A group does not necessarily need a large budget to get started, particularly if a club can provide courts, volunteers or equipment. Funding can nevertheless help with venue hire, paddles and balls, coaching or volunteer training, insurance, promotion, accessibility and the cost of running introductory sessions.
Funding programmes, eligibility rules and deadlines change. Treat the sources below as places to investigate, check the current guidance before applying and do not commit expenditure until a funder has confirmed what it will support.
Begin with a simple project budget
Before searching for a grant, set out:
- Who the group will support and the local need it will address
- What activity you will deliver, how often and for how long
- The number of players and volunteers you expect
- Venue, equipment, training, insurance, promotion and volunteer costs
- Support already available from the host club or community
- The amount requested and how every item has been calculated
- How you will know whether the project has made a difference
- How the group could continue after the initial funding ends
Ask prospective players and a local Parkinson's group what would help them take part. This produces a better session plan and gives funders evidence that the proposal responds to local need rather than assumptions.
Parkinson's UK physical activity grants
Parkinson's UK's grants for physical activity providers are the most directly relevant place to start. The scheme supports providers that give people with Parkinson's more opportunities to get and stay active.
For its 2026 programme, Parkinson's UK is offering grants of up to £3,000 for physical activity projects across the UK, with a closing date of 27 September 2026. Its guidance stresses the importance of local research and consultation. The page also provides applicant guidance, a checklist, a bid-writing guide and access to a free physical activity and Parkinson's awareness course. Check the page for the latest round before preparing an application.
A proposal for adapted pickleball could explain how the sessions will be made welcoming and accessible, how volunteers will support players and how participants have helped shape the plans.
Sport England Movement Fund
For projects in England, the Sport England Movement Fund supports projects that help people become more active. It can support new activity sessions, equipment, improvements to spaces and work that strengthens an organisation's ability to serve its community.
At the time of writing, support ranges from £300 to £15,000 for projects lasting up to 12 months. There is no fixed submission deadline, but Sport England advises applying at least 12 weeks before activity or spending is due to begin. Support may be offered as a grant or as a crowdfunding pledge.
The fund prioritises people who are less likely to be active and places where need is greatest. An application should therefore describe the barriers experienced by local people with Parkinson's, the adaptations the group will provide and the difference the funding will make. Use Sport England's suitability checker and current guidance before applying.
National Lottery Awards for All
National Lottery Awards for All is another possible source for a community-led group. Separate programmes operate in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, so select the country in which the project will take place and read that programme's rules.
At the time of writing, the Awards for All programmes offer grants from £300 to £20,000 for projects that bring people together and strengthen communities. This may fit a group that combines accessible physical activity with friendship, mutual support and a regular social connection. Eligibility, decision times and permitted costs vary, so use the relevant country's current programme page.
Local councils and community foundations
Local funding is often particularly useful for venue costs, equipment, volunteer-led activities or a small pilot. Search the website of your district, borough, unitary or town council for community grants, health and wellbeing funds, councillor grants and support for voluntary groups. The government's local council funding finder is a useful starting point in England and Wales.
Community foundations distribute grants according to local priorities and may manage several funds on behalf of donors and businesses. Use UK Community Foundations' postcode search to find the foundation serving your area, then ask which current fund is the closest match before writing an application.
In South Norfolk, for example, the Saracen's Norfolk Fund supports community activities and charitable services benefiting people in rural parts of the district. Its examples include projects addressing physical or mental health needs, activities for people with disabilities and work reducing loneliness. It is a useful illustration of the kind of place-based fund that may exist elsewhere, but applicants must meet its South Norfolk location and general eligibility rules.
Local voluntary-sector support organisations and Active Partnerships may also know about small funds, help identify a suitable accountable organisation or review an application before it is submitted.
Funding4Sport and other funding directories
Funding4Sport is a funding information and support service rather than a grant maker. It publishes funding opportunities and a calendar, while paid memberships provide access to funding streams, toolkits, example material and other resources. It may help a club find sports, disability, coaching or local funding that would otherwise be missed.
Before paying for any directory or bid-writing service, check what is available through your council, community foundation, local voluntary-sector network or sport partnership. These organisations may provide searches and application support free of charge.
Ask local businesses and organisations
A local business may be willing to provide a modest donation, sponsor venue hire, print publicity, supply refreshments or contribute equipment. An approach is more likely to succeed when it is specific: explain who will benefit, what the business's support will provide and how the contribution will be acknowledged.
Also consider organisations with a connection to health, older people, disability, rural communities or social isolation. Local Parkinson's groups, health networks and community organisations may be able to contribute expertise, referrals, volunteers or meeting space even when they cannot offer money.
Community support, cakes and refreshments
Not every contribution needs to appear as cash in the bank. At the Hingham group, players and volunteers provide cakes and refreshments. This keeps the social part of the session welcoming while reducing its running costs. The group has also received support from the local Co-op store in Hingham.
Small in-kind contributions can make grant funding go further and help local people feel ownership of the group. Record donated goods, volunteer time and free use of facilities where appropriate: they demonstrate community backing, although they should only be described as match funding when a funder's rules allow it.
Prepare a stronger application
Most funders will want confidence that the proposal is needed, safe, realistic and well managed. Before applying:
- Read the eligibility rules and contact the funder if the fit is unclear
- Confirm whether the applicant must be constituted and have an organisational bank account
- Consider applying through an established club, charity or community organisation if an informal group is not eligible
- Use evidence from conversations with people with Parkinson's and local partners
- Explain safeguarding, insurance, risk management and volunteer responsibilities
- Request only eligible costs and avoid asking two funders to pay for the same item
- Include realistic measures such as attendance, repeat participation, player feedback and volunteer learning
- Allow enough time for a decision and do not start funded activity early without written permission
A small, well-evidenced pilot can be more persuasive than an ambitious plan with uncertain demand. Show how the group will learn from its first sessions, adapt to players' needs and build a sustainable local programme.