Flutter Entertainment has opened its Cash4Clubs initiative to grassroots sports clubs across the UK, offering a share of £500,000 in community funding.
Applications for the 2026 programme open on October 1, with clubs and eligible sports charities given until January 1 to submit their bids through the Cash4Clubs website.
Former England captain Alan Shearer and ex-Liverpool and Scotland defender Graeme Souness are fronting this year’s campaign, which is delivered in partnership with the charity Sported.
A total of 225 clubs will receive £2,000 grants, while five organisations will receive larger awards of £10,000 each from the overall funding pool.
Clubs can put their grants toward venue hire, equipment, coaching qualifications, kit costs, or volunteer expenses, with funding unrestricted so organisations can direct it wherever it is most needed.
Only one grant is awarded per club, and the 2026 programme is once again focused on supporting adult participation across a wide range of sports.
Previous Cash4Clubs recipients have represented up to 100 different sports, with this year’s funding targeting clubs using sport to address social issues including mental health challenges, rural isolation, and economic deprivation.
Research commissioned by Flutter UKI from Red C Research found that roughly 40% of adult grassroots sports clubs have had to cut services because of financial pressures.
Shearer previously presented the Newcastle Panthers LGBTQIA+ football team with an award and spoke about the real-world difference the initiative makes to local communities.
“Seeing what this grant meant to Newcastle Panthers puts it all into perspective,” said Shearer, adding that the club had helped members of the local community both directly and through a wider positive message.
“I would encourage any neighbourhood club to apply for this grant,” Shearer continued, underlining the importance of grassroots clubs accessing financial support wherever possible.
Souness, aged 73, also witnessed the effect a Cash4Clubs grant can have on a community team, holding a training session with one of the programme’s successful applicants.
Cash4Clubs has distributed more than £7 million to community sport across the UK and Ireland since launching in 2008, including £1.3 million to 640 clubs since 2024.
