the national Awards for All scheme (www.awardsforall.org.uk). This scheme is recommended by most SDOs as an alternative funding avenue but is only available to clubs and non-profit organisations. According to the SDO survey, sports governing bodies often have a small amount of money other than that pledged by government, to invest in individual athletes.
Click here to download the latest Sport England guide (PDF), which summarizes the main funding options available for clubs, groups and organisations.
NEXT - How do I go about applying for council funding for a club or individual?